Man Freed After 22 Years Over Police Murder Case Misconduct

A Detroit man is now free after spending 22 years behind bars due to a murder conviction tainted by a corrupt police officer’s testimony. LaVone Hill, sentenced to life for a double homicide in 2002, walked out of prison on Wednesday after prosecutors admitted to serious misconduct in his trial.

Hill, now 47, was convicted in connection with the fatal shooting of two men during a violent incident at a dice game on September 8, 2001. However, the case against him hinged on testimony from Detroit Police Sergeant Walter Bates, who was later convicted of multiple bank robberies.

The heart of the prosecution’s case was a witness’s signed statement claiming Hill committed the crime. But that witness later recanted, stating they had been coerced by Sgt. Bates. The officer’s credibility played a central role in Hill’s conviction, but what the jury didn’t know was that Bates was under suspension at the time of the trial for undisclosed reasons.

Bates’ later conviction as a serial bank robber would have significantly impacted the case had it been known. Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy expressed her shock, saying, “Not much shocks me anymore, but this did. I have never seen anything like this in all of my decades of being a judge or prosecutor.”

The University of Michigan’s Innocence Clinic took on Hill’s case, uncovering additional discrepancies. One critical detail emerged: while the jury was told the victims were killed with a handgun, evidence indicated they had actually been shot with a rifle.

Testimony from Bates during the trial also denied any wrongdoing, despite the mounting evidence of his corruption. Bates declined to comment when approached by The Detroit News.

In a statement to the court, Hill maintained his innocence, saying, “I was not even there when this crime took place. I’ve sat in prison for almost 23 years because of the misconduct of the Detroit Police Department.”

Though Hill’s release is a victory for the Innocence Clinic, the prosecutor stopped short of declaring him innocent. “I cannot say whether [Hill] is guilty or not guilty of this crime,” Worthy said. “What I can say definitively is that Sgt. Bates’ testimony was pivotal, and no one at the time was made aware of his ongoing criminal activity.”

Hill’s case is another reminder of the work still needed to address wrongful convictions across the country.