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

The trial involving three retired Philadelphia detectives accused of perjury in a wrongful homicide case concluded with mixed verdicts. Martin Devlin was fully acquitted, while Frank Jastrzembski was acquitted on all but one charge. Manuel Santiago faced two charges of conviction while being acquitted of two others. This case is notable as it is rare for public officials to face criminal charges in relation to wrongful conviction cases.

The probe stemmed from a 1991 homicide involving the rape and murder of an elderly widow. Anthony Wright, convicted at 20, spent 25 years in prison before DNA evidence exonerated him, leading to his acquittal in a retrial. The detectives were called to testify during a 2016 retrial, reigniting the timeline for filing perjury charges, which were brought forth by Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner just before the statute of limitations expired in 2021.

Key issues in the trial revolved around the validity of Wright's confession, which he claimed was coerced, a claim the detectives denied. During the retrial, Devlin struggled to accurately transcribe a nine-page confession on the spot, while Wright maintained he was forced to sign documents under duress. Despite the absence of direct testimony from the defendants during the trial, the jury's deliberations culminated in a mixed outcome.

Defense attorneys argued that the prosecution improperly influenced the grand jury by portraying the detectives as individuals with a past of dishonesty. Despite these claims, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court declined to review matters pertaining to pretrial appeals.

Following the verdicts, Krasner emphasized the importance of accountability in law enforcement. He underlined that the guilty findings should serve as a warning to law enforcement agencies to respect the integrity of evidence and avoid misconduct. Sentencing for the convicted detectives is scheduled for June.