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

The trial of three retired Philadelphia detectives accused of perjury in a homicide case concluded with a mixed verdict on Thursday. Martin Devlin was acquitted of all charges, while Frank Jastrzembski was acquitted of most charges but found guilty on one count. Manuel Santiago was acquitted on two counts but convicted on two others. This prosecution is notable, as it is rare for public officials to face charges related to their conduct in cases of wrongful convictions.

The case in question originated from a 1991 murder and rape that led to Anthony Wright's conviction. After serving 25 years, DNA evidence exonerated him, prompting a retrial in 2016 where he was ultimately acquitted. Central to the case was Wright's confession, which he claimed was coerced. Testimony during the retrial raised doubts about the detectives’ integrity, as evidence suggested they might have misrepresented facts about the confession and DNA results.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner charged the detectives in 2021, just before the statute of limitations was set to expire. The trial revealed issues pertaining to the detectives' testimonies: Jastrzembski was found guilty of false swearing related to his knowledge of DNA evidence while Santiago faced similar accusations. As the detectives are all in their 70s and 80s now, none chose to testify in their defense during the proceedings.

Defense attorney Fortunato Perri Jr. criticized the inconsistencies in the verdicts and plans to appeal the convictions. He argued that the prosecutor's office had unfairly influenced the grand jury by alleging a history of misconduct by the detectives. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejected pretrial appeals on these grounds.

DA Krasner emphasized the trial's significance, stating that the verdicts serve as a vital message about the accountability of law enforcement. He noted that the next steps involve sentencing for the two convicted detectives in June, leaving open the potential for further developments as the case continues.