Florida Innocence ProjectDERRICK WILLIAMS

THE CRIME August 6, 1992

25 year old Caucasian woman arrived at home and noticed an African American male was standing on her front porch

She watched the male exit her property and as she attemped to exit her vehicle, he reappeared and forced himself inside her vehicle.

He then pushed her over to the passenger side and began to drive Once parked, the attacker ordered the woman to climb into the backseat and undress He made her cover her face with his GREY T-Shirt as he sexually assaulted her He also tied her hands and legs together with her pantyhose When the attacker left, the woman managed to untie herself and drive away with the

attacker’s grey t-shirt still on the backseat

THE INVESTIGATION

The victim 1st identified Derrick Williams from a photo lineup that contained TWO pictures of him

After the photo lineup, the victim was 80% certain that Williams was her attacker

After the live lineup, the victim was 100% certain that Williams was her attacker

People believe that the double inclusion of Williams’ photo tainted the victim’s live lineup identification.

THE TRIAL

Victim’s eyewitness testimony was the key evidence at trial(her view was obstructed for the majority of the attack)

Her best view of her attacker was when her attacker was standing on her porch ~approximately 20 feet away in the rain Described him as ~5’6”-5’8” with a scar on gut Williams is 5’11” scar on his back Single piece of physical evidence against Williams was the grey t-shirt Microscopic examination by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement determined hair on t-

shirt was NOT his!!! His girlfriend said he was wearing a grey t-shirt and returned with a red

shirt[PROSECUTION TRIED TO PIN IT ON HIM]!!

THE TRIAL

Williams constantly asserted his innocence and that he was wrongly misidentified

Alibi- was at a family barbecue

Friends, family, & neighbors provided the alibi

He was wearing a t-shirt similar to the one found at the crime scene

Still was convicted and sentenced to life in prison

POST CONVICTION

2006 Williams’ family wrote the innocence project of Florida July 2009: requested DNA tested hair on t-shirt, victim’s clothing, and materials from the victim’s

rape kit. Manatee County Sheriff’s Office had nearly all evidence destroyed by a mass incineration in 2003 Watery leakage flooded a vault & resulting water damage left most evidence irreparable. Negligence resulted in destruction of ~3600 cases Violated Florida State law

“all physical evidence must be preserved until the inmate has served the term of his sentence. Innocence Project of Florida secured post- conviction DNA testing of the skin cells and sweat inside

collar of grey t-shirt. April 4, 2011 state dropped Williams’ case.

SUMMARYINCIDENT DATE: 8/6/1992

JURISDICTION: FL

CHARGE: SEXUAL BATTERY ROBBERY

GTA(2 COUNTS)

CONVICTION: “SAME”

SENTENCE: 2 CONSEC. LIFE SENTENCES

YR. OF CONVICTION: 1993

EXONERATION DATE: 4/4/11

YRS. SERVED: 18

REAL PERP FOUND: NO

CONTRIB. CAUSES: EYEWITENESS

MISIDENTIFICATIONGOVERNMENT

MISCONDUDCTLACK OF EVIDENCE

COMPENSATION: NOT YET

QUESTIONS?