CUCPJ Interview with Deborah Thomas Part 9

On December 8, State’s Attorney Julia Rietz released a 13-page report concluding that Kiwane Carrington had been shot “accidentally” by Champaign police officer Daniel Norbits. While dedicating only one paragraph to Norbits’ history, and failing to mention his involvement in the 2000 death of Gregory Brown, Rietz spends several pages discrediting the black witnesses. After reviewing the interviews with Deborah Thomas, who lived at 906 W. Vine where Kiwane was killed, Rietz said her statements “were not considered to be credible.” In particular, Rietz said Thomas initially stated that Kiwane was not allowed to be in the house. In this interview on Dec. 11, 2009, conducted by Melodye Rosales, Chris Evans, and Martel Miller, Thomas responds to the claim that she changed her story, explains how police lied to her, and says Kiwane was always permitted in her home.