Wrongly Convicted Database Record

 

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Joseph Beringer

 

Charge:

Murder and Conspiracy

Sentence:

Life Imprisonment without possibility of parole

Years Imprisoned:

5.5

Year Crime:

1981

Year Convicted:

1983

Year Cleared:

1987

U.S. State or Country of Crime:

Illinois

County or Region of Crime:

Cook

City of Crime:

Chicago

Result:

Judicially Exonerated Released

Summary of Case:

"Joseph Beringer was the co-defendant of his brother Kenneth Beringer. Both men were wrongly convicted of murder and conspiracy in Chicago, Illinois. Joseph was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, and Kenneth was sentenced to 30 years in prison. On January 5, 1987 the Illinois Court of Appeals reversed Joseph's conviction on the basis of gross prosecutor misconduct during his trial, and on May 26, 1987 the same appeals court reversed Kenneth's conviction based on gross prosecutor misconduct. The Cook County State's Attorney declined to retry the brothers and their motion to dismiss the charges was granted and the brothers were released from prison."

Conviction Caused By:

Gross prosecutor misconduct.

Innocence Proved By:

"On January 5, 1987 the Illinois Court of Appeals reversed Joseph's conviction on the basis of gross prosecutor misconduct during his trial, and on May 26, 1987 the same appeals court reversed Kenneth's conviction based on gross prosecutor misconduct. The Cook County State's Attorney declined to retry the brothers and their motion to dismiss the charges was granted and the brothers were released from prison."

Defendant Aided By:

Compensation Awarded:

Was Perpetrator Identified?

Age When Imprisoned:

Age When Released:

Sex:

Male

Skin/Ethnicity:

Information Source 1:

"People v. Beringer, 151 Ill. App.3d 558, 503 N.E.2d 778 (Ill. Ct. of Appeals, 1st Dist., 1st Div., 1-5-1987) (Reversing conviction based on gross prosecutorial misconduct.)"

Information Location 1:

http://www.leagle.com/decision/1987709151IllApp3d558_1645/PEOPLE%20v.%20BERINGER

Information Source 2:

Northwestern School of Law Center on Wrongful Convictions database

Information Location 2:

http://www.law.northwestern.edu/depts/clinic/wrongful/exonerations/JBeringer.htm

Information Source 3:

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Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org

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