Martin Tankleff

Martin Tankleff was a Long Island, New York teenager, whose parents were murdered on September 7 1988. Although he professes his innocence to this day, he was pressured by detectives working the case to the point where he actually believed he committed the crime. Topped off by a fake phone call from his already dead father stating he was still alive, Tankleff confessed and was ultimately convicted in 1990 and sentenced to two terms of 25 years to life. In 2004, his lawyers petitioned the state for a new trial.

On March 17, 2006, Judge Steven L. Braslow denied Tankleff's motions for a new trial, to vacate his previous conviction, to disqualify District Attorney Thomas Spota from the case, and to grant access to DNA evidence that might support Tankleff's claim of innocence.

The defense was granted access to evidence for DNA testing in 2001. Turned out the "evidence" was hairs from the victims.