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Indiana Death Row Inmate Waiting to Have DNA Evidence Admitted in Appeal to Prevent Execution
Aired July 28, 2003 - 14:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In Indiana, a man named Darnell Williams is about to die. He's going to be executed Friday for the murder of an elderly couple in 1986. But the prosecutor in the case now says his execution would be unjust.
CNN's Jeff Flock live in Indianapolis with this story -- Jeff.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Kyra. And he came to the parole board hearing today to make that claim. That parole board hearing having conclude add little bit ago. We're about an hour away from the recommendation to the governor.
I want to show you some pictures from inside this extraordinary hearing today. A hearing from not only the prosecutor but also jurors in the case. It's about this man Darnell Williams. They're having second thoughts now about blood evidence that allegedly linked him directly to this double murder in 1986. They're now asking that this blood evidence be DNA tested. There wasn't DNA testing back in 1986. They want DNA done on this blood now to try to determine whether, in fact, it was blood from the victims.
We talked to both the prosecutor as well as the jurors as well as family members of the victims today. And one of the jurors explained to me just why this blood evidence was so important.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN GNAJEK, FORMER JUROR: The only physical evidence was the blood evidence on his shorts.
FLOCK: So you hadn't had that evidence you wouldn't have given him the death penitentiary?
GNAJEK: There wasn't no way we could give him the death penalty if he wasn't a triggerman. And that was the only evidence that actually put him in the room.
STEPHEN CREASON, DEPUTY ATTY. GENERAL: Can I tell you, can anyone tell you without a doubt was Darnell Williams the trigger man? We can't. That isn't required. But we do have a witness that puts him in there and says things like, It's your time, and then a gunshot fired.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLOCK: The state is there saying that the blood evidence is not important. They have other evidence linking him to the crime.
It's also important to note, Kyra, this is not about innocence. At this point Mr. Williams is not saying he is innocent. He clearly was at the scene of the crime some had some culpability, it's just a matter of whether or not he'll be executed. And there are a lot of people in this state who feel is it not fair to execute him. We'll watch it.
PHILLIPS: And we'll check in as soon as we know something. Jeff Flock in Indianapolis. Thank you so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Admitted in Appeal to Prevent Execution>
Aired July 28, 2003 - 14:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In Indiana, a man named Darnell Williams is about to die. He's going to be executed Friday for the murder of an elderly couple in 1986. But the prosecutor in the case now says his execution would be unjust.
CNN's Jeff Flock live in Indianapolis with this story -- Jeff.
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Indeed, Kyra. And he came to the parole board hearing today to make that claim. That parole board hearing having conclude add little bit ago. We're about an hour away from the recommendation to the governor.
I want to show you some pictures from inside this extraordinary hearing today. A hearing from not only the prosecutor but also jurors in the case. It's about this man Darnell Williams. They're having second thoughts now about blood evidence that allegedly linked him directly to this double murder in 1986. They're now asking that this blood evidence be DNA tested. There wasn't DNA testing back in 1986. They want DNA done on this blood now to try to determine whether, in fact, it was blood from the victims.
We talked to both the prosecutor as well as the jurors as well as family members of the victims today. And one of the jurors explained to me just why this blood evidence was so important.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOHN GNAJEK, FORMER JUROR: The only physical evidence was the blood evidence on his shorts.
FLOCK: So you hadn't had that evidence you wouldn't have given him the death penitentiary?
GNAJEK: There wasn't no way we could give him the death penalty if he wasn't a triggerman. And that was the only evidence that actually put him in the room.
STEPHEN CREASON, DEPUTY ATTY. GENERAL: Can I tell you, can anyone tell you without a doubt was Darnell Williams the trigger man? We can't. That isn't required. But we do have a witness that puts him in there and says things like, It's your time, and then a gunshot fired.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLOCK: The state is there saying that the blood evidence is not important. They have other evidence linking him to the crime.
It's also important to note, Kyra, this is not about innocence. At this point Mr. Williams is not saying he is innocent. He clearly was at the scene of the crime some had some culpability, it's just a matter of whether or not he'll be executed. And there are a lot of people in this state who feel is it not fair to execute him. We'll watch it.
PHILLIPS: And we'll check in as soon as we know something. Jeff Flock in Indianapolis. Thank you so much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Admitted in Appeal to Prevent Execution>
