Mixed verdict for 3 Philadelphia detectives in perjury trial involving a 2016 murder exoneration

The trial of three retired Philadelphia detectives related to a wrongful conviction concluded with a mixed verdict on Thursday. Martin Devlin was acquitted of all charges, while Frank Jastrzembski was acquitted of all but one count, and Manuel Santiago was acquitted on two charges but convicted on two others. This case was notably unusual as public officials rarely face criminal charges for their conduct in exoneration cases.

The charges stemmed from a 1991 homicide and the subsequent retrial of Anthony Wright in 2016, who had spent 25 years in prison for the rape and murder of an elderly widow before DNA evidence exonerated him. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner filed charges against the detectives in 2021, just ahead of the statute of limitations on perjury claims expiring. The case involved allegations of coerced confessions and mishandling of evidence.

Wright's confession, which he claimed was coerced while he was handcuffed, became central to the trial. At the retrial, he maintained his innocence despite initial accusations that implicated him. Defense lawyers for the detectives argued that his acquittal did not negate the integrity of their testimonies.

Among the charges, Jastrzembski was convicted of lying under oath regarding DNA evidence during the retrial, while Santiago was found guilty of perjury related to testimony about the same evidence. Devlin faced similar charges but was fully acquitted. The detectives, now in their late 70s and early 80s, did not testify during the trial.

Krasner, who took office with a focus on police accountability, has overseen numerous exonerations during his tenure. The defense contends that the charges against the detectives were influenced by biased presentation to the grand jury, a claim that has been dismissed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.