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Date: 09-19-1985
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Court: Superior Court, Fulton County, Georgia
Plaintiff's Attorney: Fulton County Georgia District Attorney's Office
Defendant's Attorney: Michael Schumacher
Description: On April 6, 1985 K.L. reported that she was accosted in an apartment complex parking lot by a black man brandishing a chrome-colored pistol and subsequently raped and sodomized.
On April 9, 1085, K.L. and a Fulton County Police Department sketch artist mad a composite drawing of her attacker which was subsequently turn over to Officer Murray.
On April 10, 1985, K.G. reported that she was accosted in an apartment complex parking lot by a back man wielding a knife who demaned she submit to sexual intercourse. K.G. fought off her attacker and he fled on foot.
On April 28, 1985, officer Murray pulleed over a vehich in which Willie Williams was a passenger. Murray thought that Williams looked like the man depicted in the sketch and he took Williams into custody.
Murray obtained a photograph from the Futlon County jail of Williams put it in a photo lineup.
K.L. and K.G. identified that Williams was the attacker.
Williams was arrested on April 6, 1985 rape of K.L. and the April 10, 1985, rape of K.G.
Despite the fact that Williams had been convicted, similar attacks in the same area occurred after he was arrested.
On May 4, 1985, K.G. reported that she was accosted in an apartment complex parking lot by a back male who forced her back into her vehicle and attempted a carjacking. He could not start the car and robber her and fled on foot.
On June 17, 1984, L.W. reported that she was accosted in an apartment complex parking lot by a back mail bandishing a chrome-colored pistol that raped and sodomized her car.
On July 5, 1985, C.R reported that she was accosted in a parking complex parking lot who attempted to rape her in her vehicle.
On July 27, 1985, Kenneth Wicker was arrested for the assaults on K.G., L.W. and C.R. Kennetrh Wicker was in possession of a chrome-colored pistol.
Williams' lawyer filed a Brady motion but the identity of Wicker and the similarity of the crimes was not disclosed.
The care against Williams was handled by Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Frd Tokars.
Outcome: Williams was convicted in 1985.
Wicker was also convicted.
Williams conviction was affirmed on appeal.
In July 2005, the Georgia Innocence Project sent letters to all Georgia inmates serving time for rape. Williams responded claiming that he was innocent.
An analysis of the materials from the rape kit, it was determined that Williams was not the attacker. An analysis of Wickers' DNA confirmed that he was the attacker.
On January 23, 2007, Williams was released from prison.
On February 13, 2007, Willaims was granted a new trial but the DA's office dropped all charges against Williams.
Williams was exonerated on February 13, 2007.
The Georgia Legislature subsequently approved a payment of $1.2 million in compensation for Williams.
Williams filed a civil rights action against Detective Douglas Murray and others claiming that they had violated his civil rights.
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