Sunday's Charlotte Observer published the editorial, "Another step closer to justice."
Orlando Hudson, chief resident Superior Court judge in Durham, believes that the conviction of Darryl Anthony Howard 19 years ago for two murders and arson was one of the most “horrendous” prosecutions Hudson has seen in his 34 years on the bench.
On Friday, Howard moved one step closer to justice, and North Carolina got a frightening reminder of how fragile justice can be.
Hudson vacated Howard’s conviction two months ago amid contentions of significant prosecutorial and police misconduct. On Friday, he granted Howard his release from prison while the state appeals the May ruling. Incredibly, the Durham District Attorney’s office is fighting that release. An appeals court could rule on it next week.
"Innocence Project co-founder calls for audit of all Nifong cases," is by Anne Blythe for the News & Observer.
Two men with a wealth of knowledge about wrongful convictions – an attorney who works with the Innocence Project and a North Carolina man who spent 19 years in prison for a murder and rape he did not commit – stood outside the Durham courthouse Friday and called for an inquiry into all cases former Durham District Attorney Mike Nifong tried.
Inside the courthouse, Superior Court Judge Orlando Hudson had just described a Nifong case from 1993 as one of the “most horrendous” prosecutions he had seen in his 34 years on the bench.
Despite DNA evidence that pointed to other culprits, Nifong pushed ahead in 1993 with a murder case against Darryl Howard, who has maintained he was wrongfully convicted.
Hudson in May vacated the two second-degree murder verdicts against Howard in the homicides of Doris Washington, 29, and her 13-year-old daughter, Nishonda, in a Durham public housing complex.
WRAL-TV posts, "Innocence Project co-founder calls for audit of Mike Nifong's prosecutions," by Julia Sims.
A co-founder of the New York-based Innocence Project is calling on the Durham County District Attorney's Office to set up a "conviction integrity unit" to audit criminal convictions handled by former prosecutor Mike Nifong.
Nifong made national headlines in 2006 for prosecuting three Duke University lacrosse players who were falsely accused of raping a woman.
"Mike Nifong has been disbarred and sanctioned for his conduct in the Duke lacrosse case for suppressing exculpatory evidence, and now we have proof he did it in this case," attorney Barry Scheck said Friday morning following a hearing in the case of Darryl Anthony Howard.
Related posts are in the prosecutorial misconduct category index. Earlier coverage from North Carolina begins at the link.
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