Witnesses

 

 

Without the witness testimony of Rushinsky and Russell, the prosecution had zero evidence to connect Freddie to the crime in any way.

 

Yet, on the night of the shooting, Russell wasn’t even questioned by police (presumably because she wasn’t a witness) and Rushinsky gave a description of the shooter that resulted in the arrest of another young black man (later released when Rushinsky stated it wasn’t him).  In his first photo array, Rushinsky failed to identity McNeill as the shooter.  He had no such hesitation at trial a year later…