There’s new information in the ongoing civil lawsuit over the backlog of untested rape kits in Memphis.
Retired Memphis Police Lieutenant Cody Wilkerson gave his deposition Wednesday. The media was allowed to sit in and take notes.
Wilkerson testified that rape cases in the sex crimes unit were not investigated like they should have been, and that rape kits were piling up and not being tested.
Gary Smith, the attorney for the 50 rape victims suing the city, says Wilkerson proved the basics of the case.
“They were not testing rape kits, which is the most important thing in solving these cases. And just as importantly preventing future crimes by those perpetrators,” says Smith. “The city is trying to minimize the significance of not testing the rape kits. They want to make it appear as though that’s not a big issue. It’s a huge issue.”
Wilkerson testified that he took his concerns to dozens of officials, but nothing was done.
At least six additional Memphis Police officials are expected to testify by the end of the year, including Director Mike Rallings and former Director Tony Armstrong.
Attorneys for the city of Memphis declined comment.
