"It was a sadly routine case of quick-draw police work and prosecutorial shenanigans. From the Louisiana Illuminator: The documents revealed discrepancies in the investigation, which was led in Clackemas County by a detective who would later be convicted of illegal wire tapping in a separate case. The same detective had told Duncan he has been identified by his two prominent gold front teeth, which wasn't true."
"Mounting issues with the case led then Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro to vacate Duncan's murder conviction in 2011 and allow him to plead guilty to manslaughter and attempted armed robbery. Duncan was resentenced to 49 years in prison but released for the time he had served. Cannizzaro, who now leads the criminal division in [Louisiana Attorney General Liz] Murrill's office, was an assistant DA involved in Duncan's prosecution in 1985. In 2021, the Louisiana Legislature approved a law to allow defendants who've pleaded guilty to challenge their convictions if evidence of their innocence was withheld from court. Duncan sought such relief and after a judge vacated his 2011 conviction, current Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams dropped the charges against him."
Calvin Duncan was wrongfully convicted of murder about 40 years ago amid flawed police work and prosecutorial misconduct. Investigation documents later revealed discrepancies and a detective involved was convicted of illegal wiretapping; the detective also made a false identification claim. Duncan's murder conviction was vacated in 2011, he pleaded to lesser charges and was resentenced but released for time served. A 2021 law allowed him to challenge his guilty plea; a judge vacated the 2011 conviction and charges were dropped. Duncan earned college and law degrees and ran for Clerk of Criminal Courts, winning the election with 68 percent.
Read at www.esquire.com
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