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

The trial of three retired Philadelphia detectives accused of lying about evidence in a homicide case that led to an exoneration concluded with a mixed verdict. Martin Devlin was acquitted of all charges, while Frank Jastrzembski was acquitted of all but one count, and Manuel Santiago was found guilty on two counts but acquitted on two others. The case represents a rare prosecution of public officials for crimes related to innocence claims.

The charges stemmed from the 1991 murder and rape of an elderly widow, leading to the wrongful conviction of Anthony Wright, who served 25 years in prison before DNA evidence exonerated him. After the verdict was overturned, the detectives were called back to testify during a retrial in 2016, which allowed for perjury charges to be filed against them in 2021, just before the statute of limitations expired.

Wright's confession remained a pivotal piece of evidence, with his defense arguing it was coerced. During the retrial, Devlin struggled to recreate the notes from that confession, while Wright testified he had been handcuffed and forced to sign the statement. Ultimately, a second jury acquitted Wright, affirming his innocence after years of wrongful imprisonment.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who emphasized police accountability upon taking office in 2018, charged the detectives after a comprehensive review of the case. Throughout the trial, the defense contended that Krasner’s office improperly influenced the grand jury and that claims against the detectives were unfounded, suggesting that the detectives were honest in their testimonies.

Jastrzembski was convicted only on a specific false swearing charge related to the DNA evidence, while Santiago faced similar outcomes regarding his testimony. Devlin emerged with a complete acquittal, reflecting the complexities of holding law enforcement accountable in cases of wrongful conviction and the challenges in navigating legal standards of evidence and testimony.