Detroit Judge Weighs Chance at Freedom for Man Wrongly Convicted of Murder, Spends 15 Years in Prison.
In a case that has spanned over two months, Detroit Third Judicial Court Judge Margaret Van Houten is now considering the chance at freedom for Mario Willis, a man who was wrongly convicted of murdering firefighter Walter Harris and spent an exhausting 15 years behind bars. The hearing concluded with testimony by Elizabeth Jacobs, one of Willis's attorneys, who presented crucial evidence that suggests Willis's conviction was based on coerced confessions.
Willis's case dates back to 2008 when Darian Dove, a handyman employed by Willis, set fire at an east side Detroit house where he had invited a woman without Willis's knowledge. The prosecution claimed that Willis paid Dove to set the fire, but this account has been disputed by Dove himself. In his own testimony, Dove later stated that police detectives pressured him into making false statements about being paid by Willis.
According to Jacobs, her previous filings in the Michigan Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court aimed to expose the lies told by Dove, including how he initially claimed the fire was an accident multiple times. Another crucial piece of evidence is a statement from arson investigator Charles "Chuck" Simms, who conducted an interview with Willis that had not been made available to his defense team in 2010.
The interview revealed several exculpatory statements made by Willis, including one where he denied receiving an insurance payment on the house. Jacobs argued that concealment of this interview likely prejudiced Willis's jury against him.
In addition, Willis's trial lawyer Wright Blake admitted to several "oversights" during his representation of Willis, including neglecting to secure a forensic expert who might dispute the ruling of Harris's death as a homicide.
As the hearing concluded, Judge Van Houten expressed her busy courtroom docket and will wait for briefings from both Willis's defense team and Wayne County prosecutors in the coming weeks before issuing a written opinion on his petition for a new trial.
In a case that has spanned over two months, Detroit Third Judicial Court Judge Margaret Van Houten is now considering the chance at freedom for Mario Willis, a man who was wrongly convicted of murdering firefighter Walter Harris and spent an exhausting 15 years behind bars. The hearing concluded with testimony by Elizabeth Jacobs, one of Willis's attorneys, who presented crucial evidence that suggests Willis's conviction was based on coerced confessions.
Willis's case dates back to 2008 when Darian Dove, a handyman employed by Willis, set fire at an east side Detroit house where he had invited a woman without Willis's knowledge. The prosecution claimed that Willis paid Dove to set the fire, but this account has been disputed by Dove himself. In his own testimony, Dove later stated that police detectives pressured him into making false statements about being paid by Willis.
According to Jacobs, her previous filings in the Michigan Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court aimed to expose the lies told by Dove, including how he initially claimed the fire was an accident multiple times. Another crucial piece of evidence is a statement from arson investigator Charles "Chuck" Simms, who conducted an interview with Willis that had not been made available to his defense team in 2010.
The interview revealed several exculpatory statements made by Willis, including one where he denied receiving an insurance payment on the house. Jacobs argued that concealment of this interview likely prejudiced Willis's jury against him.
In addition, Willis's trial lawyer Wright Blake admitted to several "oversights" during his representation of Willis, including neglecting to secure a forensic expert who might dispute the ruling of Harris's death as a homicide.
As the hearing concluded, Judge Van Houten expressed her busy courtroom docket and will wait for briefings from both Willis's defense team and Wayne County prosecutors in the coming weeks before issuing a written opinion on his petition for a new trial.
Can't believe this guy spent 15 years locked up over a coerced confession 
. I mean, what's next? Are we gonna start throwing away keys to people who just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time? 
The fact that he got caught up in an arson scheme and had his rights trampled is beyond the pale. And to think the prosecution tried to pin it on him without any solid evidence 
. This judge, though, seems like a breath of fresh air – she's taking her sweet time to get this right 
. Fingers crossed Willis gets a new trial and finally sees justice served 
. 15 years is way too long to spend behind bars for something that might not even be true. Elizabeth Jacobs is doing an awesome job trying to prove he was wrongfully convicted and it's good she got some crucial evidence from Charles Simms' interview. Wright Blake should've done more research, I'm not surprised about those "oversights". What really gets me is that Darian Dove was pressured into lying by the cops - that's just not right 
. Let's hope Judge Van Houten can weigh all this info and make a fair decision soon 
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. 15 years is way too long for anyone to spend in prison, especially when they've been wrongly accused. It's heartbreaking to think about what he and his loved ones must have gone through all those years. And now that the truth is coming out, it's clear that the prosecution made some major mistakes - like not sharing crucial evidence with his defense team 
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. And I have to wonder, what other innocent people are still behind bars due to similar miscarriages of justice? We need more advocates like Elizabeth Jacobs who are fighting for the truth 
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He's been through so much, 15 years is way too long to be locked up for a crime he didn't commit! 
It's like the system finally caught up with itself. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Judge Van Houten will do the right thing and grant him a new trial. 
15 years of freedom would be an incredible gift to Mario, he deserves it so badly after everything he went through. 
meanwhile, justice system's supposed 2 b about helpin ppl not hurtin themselves 
hope judge makes the right call 
The fact that Dove and those detectives just made up all this stuff to get a conviction is just disgusting. And the defense team was totally in over their heads back then... I mean, how hard can it be to secure a forensic expert when you're dealing with something as clear-cut as murder? 
The fact that the prosecution went after Dove as well for lying under oath is huge - that's like, serious perjury right there.
I'm glad that Elizabeth Jacobs and Willis's team are fighting hard to prove his innocence. I hope Judge Van Houten makes the right call.
What I'm hoping is that this case will help bring some much-needed reform to the justice system in Michigan. Fingers crossed for Mario Willis! 
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But at the same time, Willie's been locked up for that long and it just feels so unfair 
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. I hope Willis gets a real shot at an acquittal and his life is finally back on track 
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. The new evidence from Charles Simms' interview is huge, and I hope Judge Van Houten takes all of this into consideration when making her decision 
. Fingers crossed that Willis gets the freedom he deserves soon