links

Links to websites on issues of relevance to Sebastian and Atif’s case

THE APPEAL:

Atif and Sebastian are currently in the process of appealing their conviction in the Seattle Court of Appeals, Division 1. At this stage, the appeal can only address problems with the original trial. You can read the documents submitted to the Appeal Court below, and you can view a video of the appeal under the "Videos" tab.

Atif's Brief, explaining the problems with the original trial

Atif's supplemental brief

Sebastian's Brief, explaining problems with the original trial

The Amicus Brief - a submission to the Appeal Court from individuals and organizations that support the appeal.
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the new documentary film "mr big":

www.mrbigthemovie.com false confessions and wrongful imprisonment brought to you by the RCMP
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The Burns / Rafay case on other websites:

Injusticebusters page on Atif and Sebastian
Partenia page on Atif and Sebastian
Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty
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Court Rulings in Canada – Burns / Rafay case:

Court of Appeal, British Columbia, 1997 file 399
Court of Appeal, British Columbia, 1997 file 395
Supreme Court of Canada, 2001
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“Mr. Big” undercover operations:
Links related to the undercover police tactics used in this case, or to other similar methods.

Injusticebusters.com
A website devoted to justice issues in Canada and around the world.
The most comprehensive online collection of information about “Mr. Big” operations,
including many other cases in which the “Mr. Big” tactic was used.

Landmark ruling in an American case in which similar tactics were used in an undercover operation.
This ruling came out against the use of these tactics to elicit confessions.
Seabstian and Atif’s “confessions” were admitted in American court, despite having been elicited using methods illegal in the U.S.,
because the methods were legal in Canada, where the operation took place.

Mentuck decision
The court ruling in the Mentuck case – a Canadian case where the police used the “Mr. Big” operation.
In this ruling, the judge criticized the tactics.

Transcript from CBC program “Disclosure” about the Mentuck case and “Mr. Big” undercover operations

O.N.E. ruling on publication ban
O.N.E. was a juvenile who was arrested and tried following a confession elicited during a “Mr. Big” operation.
She was a juvenile at the time, and confessed to stabbing the victim, who had not been stabbed.
A publication ban was put in place, preventing reporters from describing the undercover methods used.

“Supreme Court strikes down undercover operation bans”, CBC News, 15 Nov., 2001

“Jury told about sting operation.” CBC News, 7 Feb., 2000
CBC new article regarding the Mentuck trial
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Wrongful convictions links:
Information on wrongful convictions projects, statistics, and studies.

Northwestern University’s Center on Wrongful Convictions

Report of the Working Group on the Prevention of Miscarriages of Justice
The report produced by a group formed in Canada with the purpose of examining the institutional problem of wrongful convictions in Canada.
The report was produced in 2004.
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False confessions links:
Articles, studies and websites about false confessions issues.

Northwestern University’s Center on Wrongful Convictions
page regarding false confessions

Homepage of Richard A. Leo
the false confessions expert who was to have testified in Sebastian and Atif’s trial

Homepage of Steven Drizin
false confessions expert

Homepage of Saul Kassin
Professor of Psychology and expert on false confessions, Williams College

Research report on false confessions
By Rob Warden, Executive Director, Center on WrongfulConvictions, Bluhm Legal Clinic, Northwestern University School of Law

“The Problem of False Confessions in the Post-DNA World”
by Steven A. Drizin and Richard A. Leo, false confessions experts

“False Confessions: Some Developmental and Forensic Considerations.”
By Steven A. Drizin, Northwestern University School of Law

“The Psychology of False Confessions.”
By Richard Conti, Journal of Credibility Assessment and Witness Psychology

“False Confessions: Annotated Clinical Research”
by Joe Wheeler Dixon, PhD, JD: Psychology and Law

“Innocent Truth about False Confessions”
by Steve Chapman
A columnist from The Washington Times argues in favor of the admission of expert evidence regarding false confessions.

“UnTrue confessions: Legal system plagued by growing number of false admissions by defendants.”
By John Wilkens, San Diego Union Tribune