NYC Pays $7M to Exonerated Grant Williams

MAY 23 2022·Updated MAY 24 2022

Story

Image credit: Staten Island Advance /AP [via NBC News]

The Facts

New York City has agreed to pay Grant Williams $7M after he spent 23 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.
Independent
Williams was convicted for the fatal shooting of Shdell Lewis in 1997, but he always maintained his innocence and spent years appealing his guilty verdict.
NBC
According to the NYC comptroller office, Williams was convicted without a confession, murder weapon, or solid evidence. Police also reportedly ignored a witness who claimed that Williams wasn't the shooter.
Independent
The investigation was re-opened in 2017 after new evidence emerged, including credible witnesses and uncovered procedures that didn't meet investigative standards.
Daily Mail
Williams was released on parole in Oct. 2019, and his conviction was thrown out in July 2021.
NBC

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

While appalling that Williams wrongly spent so many years behind bars, this case is an example of recent successful reforms to the justice system. Williams is free, has been generously compensated, and further reforms can be expected.

Daily Mail

Establishment-critical narrative

A wrongful conviction is never the work of one bad apple, but rather a clear indication of latent system weaknesses. Compensating a victim and holding officials accountable won't undo the damage. More must be done to prevent this from happening again.