Derrick Williams was convicted in 1993 of sexual battery, robbery, and grand theft auto based primarily on the victim's eyewitness identification, despite discrepancies between her description and Williams' actual appearance. The only physical evidence, a grey t-shirt left at the scene, did not match Williams' DNA. Most of the other evidence was destroyed by the county in 2003. In 2011, DNA testing of cells inside the shirt collar excluded Williams, and the state dropped the charges, having imprisoned him for 18 years for crimes he did not commit.

1. Florida Innocence Project
DERRICK WILLIAMS

2. THE CRIME
 August 6, 1992
 25 year old Caucasian woman arrived at home and noticed an African American male was standing on her
front porch
 She watched the male exit her property and as she attemped to exit her vehicle, he reappeared and forced
himself inside her vehicle.
 He then pushed her over to the passenger side and began to drive
 Once parked, the attacker ordered the woman to climb into the backseat and undress
 He made her cover her face with his GREY T-Shirt as he sexually assaulted her
 He also tied her hands and legs together with her pantyhose
 When the attacker left, the woman managed to untie herself and drive away with the attacker’s grey t-shirt
still on the backseat

3. THE INVESTIGATION
 The victim 1st identified Derrick Williams from a photo lineup that
contained TWO pictures of him
 After the photo lineup, the victim was 80% certain that Williams
was her attacker
 After the live lineup, the victim was 100% certain that Williams was
her attacker
 People believe that the double inclusion of Williams’ photo
tainted the victim’s live lineup identification.

4. THE TRIAL
 Victim’s eyewitness testimony was the key evidence at trial(her view was obstructed for the majority of the
attack)
 Her best view of her attacker was when her attacker was standing on her porch
 ~approximately 20 feet away in the rain
 Described him as ~5’6”-5’8” with a scar on gut
 Williams is 5’11” scar on his back
 Single piece of physical evidence against Williams was the grey t-shirt
 Microscopic examination by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement determined hair on t-shirt was NOT
his!!!
 His girlfriend said he was wearing a grey t-shirt and returned with a red shirt[PROSECUTION TRIED TO PIN
IT ON HIM]!!

5. THE TRIAL
 Williams constantly asserted his innocence and that he was
wrongly misidentified
 Alibi- was at a family barbecue
 Friends, family, & neighbors provided the alibi
 He was wearing a t-shirt similar to the one found at the
crime scene
 Still was convicted and sentenced to life in prison

6. POST CONVICTION
 2006 Williams’ family wrote the innocence project of Florida
 July 2009: requested DNA tested hair on t-shirt, victim’s clothing, and materials from the victim’s rape kit.
 Manatee County Sheriff’s Office had nearly all evidence destroyed by a mass incineration in 2003
 Watery leakage flooded a vault & resulting water damage left most evidence irreparable.
 Negligence resulted in destruction of ~3600 cases
 Violated Florida State law
 “all physical evidence must be preserved until the inmate has served the term of his sentence.
 Innocence Project of Florida secured post- conviction DNA testing of the skin cells and sweat inside collar of
grey t-shirt.
 April 4, 2011 state dropped Williams’ case.

7. SUMMARY
INCIDENT DATE: 8/6/1992
JURISDICTION: FL
CHARGE: SEXUAL BATTERY
ROBBERY
GTA(2 COUNTS)
CONVICTION: “SAME”
SENTENCE: 2 CONSEC. LIFE
SENTENCES
YR. OF CONVICTION: 1993
EXONERATION DATE: 4/4/11
YRS. SERVED: 18
REAL PERP FOUND: NO
CONTRIB. CAUSES:
EYEWITENESS
MISIDENTIFICATION
GOVERNMENT
MISCONDUDCT
LACK OF EVIDENCE
COMPENSATION: NOT YET

9. QUESTIONS?