Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog
In Boston, Massachusetts, the civil rights trial of Shawn Drumgold, the man wrongfully convicted of killing a 12-year-old girl, is under way. Drumgold, now 42, served 15 years in prison for the 1988 murder of Darlene Tiffany Moore who got caught in the middle of a gang fight in a Roxbury neighborhood.
Drumgold was released from prison in 2003 after prosecutors took another look at the case and realized that he did not get a fair trial. Witnesses had told the Boston Globe that they were bullied into testifying against Drumgold. One witness in his murder trial had even been suffering from a rare form of brain cancer that can impair his memory and perception. This fact was never revealed to the defense.
Drumgold filed a lawsuit against the city of Boston, Massachusetts in 2004. He also named two police detectives Detective Walsh and Detective Callahan, both now retired, that had investigated his murder case.
On Wednesday, Ricky Evans testified that he lied when he was a witness during Drumgold’s murder trial. He says Detective Callahan showed him several photos of suspects and refused to accept his response when he picked another man’s photo.
Evans said he didn’t have a permanent residence during the time of the shooting. Boston police paid for his food and lodging at a local Howard Johnson for eight months. He says that Detective Callahan told him several outstanding warrants against him would be ‘wiped out.”
Evans admits that he never saw Drumgold during the night of the shooting and that the testimony he provided was based on information that Callahan and another detective had given him. He says recanted his testimony because he felt guilty about lying.
Drumgold claims that Callahan and Walsh withheld key evidence that could have cleared his name and also manipulated key witnesses.
Witness in Drumgold case says he made up testimony, Boston.com, March 5, 2008
Jury hears opening statements in Drumgold case, Boston Herald, March 5, 2008
Related Web Resources:
Drumgold sues over wrongful conviction, Boston.com, June 4, 2004
Drumgold Says He Has No Anger, TruthInJustice.org, November 10, 2003
If you have been charged or convicted in Massachusetts for a crime you did not commit, you should contact our Boston, Massachusetts criminal defense law firm right away. Contact Altman & Altman LLP today.
