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Settlement reached between city, wrongly convicted sailors in 'Norfolk Four' case
Settlement reached between city, wrongly convicted sailors in 'Norfolk Four' case
By ALAN SUDERMAN
AND ALANNA DURKIN RICHER The Associated Press
Dec 3, 2018
The city of Norfolk has agreed to pay $4.9 million to four former sailors who were wrongly convicted of a woman’s rape and murder based on intimidating police interrogations. A copy of the settlement agreement for the “Norfolk Four” was obtained by The Associated Press. ... The state also has agreed to pay $3.5 million.
The payments close out a decadeslong case that drew widespread attention as the men’s innocence claims were backed by dozens of former FBI agents and ex-prosecutors . ... “These guys can now put all this behind them and try to recoup their lives,” said Tony Troy, a lawyer who represented one of the sailors.
Last year, the men — Eric Wilson, Danial Williams, Joseph Dick and Derek Tice — were pardoned of the 1997 rape and murder of Michelle Moore-Bosko by then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
Moore-Bosko’s husband found her stabbed and strangled body in their apartment in July 1997 after returning from a week at sea. ... DNA evidence matched only one person: Omar Ballard, the fifth man convicted in the case. Ballard, who pleaded guilty in 2000, acknowledged he was solely responsible and is serving a life sentence.
....
By ALAN SUDERMAN
AND ALANNA DURKIN RICHER The Associated Press
Dec 3, 2018
The city of Norfolk has agreed to pay $4.9 million to four former sailors who were wrongly convicted of a woman’s rape and murder based on intimidating police interrogations. A copy of the settlement agreement for the “Norfolk Four” was obtained by The Associated Press. ... The state also has agreed to pay $3.5 million.
The payments close out a decadeslong case that drew widespread attention as the men’s innocence claims were backed by dozens of former FBI agents and ex-prosecutors . ... “These guys can now put all this behind them and try to recoup their lives,” said Tony Troy, a lawyer who represented one of the sailors.
Last year, the men — Eric Wilson, Danial Williams, Joseph Dick and Derek Tice — were pardoned of the 1997 rape and murder of Michelle Moore-Bosko by then-Gov. Terry McAuliffe.
Moore-Bosko’s husband found her stabbed and strangled body in their apartment in July 1997 after returning from a week at sea. ... DNA evidence matched only one person: Omar Ballard, the fifth man convicted in the case. Ballard, who pleaded guilty in 2000, acknowledged he was solely responsible and is serving a life sentence.
....