Derrick Hamilton Spent Over 20 Years in Jail Over False Murder Conviction

TL;DR

Derrick Hamilton spent more than 20 years in jail after false murder convictions built around witness testimony that was contradicted or allegedly coerced. First charged at 17, he received 25 years to life, studied law in prison, and secured a reversal after six and a half years, only to be arrested again eight months later. Read on to understand the evidence, legal setbacks, and systemic misconduct behind his fight for justice.

Transcript

the jurogan experience well it's an honor to meet you derek especially after such high praise so tell me your story like how did what happened to you well thanks for having me and josh thanks for the accolades um you know i was 17 year old kid running around brooklyn at a time when brooklyn was uh terrible and i was a product of my environment i wa... Read More

Key Insights

• 🥺 The criminal justice system can fail to consider evidence of innocence and can rely on coerced witness testimony, leading to wrongful convictions.
• 👮 Systemic problems, such as corruption within law enforcement and prosecutorial misconduct, can contribute to wrongful convictions.
• 🍝 Exonerations require extensive effort, including advocacy, the involvement of the media, and the examination of past cases to uncover patterns of misconduct.

Questions & Answers

Q: Why did Derrick Hamilton spend over 20 years in jail for murder?

Hamilton was convicted in murder cases despite evidence challenging the witness testimony against him. In the first case, a witness said police made her lie; in the later case, a witness admitted that detective Louis Scarcella threatened her with jail unless she identified Hamilton.

Q: How did Derrick Hamilton first become involved in the criminal justice system?

Hamilton said he was 17 and committing petty robberies in Brooklyn when a man was killed around 5 a.m. A car owner told police that he had rented Hamilton the identified vehicle and that Hamilton later confessed to accidentally shooting the victim, which Hamilton denied.

Q: What happened to the witness in Hamilton's first murder case?

The witness told the court that she had never seen Hamilton and that police made her lie before the grand jury. Although she refused to testify at trial, the judge allowed her grand jury testimony into evidence, preventing the jury from hearing her courtroom denial directly.

Q: What sentence did Derrick Hamilton receive after his first conviction?

Hamilton was sentenced to 25 years to life. He then began studying law in prison and spent the next five or six years working on his case using New York State's prison law-library resources.

Q: Why was Hamilton's first murder conviction reversed?

In 1987, the Appellate Division found no evidence that Hamilton or anyone acting for him had threatened the witness or acted improperly. The court reversed his conviction, and he left prison after six and a half years.

Q: Why was Derrick Hamilton arrested again after his release?

Eight months after his release, detective Louis Scarcella arrested Hamilton at his unisex clothing store in New Haven, Connecticut, and returned him to Brooklyn on another murder charge. Hamilton said Scarcella believed he had not served enough time after the earlier conviction was reversed.

Q: What evidence contradicted the testimony in Hamilton's second murder trial?

The witness testified that Hamilton shot her boyfriend several times inside a building. Her original statement said she had been around the corner and never saw the crime, while ballistics showed that two guns were used and that the victim was shot outside in the street.

Q: How did the second witness describe police coercion?

At a later hearing, she admitted that she had not witnessed the killing and said detective Louis Scarcella told her what happened. She testified that he threatened to jail her if she did not accuse Hamilton, while she was on parole and had children.

Summary

In this video, Derek Hamilton shares his personal story of being wrongfully convicted for murder and his journey to prove his innocence. He discusses the flaws in the criminal justice system, the manipulation by law enforcement, and the lack of repercussions for officers who engage in misconduct. Hamilton also highlights the importance of fighting for justice and advocating for others who have been wrongfully convicted.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Derek Hamilton initially get caught up in the criminal justice system?

Derek explains that he was a young teenager involved in petty crimes in the Brooklyn neighborhood. The police had him on their radar, frequently searching and patting him down. One day, when a man was killed in the neighborhood, another person falsely implicated Derek as the culprit. Despite his disbelief, he was arrested and charged with murder.

Q: Can you provide more details about Derek's first experience with the criminal justice system?

After being charged with murder, Derek's lawyer advised him to study the law in order to understand his case and defend himself. He spent years working on his own defense and eventually, the appellate division found that the judge had no evidence of Derek or anyone threatening the witness. As a result, his conviction was reversed, and he was released from prison.

Q: What happened after Derek's release from prison?

Unfortunately, a rogue cop named Louis Scarcella, who believed Derek didn't serve enough time for his conviction, arrested him again for another murder. Despite evidence proving his innocence, including conflicting statements from a key witness, Derek was convicted once again. The corrupt practices within the criminal justice system prevented the truth from being heard in court.

Q: How did Derek's fight for justice progress after his second conviction?

After being denied numerous post-conviction motions to overturn his verdict, Derek started going to parole board hearings in 2009. The parole board wanted him to admit guilt, but he refused to do so. Eventually, public protests and media attention helped change the parole board's perspective, and they examined his evidence and found him innocent. This led to Derek's exoneration in 2015.

Q: What actions did Derek take after his release to advocate for other wrongfully convicted individuals?

Derek joined a group called the Family and Friends of the Wrongfully Convicted and began working with others to bring attention to their cases. They organized protests, targeted corrupt prosecutors, and fought for justice for innocent prisoners. Their efforts led to the removal of Charles Hynes, the prosecutor who initially convicted Derek, and the exposure of multiple cases involving corrupt actions by law enforcement.

Q: What was the outcome of the investigations into Louis Scarcella's cases?

The New York Times published an article exposing Louis Scarcella's corrupt practices after Derek informed them of other individuals he had framed. As a result, the prosecutor agreed to reexamine 50 cases connected to Scarcella, and 20 people, including Derek, were exonerated. However, Scarcella himself faced no repercussions and continues to receive a pension.

Q: How many innocent people does Derek believe were wrongfully convicted due to Scarcella's actions?

Derek believes that Scarcella worked on over 200 cases, and at least half of those individuals could be innocent. It is not uncommon for innocent prisoners to remain incarcerated due to the negligence or misconduct of law enforcement.

Q: What challenges did Derek face in presenting his evidence and proving his innocence?

Despite having compelling evidence, the courts often dismissed or disregarded it based on the prosecutor's claims that Derek was a "bad guy." The prosecutors used tactics to undermine the credibility of witnesses and downplayed important evidence, preventing the truth from being heard and leading to wrongful convictions.

Q: How did Derek educate himself on the law while in prison?

Derek took advantage of the law library in prison and immersed himself in studying the law. He learned through reading books, discussing cases with fellow inmates, and receiving guidance from older prisoners who had more knowledge. Derek's dedication and passion for justice propelled him to become knowledgeable enough to fight his own case.

Q: What is Derek's overall takeaway from his experience with the criminal justice system?

Derek emphasizes that there are many innocent people in prison, and the system is flawed and biased. He urges people to recognize the systemic issues and fight for justice. Derek's story motivates him to advocate for others and shed light on the wrongful convictions and misconduct that occur within the criminal justice system.

Takeaways

Derek Hamilton's powerful story highlights the issues within the criminal justice system, including wrongful convictions, corruption, and the lack of accountability for law enforcement officers. His experience serves as a reminder of the importance of fighting for justice and standing up for those who have been wrongfully convicted. By shedding light on these issues, we can work towards creating a fairer and more just criminal justice system.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Derek Hamilton was wrongly convicted of murder at the age of 17 and sentenced to 25 years to life.

• Despite evidence of his innocence, including witness testimonies and alibis, the courts repeatedly denied his appeals and post-conviction motions.

• Hamilton's case drew attention to systemic problems in the criminal justice system, leading to the re-examination of other cases and the exoneration of multiple individuals.