Why is this a key paragraph? What the cop told him was bullshit, but that's not illegal. All I see here is that Mr. Fennell was briefly questioned by police,

Why is this a key paragraph? What the cop told him was bullshit, but that's not illegal. All I see here is that Mr. Fennell was briefly questioned by police, and gave a statement that appears to have been largely or entirely accurate. It seems he hasn't significantly recanted any of it to this day, except possibly to add some uncertainty to his recollection of a murder weapon. When he laments that "They took advantage of my ignorance, of my family’s ignorance of the legal system", is he saying that if only he'd lawyered up then maybe he could have beaten the felony murder rap? Even though he plainly admits to assaulting the man and watching while someone else possibly stabbed him to death? We're supposed to be sympathetic to that?