:quality(75)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/elcomercio/6ENZRFVARVBCTDR7J4BSBGR32I.jpg "A man in New York is found innocent after spending 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit")
Grant Williams, a man from the town of New York, was found innocent after spending 23 years in jail for a crime he did not commit. The man, from the Staten Island district, was charged with a shooting death in April 1996, outside the Stapleton public housing complex.
According to the Globe Live Media network, Grant Williams was found guilty in November 1997 by a jury and later sentenced to 25 years in prison to life imprisonment.
However, Grant Williams had been released on probation in 2019, but before that, his attorney contacted the Richmond County Attorney’s Office and asked them to look into the case.
In reviewing it, investigators interviewed six new witnesses who told them that Williams was not the gunman who committed the crime in April 1996.
State Supreme Court Justice Wayne Ozzi, who overturned Williams’ conviction, indicated that “nothing (he) can say can undo 25 years of that nightmare.” “I hope there is a bright future for you,” added the magistrate.
Univision reported that, according to prosecutors, this is the first case of a wrongful conviction to be overturned in Staten Island. The aforementioned district attorney, Michael McMahon, hugged Grant and apologized for delaying justice.
“I just want to tell everyone that you never know how strong you are until it is put to the test.” Williams, 50, said outside the courthouse.
“I never lost faith and I want to definitely praise the new district attorney who stepped in and made my life different and brought me here today, because right now I would still be sitting in a cell.” Williams added.