Mixed verdict for 3 Philadelphia detectives in perjury trial...
The trial of three retired Philadelphia detectives accused of falsifying evidence in a homicide case concluded with a mixed verdict. Martin Devlin was acquitted of all charges, while Frank Jastrzembski faced acquittals on all but one count, and Manuel Santiago was cleared of two charges but convicted on two others. This unusual prosecution highlights the rarity of holding public officials accountable for actions linked to wrongful convictions.
The case originated from the 1991 murder of an elderly widow, which led to the wrongful conviction of Anthony Wright. After spending 25 years in prison, DNA evidence exonerated him and implicated another individual, prompting a retrial in 2016 where he was acquitted. The crux of the case revolved around Wright's purported confession, which he and his lawyers argued was coerced, while police maintained it was legitimate.
During the trial, Wright endured extensive cross-examination regarding his alibi and past accusations against the police. Despite signing the confession and acknowledging familiarity with the victim due to family ties, he consistently denied committing the crime. The defense countered with claims that just because Wright was exonerated does not imply the detectives were truthful.
District Attorney Larry Krasner, who took office in 2018, pushed for accountability in these cases, leading to the detectives' charges in 2021, just before the statute of limitations would have expired. The detectives were accused of lying about various elements of the case, including the circumstances surrounding the confession and the existence of DNA evidence that could undermine Wright's conviction.
The trial's outcome was contentious, with debates over the integrity of the prosecution still lingering. The defense claimed that Krasner's office biased the grand jury against the detectives by suggesting a pattern of misconduct. However, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declined to intervene, leaving the district attorney's office to continue its pursuit of justice in wrongful conviction cases.