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

The trial of three retired Philadelphia detectives accused of misconduct in a homicide case concluded with a mixed verdict. Martin Devlin was acquitted on all charges, while Frank Jastrzembski faced acquittals on all but one count. Manuel Santiago was acquitted of two charges but convicted on two others. This prosecution is notably rare, as few public officials face criminal charges related to innocence cases.

The case dates back to a 1991 homicide involving the rape and murder of an elderly widow, leading to the wrongful conviction of Anthony Wright, who spent 25 years in prison before DNA evidence exonerated him. The detectives were called to testify during a retrial in 2016, prompting Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner to file charges just before the expiration of the statute of limitations in 2021.

Wright’s initial conviction relied heavily on his confession, which he claimed was coerced. During the retrial, inconsistencies in Devlin's recollection of the confession raised questions about the detectives' integrity. Wright, who had been handcuffed and pressured during the interrogation, was acquitted by a second jury, which swiftly acknowledged the potential flaws in the initial evidence.

Krasner has been a proponent of police accountability since taking office in 2018, and he charged the detectives as part of his initiative to address wrongful convictions. Santiago and Devlin were accused of lying about the confession, while Jastrzembski faced charges related to the mishandling of DNA evidence. Despite the mixed verdicts, the courtroom drama highlighted ongoing concerns regarding police practices and the reliability of historical evidence in wrongful conviction cases.

Following the verdict, attorney Fortunato Perri Jr. expressed dissatisfaction, characterizing it as inconsistent and signaling plans to appeal. Krasner, while refraining from commenting on the details of the case, emphasized the significance of the guilty verdicts as a testament to the need for accountability in law enforcement. The convicted detectives are scheduled for sentencing in June, marking a continuing chapter in this complex case.