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 a wrongful conviction, concluded with a mixed verdict. Martin Devlin was acquitted on all charges, while Frank Jastrzembski was acquitted of all but one count. Manuel Santiago faced a similar fate, being acquitted of two charges but convicted on two others. This unusual prosecution highlights the rarity of charging public officials in innocence cases.

The charges related to the detectives' roles in a 1991 homicide case when Anthony Wright was wrongfully convicted of a burglary, rape, and murder. After spending 25 years in prison, Wright's conviction was overturned due to DNA evidence confirming his innocence. A retrial took place in 2016, during which the detectives were called to testify, initiating a five-year window for filing perjury charges.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner pursued charges against the three detectives in 2021, just before the statute of limitations was set to expire. This case raised significant questions surrounding the detectives' integrity, particularly regarding Wright's confession, which his legal team contended was coerced—a claim the police denied. During the retrial, discrepancies arose when Devlin struggled to recreate the confession as he had originally documented it.

Key evidence against Wright included his initial confession; however, during the trial, he maintained he was coerced between hours of intense police interrogation. Despite being cross-examined significantly about his involvement and alibi, Wright ultimately was acquitted in the retrial, marking the end of his ordeal and the vast implications for the involved detectives.

While the detectives have faced legal repercussions, their defense argued that Krasner's office unfairly influenced the grand jury's perception by suggesting a history of misconduct. However, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has dismissed pretrial appeals regarding these allegations, leaving the mixed verdict standing.