A man whose conviction for the murder of a Williamsburg rabbi was overturned after he spent 15 years in prison, plans to sue the city for $30 million for malicious prosecution.
The lawyer for Jabbar Collins, 37, filed notice with the city of the pending lawsuit, claiming that prosecutors—specifically Assistant District Attorney Michael Vecchione—suppressed evidence at the trial that could have exonerated his client, threatened one drug-addled witness, and coerced another to supply false testimony.
Collins, now 37, was convicted in 1995 of gunning down Abraham Pollack, a local landlord, during a botched robbery.
The DA’s office declined comment.
(Source: NY Post)
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7 Responses
Just because the conviction was tossed does not mean he is innocent. If there is reasonable evidence that he is the murderer than the victims family should sue Collins civilly for $30 million. A previous criminal trial does not preclude a civil trial under the U.S. Constitutions double jeopardy rules.
Good for him. I hope he gets all the money he can.
A previous criminal trial does not preclude a civil trial under the U.S. Constitutions double jeopardy rules.
IANAL (and I know almost nothing about this case) but I’m fairly certain that he can even be retried criminally (if the DA’s office wants to do so, of course). A conviction being overturned by a judge is not the same as an acquittal by a jury.
The Wolf
pinay (#1) – What’s your problem? I bet you wouldn’t hold to such a gratuitous hostile position if the prosecutorial abuse cite here were aimed at a Yid.
Oh No. Am I agreeing with YonasonW?!
I don’t understand why some of you are jumping on this guy. Haven’t you seen enough of prosecuters pushing and manipulating things in order to punish anybody they’ve met? I do think it’s about time they are held responsible for their actions. It shouldn’t be a one way street.
Just as in the Rubashkin case, if the prosecuters would even slightly fear having to stand in court to defend their behaviour things would be different.
I hope this guy wins and sets a precedent.
YonasonW What’s your problem? I bet you wouldn’t hold such a gratuitous hostile position against my view if the murder victim here was a non jew.
This Wall Street Journal article is more detailed and may shed some new light onto this topic.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304023804575566201554448476.html