Karlene Kovacs, who had submitted an affidavit to authorities 10 years ago and testified in court in July, said she thought she was doing the right thing when she came forward to say that another man, Joseph Creedon of Selden, had bragged about committing the murders that put Tankleff behind bars for killing his parents, Arlene and Seymour Tankleff, in 1988. For that, she said, she has been ridiculed by authorities sworn to serve and protect the public.

"I'm not saying every witness they called was a misfit," [Leonard Lato] said, noting that Tankleff's attorneys have been critical of witnesses he's called. "What they've said about my witnesses is far worse than what I've said about their witnesses."