Non-IPNO exonerees

Shareef Cousin was just 16 years-old when he was sentenced to death for a 1996 Orleans Parish murder.

Mr. Cousin was playing in a video-taped basketball game at the time of the murder and there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime. Nevertheless, he was convicted of first-degree murder and placed on death row.

The State’s primary witness, who was not wearing her glasses at the time of the attack, had initially admitted she could not identify the assailant in a statement she gave to the police. This statement was withheld from the defense, and during the trial, the witness confidently asserted that Mr. Cousin was the murderer.

Mr. Cousin's death sentence made him the youngest person in the world on death row.

In 1998, Mr. Cousin's conviction was overturned by the Louisiana Supreme Court.

In 1999, after four years on death row, he was exonerated of all charges at the age of 20.

Mr. Cousin's prosecutor was disciplined by the Louisiana Supreme Court and given a three month "suspended" suspension that was abated so long as he did not commit any further prosecutorial misconduct.