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Published on 03/09/2010 at Tue Mar 09 15:30.
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Darrent Williams trial: Dismissed juror believes witness was second shooter

Posted Tue Mar 9th by

Darrent Williams

Darrent Williams

Juror Ray Barrientos told reporters he was prepared to find Willie Clark guilty of murdering Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams before he was dismissed from trial Monday. He also told reporters that he believes his fellow jurors will rule the same way.

Those comments issued a message — a signal of hope that justice will be served, three years after Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting. Unfortunately, not all of Barrientos’ comments conveyed the same message.

Barrientos, 42, who was dismissed from his duties as a juror for prematurely offering his opinion on the case to a third party, made some unsettling comments regarding one of the prosecution’s principle witnesses: Clark’s fellow gang member Daniel “Ponytail” Harris. Barrientos believes Harris was a second shooter that night, and, through plea bargaining with the district attorney’s office, is getting away with murder.

(Barrientos) especially did not believe the testimony of Daniel “Ponytail” Harris, who got a plea deal in exchange for his testimony and is expected to go into the federal witness protection program.

“I couldn’t believe a damn thing he said,” Barrientos said. “He is the second shooter. It sucks that they will only be able to convict one of the two.”

Barrientos said he is disappointed that prosecutors made a deal with Harris.

“How do we go about trying Daniel Harris?” Barrientos said, “because he is getting away with 16 counts of attempted murder.”

The prosecution made a number of plea agreements with witnesses in order to convict Clark. By Barrientos’ comments, they look to have succeeded (and we’ll know for certain in the days ahead). But at what cost? Did another man get away with murder?

If so, it’s a tough pill to swallow. Call me a silly idealist who isn’t seasoned in the modern legal system (no, really, go ahead), but the thought of DWill’s killer walking makes my blood boil. We can only hope that’s merely the opinion of one man, and that the district attorney’s office knows what it’s doing.

Dismissed juror would have voted guilty [Denver Post]

  • http://americablog.com magster

    There is reasonable doubt in my opinion on who pulled the trigger. But there is no reasonable doubt that Clark was driving, making him an accessory at least, which is good enough for a conviction.

  • R.B.

    I am that dismissed juror, and today we as a community we got Justice! Anyone that thinks, Willie is not guilty, ethier wasn't in the courtroom and heard all the evidence. Or you didnt understand the LAW the judge laid down. For the jurors to make their decision and return a guilty verdict. To DWill's family I am sorry, I feel that I let D down by being dismissed on the last day of testimonies. But proud of my former Jurors, for coming thru, true there are no winners in a case like this, only losers on both sides. The loss of two sons. One Love, to my true Broncos Family. As far as an appeal that's a joke! The state tax payers won't let that happen, they already got a free one on us.

  • R.B.

    I am that dismissed juror, and today we as a community we got Justice! Anyone that thinks, Willie is not guilty, ethier wasn't in the courtroom and heard all the evidence. Or you didnt understand the LAW the judge laid down. For the jurors to make their decision and return a guilty verdict. To DWill's family I am sorry, I feel that I let D down by being dismissed on the last day of testimonies. But proud of my former Jurors, for coming thru, true there are no winners in a case like this, only losers on both sides. The loss of two sons. One Love, to my true Broncos Family. As far as an appeal that's a joke! The state tax payers won't let that happen, they already got a free one on us.