A judge in Florida has set aside the wrongful conviction of Willie L. Williams Jr., who spent almost 45 years in prison for an armed robbery. The decision came after evidence was revealed that the star witness had his memory “hypnotically refreshed” by a self-taught police lieutenant. Williams, now 79, expressed his relief and gratitude, stating that he always knew he was not the shooter but lacked the evidence to defend himself.
The Innocence Project of Florida played a crucial role in resolving Williams’ case, with its legal director, Brandon Scheck, emphasizing the importance of swiftly correcting wrongful convictions when unconstitutional means are involved. The State Attorney’s Office conceded that the newly discovered evidence entitled Williams to post-conviction relief and made the decision not to refile the charges from 1975 against him.
The case dates back to a 1975 armed robbery at the Wesconnett Produce Store in Jacksonville, where Williams, a passenger in the gunman’s car, was arrested after a police chase. Despite maintaining his innocence and providing an alternative version of events, he was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. His subsequent attempts for post-conviction relief and to correct an illegal sentence were denied.
Williams’ release on parole in 2020 paved the way for the re-examination of his case by the Conviction Integrity Review Division of the Fourth Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office (CIR). Their investigation uncovered that a police lieutenant had hypnotized the key witness before he identified Williams, casting doubt on the validity of the identification.
The case highlights the potential consequences of unreliable evidence and the importance of thoroughly reviewing convictions based on questionable means. After almost 45 years, Williams has been exonerated, shedding light on the need for vigilance in addressing wrongful convictions and upholding due process rights.