Facing Death for Killing Alleged Abuser

Canada Goose Coats On Sale PHILADELPHIA A state judge on Friday tossed out the death sentence for Terry Williams, a convicted killer facing lethal injection in just five days, after ruling that prosecutors hid crucial mitigating evidence from defense attorneys before his canada goose outlet price trial nearly 30 years ago. Canada Goose Coats On Sale

Philadelphia’s district attorney called canada goose outlet location the ruling “improper” and said he would appeal immediately to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

buy canada goose jacket cheap Williams was canada goose outlet real sentenced to death canada goose outlet washington dc for killing Amos Norwood, a 56 year old chemist, in Philadelphia in 1984. Norwood was found beaten and stabbed to death in a cemetery, and his body was set on fire. Williams was three months past his 18th birthday at the time of the killing. At his trial, the lead prosecutor called Norwood an “innocent man” and told jurors that Williams committed the murder “for no other reason but that a kind man gave him a ride home.” buy canada goose jacket cheap

But as Williams’ execution date approached last month, Judge M. Teresa canada goose outlet orlando Saramina, of the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, ordered a last minute hearing to weigh defense claims that prosecutors suppressed evidence related to Norwood and the nature of his relationship with Williams. That hearing unearthed previously undisclosed accusations that Norwood had molested teenage boys and paid Williams for sex before his death.

Canada Goose Jackets In a statement from the bench, Saramina said prosecutors “sanitized” the statements of key witnesses, including Norwood’s wife, by removing statements indicating that Norwood was involved in illicit sexual conduct with teenage boys. “Ultimately, the nondisclosure of that evidence undermines confidence in the jury’s death sentence,” Saramina said. Canada Goose Jackets

Saramina harshly canada goose outlet in usa criticized canada goose discount uk the conduct of Andrea Foulkes, the assistant Philadelphia district attorney who led the canada goose outlet store uk prosecution during the trial, saying Foulkes “played fast and loose” with the truth during the case. “She had no problem with disregarding her ethical responsibilities,” Saramina said.

Canada Goose Outlet As part of last week’s hearing, Saramina ordered that prosecution and police files from the case be made available to the defense, over the protests of prosecutors. From those files, defense attorneys and the judge retrieved interview notes never handed over to the defense during nearly three decades of appeals. Canada Goose Outlet

READ THE JUDGE’S STATEMENT OVERTURNING TERRY WILLIAMS’ DEATH SENTENCE

Among the files was a previously undisclosed police interview with Mamie Norwood, Amos Norwood’s wife. and found a “young, slim male” standing silently in the hallway of her home. Norwood told police that her husband asked her for money, then loaded his car full of stereo equipment and drove off with the young man. The next day, Norwood told his wife and friends that he had been “abducted” and then escaped.

uk canada goose Police statements turned over to the defense contained no mention of Norwood’s account of the incident. uk canada goose

The Rev. Charles Poindexter, the pastor at Norwood’s church, where he was the leader of a youth group, told police he believed Norwood was a homosexual and said that a mother in his congregation had accused Norwood of molesting her teenage son and other boys. That interview also was not disclosed. Handwritten notes by Foulkes https://www.goosecanada.ca documented allegations by another teenage boy who said he was touched on his “privates” by Norwood and told to keep quiet about it.

canada goose store Foulkes had also prosecuted Williams for killing Herbert Hamilton, a 51 year old man, several months before the Norwood killing. In that case, a jury found Williams guilty of third degree murder after hearing evidence that Hamilton was a sexual predator cheap canada goose who preyed canada goose outlet online uk on underage teenage boys, including Williams. But for years, Foulkes has insisted that she had no evidence at the time that a similar motive was at play in the Norwood murder. “I would have preferred to have more evidence of homosexuality if it was available,” Foulkes said. “It would have made a cleaner motive.” canada goose store

Canada Goose online “I had no evidence of it at the time of the trial,” she said. Canada Goose online

canada goose coats Seth Williams, the Philadelphia district attorney, lambasted Saramina’s decision, saying the judge “unfairly victimized” Foulkes. Williams called the notes and interviews “scraps of paper” that had no bearing on the case. “The well deserved death sentence imposed by a jury on a vicious double murderer has been unjustly overturned,” Williams said in a statement. canada goose coats

canada goose The district attorney’s appeal could put the execution of Williams back on track next week if it prevails. canada goose

Under Saramina’s ruling, Williams will get a new hearing before a jury to determine whether he should be executed or not. The judge did not overturn Williams’ guilty verdict in the Norwood murder. If Williams prevails in court, he will serve life in prison without the possibility of parole.