"Williams’ testimony came on the fifth day of a rare hearing before a three-judge panel to determine if two of his co-defendants in the murder, Kenneth Kagonyera and Robert Wilcoxson, are really innocent.
The N.C. Innocence Inquiry Commission ordered the proceeding after it found credible new evidence that the two men might not have committed the crime.
Defense attorneys argue that prosecutors and investigators with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office targeted the wrong group of suspects. They contend DNA evidence and a confession point to the guilt of three who were never charged."
REPORTER CLARKE MORRISON: THE ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES;
Photo: Kenneth Kagonyera;
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"ASHEVILLE — Larry Jerome Williams Jr. was 16 when then-Sheriff Bobby Medford interrogated him about the murder of Walter Rodney Bowman, “painting a perfect picture” of how he believed the crime unfolded," the Asheville Citizen-Times story by reporter Clarke Morrison published on September 30, 2011 under the heading, "Convicted murderer denies involvement at innocence hearing in Asheville: Innocence panel hears claim confession to murder was forced," begins.
"Williams testified Monday that he repeatedly denied involvement but eventually gave in to confusion and fear of spending the rest of his life in prison. Even his mother urged him to plead guilty, he said," the story continues.
"“I was forced to say it when I really didn’t want to,” said Williams, one of six men charged with the Sept. 18, 2000, slaying of Bowman during a home invasion in Fairview. “(Medford) said I could face life without parole if I didn’t comply.”
Williams’ testimony came on the fifth day of a rare hearing before a three-judge panel to determine if two of his co-defendants in the murder, Kenneth Kagonyera and Robert Wilcoxson, are really innocent.
The N.C. Innocence Inquiry Commission ordered the proceeding after it found credible new evidence that the two men might not have committed the crime.
Defense attorneys argue that prosecutors and investigators with the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office targeted the wrong group of suspects. They contend DNA evidence and a confession point to the guilt of three who were never charged.
“Did you have anything to do with that homicide,” attorney Chris Fialko asked Williams.
“No, sir,” he said.
Williams testified that Medford, who now is serving a 15-year sentence in a federal prison on a corruption conviction, during one interrogation painted a detailed picture of the circumstances of Bowman’s murder. District Attorney Ron Moore was in on the questioning, Williams said.
The sheriff insisted Williams was inside Wilcoxson’s van when the others went inside the victim’s home to commit a robbery. Williams acknowledged Monday he had been with Kagonyera and Wilcoxson that night and they smoked marijuana.
“(Medford) made me think I didn’t remember,” he said. “He made me think I was asleep in the van.”
Williams said he eventually signed a statement confirming Medford’s version of events. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and served nearly nine years before his release in July 2009. “I was scared,” he said. “The only thing I’m thinking about is I’m about to lose my life.”
Williams said his mother urged him to take the plea deal.
“I’m her youngest child, and she didn’t want me to spend the rest of my life in prison,” he said.
Two prominent defense attorneys also testified Monday they were baffled that charges were dropped against one of the six men charged with Bowman’s murder, while the rest got substantial prison terms.
“I never understood why charges against Aaron Brewton were dismissed,” said Sean Devereux, who represented Kagonyera on the murder charge. “I remember being astonished.”
Jack Stewart, who represented Wilcoxson, said he also was surprised the murder charge against Brewton was dropped. He said his client always maintained he was innocent.
Devereux and Stewart also said they were not notified by the District Attorney’s Office that DNA found on bandanas believed to have been used to cover the suspects’ faces during the home invasion didn’t match any of the men who were charged.
Devereux told the court he felt partially responsible for his client’s guilty plea and felt especially bad about Williams’ conviction because of his young age.
“The thought that a 16-year-old boy went to prison for nine years for something he didn’t do is profoundly disturbing,” he said. “I think it’s an immeasurable tragedy.”"
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The story can be found at:
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20110920/NEWS/309200024/Convict-Fairview-killing-recounts-coercion?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:
http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith
For a breakdown of some of the cases, issues and controversies this Blog is currently following, please turn to:
http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=120008354894645705&postID=8369513443994476774
Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;
