Suspected gang member found guilty of murder in death of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams
DENVER – Suspected gang member Willie Clark was convicted guilty of murder Thursday in the shooting death of Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams in a drive-by shooting.
After an 11-day trial and a day and a half of deliberation, a jury returned the verdict.
Clark seemed emotionless while the verdict was given, but leaned back and gazed at the ceiling after the jury was dismissed. Before being led from the courtroom in handcuffs, he gave a little smile to family.
There was no immediate indication on whether an appeal would be filed, but defense attorney Darren Cantor told three sobbing persons in the courtroom, “Try to breathe, OK?” That is the purpose of appeals.”
Rosalind Williams, Williams’ mother, sobbed as she exited the courtroom. Cantor informed reporters that Clark’s family was outraged and refused to speak with them.
Clark is sentenced to life in prison. The sentencing date is set for April 30.
Williams was assassinated on January 1, 2007. Prosecutors claim Clark fired the deadly bullets from an SUV parked next to a leased limo transporting Williams and her associates.
In his closing argument, Chief Deputy District Attorney Timothy Twining said, “It was this man, who indiscriminately, with universal malice… took it upon himself to unload his.40-caliber handgun into that limousine full of innocent people.”
Prosecutors said Clark was enraged by an altercation between friends of Williams and friends of Clark in a nightclub soon before the shooting. Williams’ group had splashed champagne on New Year’s Eve revelers.
Clark, according to defense counsel Abraham Hutt, was not even in the SUV at the time of the incident.
“This is what this is all about: Willie Clark is a scapegoat,” Hutt explained to the jury.
Hutt attempted to undermine the credibility of five prosecution witnesses who received reduced prison sentences in prior cases in exchange for testifying. According to Hutt, the five had their sentences reduced by a total of 188 years.
Hutt stated that the prosecution’s primary witness, Daniel “Ponytail” Harris, was sentenced to life in prison on a drug conviction but will be released in two years. Harris
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