A Man Wrongfully Convicted of Rape Released After 21 Years in Prison
In 1985 a woman was raped in the parking lot of an apartment complex in Sandy Springs, a city north of Atlanta.
Williams was convicted of the crime and sentenced to 45 years in prison, but that didn't deter him from working to clear his name.
In 2005 Williams wrote a letter to the Georgia Innocence Project, a non-profit organization that works to clear individuals who have been convicted of crimes they didn't commit.
Through the work of the GIP, DNA test were performed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. The DNA test ruled out Williams as the rapist.
Williams isn't the first person freed through the efforts of the Georgia Innocence Project. In 2005 DNA evidence exonerated Robert Clark. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1981 for rape, robbery, and kidnapping, and served 24 years before being released.
It is likely that Williams will be compensated for his wrongful conviction considering that others have received financial compensation in the past.
According to the Georgia Innocence Project website, in 2005 Governor Sonny Perdue signed into law legislation to compensate Clarence Harris after he served 18 years of a life sentence in prison for rape, robbery, and kidnapping. Harris was released from prison in 2004 after DNA test cleared his name.
Although he has been released from prison, media sources report that the hearing to "officially" exonerate Williams will occur in the next two weeks.
Published by Sin Lucas
Sindy is the editor-in-chief for The Silver Tongue. Visit them daily at www.thesilvertongueonline.com. View profile
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10 Comments
Post a CommentI'm a bit confused. Earlier in the story it says that DNA ruled out Williams as the rapest. How could this be? Then later at the end of the story it says that the DNA cleared his name. Can someone clarify this for me please?
people who lioe and say they have been raped or abused should carry out the sentence that had been made to see just what they have put the real victum ov the situation through
You are right there is no way that anyone can ever give William those years back. I am a student majoring in Criminal Justice, and it is very sad for me to see these cases like William's going on. It does not matter how much money that he receives it would never give him back the years that he lost with his friends and family. Blessings and best wishes to William O. Pete.
hi my name is adam and i strongly agree with carroll and the other one. one persons mistake can not be another persons failure " state of GA" write a book, make a movie, tell the world your story and if that means you benefit by making money then justice has been served thanks you very much for listening to me..
there is no way u can compensate him for his 22 years in life he misse dout on but they can compensate him with money for 22 years of his life. its a start so i agree with what carroll said
if i was him i would sue the state and the police dept and the witnesses that mistook him for someone else. I also would write a book about it or a movie. i would take their money because they caused him pretty much his whole life he could have done something good with his life.
They can never compensate him for 21 years.
Such a sad story. I am thankful that the Innocence Project is helping clear people that are wrongfully convicted. Of course, it can't make up for all that they've lost but at least it's a step in the right direction.
That is the question isn't it?
How will they 'compensate' him for the 21 years he lost???