The Interrogation of Tiffani Pontchartrain

[George W. Maschke]

The Canadian Broadcast Company has produced a superbly documented web page on the polygraph interrogation of Tiffani Pontchartrain, "a transexual with multiple personalities" who became suspect in a 1998 Toronto, Ontario arson case.

"Something about the case got under the skin of lawyer Jeffrey Shroeder. The charges against the disturbed suspect seemed to be based on incriminating fantasies, not facts. Shroeder was particularly horrified by what he saw on the police interrogation tapes. He called in Victor Matanovic for a second look at the evidence. A retired homicide detective, Matanovic is renowned for solving some of Toronto's toughest murder cases. His conclusion after examining the facts; "I will state with absolute certainty that Tiffani Pontchartrain no more set that fire than I did." Ten days into the court case, the judge threw out Pontchartrain's police statement, and the prosecution' s case fell apart."

Transcripts and video excerpts from Detective Dina Kalns's polygraph interrogation of Tiffani Pontchartrain are available here:

http://cbc.ca/news/indepth/truth/video.html

It is very fortunate that this interrogation was video- and audio-recorded. Cases such as this highlight the need for the routine recording of all interrogations, whether or not a polygraph is involved.

[Fletch]

Dear George,

I agree wholeheartedly. Had my first polygraph been taped or video recorded, I would have most certainly had a different experience. It's interesting to note that polygraphers, at least with the FBI, now explain that there are no video or audio recording devices used during the exam.

Fletch