Two Men Convicted in Decades Old Manhattan Murders Finally Exonerated

By: Hal C Clarke

In a landmark development on Monday, two men convicted in decades-old Manhattan murders, Jabar Walker, 49, and Wayne Gardine, 49, were finally exonerated, marking the end of their protracted battles for justice. Walker, who had spent a quarter of a century behind bars, emerged from the courtroom expressing resilience and an unbroken spirit despite the harrowing circumstances of his wrongful conviction, the NY Post reported.

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, in collaboration with the Legal Aid Society and the Innocence Project, fervently advocated for justice as they presented evidence leading to the vacating of the separate murder convictions. The exoneration unfolded on the sidewalk outside Manhattan Supreme Court, where Walker, surrounded by cheers from family and friends, embraced his mother. The shackles that had bound him for years were finally gone.

Walker’s ordeal began with the tragic double-murder of William Santana, 32, and Ismael De La Cruz, 30, on May 28, 1995, when he was a mere 20 years old. The victims were ruthlessly shot in the head as they sat in a car at 148th Street and Broadway in Harlem. The solemnity of the occasion was underscored by the fact that Walker spent half of his 50-year sentence behind bars for a crime he did not commit. The New York Times reported the chilling details of the incident that altered the trajectory of Walker’s life.

The Manhattan District Attorney, Alvin Bragg, took a decisive stance in rectifying the miscarriage of justice. The exoneration was prompted by “newly discovered evidence” that critically impacted witness testimony in Walker’s case. Furthermore, during the nearly year-long probe, investigators unearthed troubling details indicating that Walker had not received meaningful legal representation to mount an effective defense. Bragg emphasized the constitutional significance of having a robust defense attorney, stating, “Not only was the case against Jabar Walker built upon unreliable and recanted testimony, he did not have the benefit of an effective defense attorney – one of the constitutional bedrocks of our justice system.”

Walker, outside the courtroom, expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of the Innocence Project, which played a pivotal role in exposing the flaws in the case against him. His mother, Patrice Walker, shared her overwhelming joy at the prospect of being reunited with her son. Walker’s stepfather, Terry Walker, lamented the profound losses Jabar endured during his unjust incarceration, missing out on pivotal moments with family.

Simultaneously, Wayne Gardine’s story mirrored the injustice prevalent in the criminal justice system. Gardine spent 29 years behind bars for the fatal shooting of Robert Mickens, 22, in Harlem on September 3, 1994. His conviction in 1996 relied on the testimony of a single eyewitness, a local drug dealer, who provided information to the police as a favor to keep his own slate clean. The fragility of the case became apparent as new evidence from a second witness contradicted the dealer’s testimony, ultimately undermining the conviction.

Released on parole from the Fishkill Correctional Facility last year, Gardine faced an uncertain future as he was transferred to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, potentially leading to deportation to Jamaica. Despite these challenges, Gardine expressed gratitude to Legal Aid, DA Bragg, and investigators for their honest and swift work on his case. He also acknowledged the unwavering support of his mother and recognized his own resilience, stating, “I’m happy that the justice system finally worked.”