In photo, Harold Hall, was freed after 19 years in prison for murders he did not commit. A court ruled Monday that he will be able to sue the Los Angeles Police Department over allegedly coercing his confession. From [HERE] “Some might call Harold Hall an unlucky fellow” (and some may simply acknowledge that Black people should not expect justice in the courtroom while the operating system of white supremacy is in place). With those words, the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals begins its opinion determining whether Hall may sue the City of Los Angeles and two police detectives who supposedly fabricated evidence and forced his confession — resulting in his imprisonment for 19 years. The facts here are beyond belief.

Harold Hall, 18, witnessed a drive-by shooting at 54th Street in Los Angeles (the 54th Street Shooting). The police persuaded Hall, who had no gang affiliation, to testify in the 54th Street murder case. The State needed Hall to identify triggerman “Ace Capone,” an infamous member of the Bloods gang. Long story short, Hall testified and Ace went to prison. Of course, Hall's life became in jeopardy and he had police protection for years. In fact, he developed a warm relationship with detective Dufort. 

Meanwhile, someone murdered Nola Duncan and David Rainey, (the Duncan-Rainey Murders). Hall lived near the crime scene, so he and other curious neighbors watched the crime scene investigation. That was his only connection to the crime. The police had reason to believe that someone else, one Art Powell, committed the crime, but consistent with Hall's bad luck (Blackness), the police did not investigate Powell.