Final answer:
Richard Ramirez's first victim was Jennie Vincow, murdered in 1984. Eyewitness misidentification, as with Ronald Cotton's case, highlights the complexities in criminal justice. Legislation has progressed in protecting victims and ensuring proper identification, particularly for vulnerable groups like transgender individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first victim of Richard Ramirez, known as the Night Stalker, was Jennie Vincow. In 1984, she was found brutally murdered in her apartment in Glassell Park, Los Angeles. Ramirez's crime spree continued across California, and his acts included a series of home invasions, sexual assaults, and murders. Identifying criminals and the reliability of eyewitnesses can be complex, as demonstrated by the wrongful conviction of Ronald Cotton based on eyewitness testimony, wherein Jennifer Thompson misidentified him as her assailant.
Legal and police practices have evolved to reduce the likelihood of such mistakes. The introduction of legislation to restrict tactics like victim-blaming, particularly in cases involving transgender victims, such as Gwen Araujo, Angie Zapata, and Lateisha Green, exemplifies progress in the judicial system. The gravity of witness identification is paramount, considering the consequences it can have on both the accused and the justice system at large.