After 37 years behind bars for a murder he did not commit, Philadelphia man Willie Stokes is now free. He was jailed for the 1980 murder of Leslie Campbell in North Philadelphia.
According to a statement from Philadelphia's District Attorney's Office the initial testimony of witness Franklin Lee was false. Lee, a former friend of Stokes's, was in prison for murder himself when police bribed him with sex and drugs, he confessed. Lee had alleged that Stokes admitted to killing Campbell during a dice game.
While listening to the hearing via teleconference, sources say the now ex-inmate broke down in tears. He had maintained his innocence all along. Lee apologized to Mr. Stokes and his family for al of the problems he had caused.
Both detectives ( Lawrence Gerrard and Ernest Gilbert) who framed Mr. Stokes are deceased but had faced similar allegations of using coercion in other cases. Their actions contributed to the Philadelphia Police Department's reputation for racism and corruption. As reported in The Philadelphia Inquirer in a 5-part series about homicides 5 other men are in jail on similar circumstances.
Stokes had been sentenced to life in prison.
In a press conference following his release on Jan. 3 Stokes' attorney Michael Diamondstein said, "Today is a tremendous day. We're all very thankful; however, it's also a sad day, because it reminds us of how lawless, unfair and unjust Philadelphia law enforcement was for so long."
On Dec. 22, Magistrate Judge Carol Sandra Moore Wells filed a report and stated, "there is a reasonable probability that Stokes would have been acquitted without Lee's testimony and that the trial verdict is therefore unreliable."
The DA's office will announced whether they will retry Stokes in a hearing on Jan. 26.