26 year secret

Summary

Mon Logan was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1982 and served 26 years in prison. Despite two attorneys, Dale Coventry and Jamie Kunz, knowing of his innocence due to their client's confession, they were bound by attorney-client privilege. They remained silent until their client's death, when they revealed the truth, leading to Logan's release. The case highlights the flaws in the justice system and the ethical dilemmas faced by attorneys.

Takeaways

• 🕵️‍♂️ Mon Logan was wrongfully convicted of murdering a security guard at a McDonald's in Chicago in 1982.
• 👥 Two attorneys, Dale Coventry and Jamie Kunz, knew Logan was innocent but were bound by attorney-client privilege and could not disclose this information.
• 🗣️ Their client, Andrew Wilson, confessed to the murder Logan was accused of, but this confession was kept secret due to legal ethics.
• 📜 The attorneys documented their knowledge of Logan's innocence in a sealed affidavit, which was kept safe until they could legally reveal it.
• 🏢 Despite knowing the truth, the attorneys felt morally conflicted but legally bound to not prevent Logan's life sentence.
• 🤔 The dilemma highlighted the tension between the attorney's ethical duty to their client and the moral obligation to prevent an innocent person's imprisonment.
• 🚫 The attorneys explored but found no legal loophole that would allow them to reveal the truth without jeopardizing their client.
• 🗓️ It took 26 years for the truth to come to light, only after Wilson's death, when the attorneys were finally able to reveal the affidavit.
• 🏆 After the new evidence was presented, Mon Logan was exonerated and released from prison, with the attorney general deciding not to retry him.
• 🌟 The case underscores the importance of addressing flaws in the justice system that allow for such injustices to occur.

Q & A

How long was Mon Logan wrongfully imprisoned for?

Mon Logan was wrongfully imprisoned for 26 years.

What crime was Mon Logan convicted of?

Mon Logan was convicted of killing a security guard at a McDonald's in Chicago in 1982.

Who were the two attorneys that knew Mon Logan was innocent?

The two attorneys who knew Mon Logan was innocent were Dale Coventry and Jamie Kunz.

Why did the attorneys stay silent about Mon Logan's innocence?

The attorneys stayed silent because their client, Andrew Wilson, had confessed to the murder, and they were legally bound by attorney-client privilege to keep his secret.

What did the attorneys do to document Mon Logan's innocence while maintaining client confidentiality?

The attorneys wrote an affidavit stating that Mon Logan was not guilty of the murder and sealed it in an envelope, which they kept in a lock box for future reference.

What was the turning point that allowed the attorneys to finally speak out about Mon Logan's innocence?

The turning point was the death of Andrew Wilson, their client who had confessed to the murder. After his death, the attorneys took the affidavit out of the lock box and contacted Mon Logan's lawyer.

What was the role of the public defender, Harold Winston, in Mon Logan's case?

Harold Winston was trying to get Mon Logan a new trial and had found two eyewitnesses who swore Logan was not the killer. The affidavit from Kunz and Coventry provided additional evidence to support Logan's innocence.

How did Mon Logan feel about the attorneys' decision to remain silent until Andrew Wilson's death?

Mon Logan sympathized with the attorneys' position but did not understand why they would allow an innocent person to be prosecuted and imprisoned for so many years.

What was the final outcome for Mon Logan after the attorneys came forward with the affidavit?

A judge threw out Mon Logan's conviction citing the new evidence, and he was released on a $1,000 bond. The Illinois' attorney general decided not to appeal the ruling and was considering whether to retry Mon or drop the charges.

What was Mon Logan's reaction to the possibility of starting his life again at the age of 54?

Mon Logan's brother expressed confidence that Mon would be able to start again, stating that if he were released, they would live life together.

What did Mon Logan say about the justice system's handling of his case?

Mon Logan stated that the system is quick to convict but slow to correct its mistakes, and all he wanted was the truth.