Stephan Cowans

Latest Articles

Phoenix group harvests 17 regional press prizes

Bragging-Rights Night at New England Press Association
The New England Press Association (NEPA) annual newspaper contest has always been good to us.
By CLIF GARBODEN | February 12, 2009

Does Boston hate the BPD?

A secret survey shows just how low the Boston Police Department’s reputation had sunk two years ago. Is the mayor listening?
When Kathleen O’Toole served as Boston police commissioner, from early 2004 through mid 2006, she and Mayor Thomas Menino seemed in constant denial of the spiraling violence and shocking police scandals that were roiling the city.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | July 18, 2008

Iraq: Five years later and time to go

Plus, updates on the Cowans case, performance artist Milan Kohout, and the BPL
March 19 will mark the fifth anniversary of America’s war in Iraq.
By EDITORIAL | March 12, 2008

More than a few loose ends

BPD to review Cowans evidence
Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis has ordered a review of evidence in the wrongful conviction of Stephan Cowans, following a report in the Phoenix that raised questions about possible police misconduct .
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | March 05, 2008

Framed?

The Boston Police investigation of Stephan Cowans led to a wrongful conviction. Was it incompetent — or corrupt?
The Boston Phoenix has uncovered substantial new information about the Cowans case.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | January 28, 2010

Righting a staggering wrong

It is time for the US Attorney to investigate how and why the Boston police wrongfully convicted Stephan Cowans
US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan should launch an investigation into how that department managed to help convict the wrong man in the 1997 shooting of a Boston cop.
By EDITORIAL | February 06, 2008

A close call

Another suspect was nearly charged with the Gallagher shooting
Another suspect was nearly charged with the Gallagher shooting
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | February 06, 2008

Cop or drug dealer?

Roberto Pulido’s story shows how easily the divide between law-keepers and law-breakers can break down — if nobody is paying attention
Meet Roberto Pulido, 41.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | November 09, 2006

Healey's hypocrisy

In the matter of the LaGuer controversy, Patrick was a disappointment, but the Lt. Governor was a disgrace
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court established a long time ago that while those accused of a crime in this state are not entitled to a perfect trial, they should receive at least a fair trial.
By EDITORIAL | October 20, 2006

$50 million worth of mistakes

Legal claims are costing the city millions of dollars a year. Is it a random blip or a sign of a badly run government?
Mistakes by Boston city workers — especially the police — have cost the city more than $50 million over the past four years. The breakdown: Inside the "Oops" fund. By David S. Bernstein Among the uninsured: How other cities handle their mistakes. By David S. Bernstein
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | September 28, 2006

Truth, Justice — or the Boston Way

Boston’s taxpayers just coughed up another multimillion-dollar check for a wrongful conviction, without being told what was done wrong
Stephan Cowans's wrongful conviction cost Boston taxpayers $3.2 million.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | August 17, 2006

Boston agrees to pay $3.2 million to Stephan Cowans

Wrongfully-convicted Mattapan man’s case exposed incompetent fingerprint unit
Finally giving Stephan Cowans some measure of justice for the six and a half years he spent in prison for a crime he did not commit, the City of Boston has agreed to pay $3.2 million to settle a civil lawsuit, the Phoenix has learned.
By DAVID S. BERNSTEIN | August 10, 2006