A missing underscore sent innocent man to prison for 18 months(arstechnica.com)
327 points by quantified 13 hours ago | 187 comments
tl;dr: A Wisconsin child-luring investigation targeting Kik user "fus__ro_dah" (two underscores) went awry when police subpoenaed records for "fus_ro_dah" (one underscore), leading them to innocent Nova Scotia man Brandon Klayme. Despite no incriminating evidence on his devices, Klayme was convicted in 2023 and served 18 months in prison. The underscore error was discovered during appeal preparation, and the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal has now overturned his conviction, declaring him factually innocent.
HN Discussion:
  • Highlights the lack of evidence connecting Klayme to the crime, reinforcing the injustice
  • Questions whether compensation was provided for the wrongful conviction and lasting damage
  • Criticizes the defense attorneys for failing to challenge the prosecution's weak case
  • ~Alarmed that a mere username match could frame anyone, questioning if details are missing
  • ~Questions what evidence actually led to conviction, suggesting the article omits key details