Sun coverage: Justice Undone

Solothal Deandre Thomas, known as Itchy Man, speaks with his lawyer Catherine Flynn after an arraignment in December on charges related to a shooting at the Royal Casino. (Sun photo by John Makely / December 27, 2001)

A three-part series about the number of homicide cases lost in Baltimore courts because of police error.

September 29, 2002

Justice Undone

Part I: Cases crumble, killers go free

Police blunders in homicides leave city's 'lifestyle of death' unchecked

September 30, 2002

Justice Undone

Part II: How Itchy Man beat the rap

Charged with 2 deaths and 12 attempted murders, Solothal Thomas has dodged hard time

October 1, 2002

Justice Undone

Part III: To veteran officer, a 'sad state of affairs'

Officer Stephen B. Tabeling retired in 1979 after a distinguished quarter-century career -- then he was tapped for a new assignment: evaluate the city homicide squad.

September 29, 2002

Justice Undone

Fatal consequences in police assignment shifts

It began as an almost imperceptible trickle.

September 30, 2002

Justice Undone

17 charges, 2 1/2-year sentence

The map shows the locations of 17 violent crimes that Solothal "Itchy Man" Thomas has been charged with, including two killings and 12 attempted murders. His only conviction came in a Jan. 22, 1998, plea bargain that netted him a 2 1/2-year prison term. He is awaiting trial on charges of attempted murder and illegal possession of a bulletproof vest.