Dan's Papers - July 4, 2008 - Tankleff Acquitted: 20 Years Too Late?

On June 30, 2008, one of Long Island's most notorious murder cases bowed to a final disposition. Marty Tankleff was acquitted of murdering his parents after having served 17 years in a maximum-security state prison. He was 17 years old when the authorities accused him of barbarously killing his parents. The prosecutors' principle evidence against Tankleff was a confession, which his attorneys have contested unremittingly for the past 20 years and deemed an act of coercion on the part of the investigators. The judicial luminaries who have followed the proceedings of this case have deemed them "a blinded execution of American Justice."

The Riverhead courtroom seats 118. But even if its capacity were three times that, it couldn't have seated Tankleff's champions.

The bailiff announced, "There will be no outburst of any kind in this courtroom, regardless of the outcome. All rise for The Honorable Judge Robert Doyle." The room became silent as court was in session. Judge Doyle said, "I'd liked to hear from the prosecutors first."

Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Rosenberg rose and said, "Your Honor, my office has reviewed this case. Our findings noted that there's insufficient evidence against Defendant Tankleff. Therefore, The State moves to dismiss the indictment." It incited sporadic, muffled clapping and sighs of relief, which the Honorable Doyle quickly silenced.

After the four-minute hearing, facing a squadron of cameramen, Tankleff was finally asked the question he'd been waiting to answer when a journalist asked, "Marty, how does it feel to finally be a free man?"

Tankleff, now a 36-year-old man with a receding hairline and a stout, muscular physique, answered, "Relief, but it's 20 years too late."