BACKGROUND:" Darryl Anthony Howard was convicted in 1995 on two counts of second-degree murder for the 1991 deaths of Doris Washington and her 13-year-old daughter, Nishonda. The convictions were vacated in 2016 after Howard's attorneys successfully argued that DNA evidence, some of which wasn't tested until 2010, implicated two other men and cleared Howard. Durham County prosecutors then chose not to retry the case. Howard sued Durham police in 2017, alleging that investigator Darryl Dowdy, who had retired by that time, had violated his civil rights. Howard's attorneys presented evidence during the three-week trial that Dowdy had supplied details of the murders to informants so their statements to police and trial testimony would implicate Howard. Howard and his defense team have argued for years that Washington was raped and killed by members of a New York street gang for which she dealt drugs."
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STORY: "Jury awards North Carolina man $6M after ruling police fabricated evidence, by Reporter Bob D'Angelo, published by KIRO 7 News on December 1, 2021.
GIST: "A federal jury awarded a North Carolina man who spent nearly 24 years in prison $6 million on Wednesday after ruling that a detective fabricated evidence that led to double murder and arson convictions.
The jury in Winston-Salem found former Durham police detective Darryl Dowdy made up evidence and performed an inadequate investigation that resulted in the 1995 conviction of Darryl Anthony Howard, of Durham, The News & Observer of Raleigh reported.
Howard was convicted for the murders of Doris Washington, 29, and Nishonda Washington, 13, according to the newspaper. He had been accused of strangling the two victims and then setting their apartment on fire, WTVDreported.
He was sentenced to 80 years in prison, but Howard’s convictions were vacated by a Durham County judge, who cited police and prosecutorial misconduct, WRAL reported.
Howard received a pardon of innocence from North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in April 2021, according to the television station.
In 2017, Howard filed a federal civil rights lawsuit that accused Dowdy, the city of Durham and others of actions that resulted in Howard being wrongfully convicted, The News & Observer reported.
The lawsuit was later changed to only include Dowdy as a defendant, the newspaper reported.
“I am happy about the verdict, but I am kind of upset about the damages,” Howard told The News & Observer. “Just imagine, 23 years I stayed in prison.”
Nick Ellis, one of Dowdy’s attorneys, said he was disappointed with the verdict but added that he respects the jury’s decision.
“We have confidence in the investigation Detective Dowdy conducted,” Ellis told WRAL."
The entire story can be read at:
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. 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. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
