Innocence Project Case: Darryl Anthony Howard Receives Settlement After Wrongful Conviction

After spending 24 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, Darryl Anthony Howard is finally receiving justice in the form of a settlement from the city of Durham, North Carolina. Howard was wrongfully convicted in 1995 for the murders of Doris Washington and her 13-year-old daughter, Nishonda, as well as arson. However, in 2016, DNA evidence implicated two other men in the crime, leading to the dismissal of charges against Howard.

The Innocence Project took on Howard’s case and uncovered new DNA evidence that ultimately led to the reversal of his conviction. Despite being pardoned by Gov. Roy Cooper and awarded a $6 million settlement by a federal jury, the city of Durham initially refused to pay. After years of legal battles, Howard’s lawyer, Bradley Bannon, announced that a settlement had finally been reached.

In response to the settlement, Howard expressed a mix of emotions, stating, “I fought every day for the 24 years I was in jail, trying to prove my innocence…I missed living, you know – living a free life. It’s hard to put into words. I’m frustrated, angry, all of these emotions. If you didn’t do nothing wrong, you shouldn’t be imprisoned.”

Howard’s case serves as a stark reminder of the flaws in the criminal justice system and the importance of organizations like the Innocence Project in fighting for the wrongfully convicted. As Howard finally receives the justice he deserves, his story sheds light on the need for continued efforts to prevent miscarriages of justice in the future.