[1] With genetic fingerprinting and DNA evidence now commonplace, many convictions based on eyewitness testimony are being re-examined.
He referred to a farmer's almanac to prove that a witness could not have seen Armstrong in the moonlight, as claimed, because the position of the moon that night would not have provided sufficient illumination.
In July 1984, a man broke into Jennifer Thompson's home in Burlington, North Carolina and raped her.
Authorities also tested the DNA in the rape kit of Mary Williams, who was raped by the same assailant as Thompson on the very same night, and the DNA was found to be that of Bobby Poole, another inmate in the prison where Cotton was incarcerated; Poole had also boasted to his fellow inmates that he had committed the crimes for which Cotton was convicted.
Upon release for wrongful conviction (proved by DNA analysis), Cotton was awarded $110,000 in compensation from the state of North Carolina.
[5] Cotton and Thompson reconciled and became close friends; they conduct speaking tours to promote reform of procedures for eyewitness testimony.
Another common scenario where the SODDI defense is available is where the police find contraband in a car or residence containing multiple people.