Says Latest Example is the Exoneration of Eddie Ramirez, Who Was Sentenced to Life for a Murder He Did Not Commit
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA — After 27 years, Eddie Ramirez was finally released from prison for a murder that he did not commit. While applauding Ramirez’ exoneration, Christopher Markos, Partner, Williams Cedar LLC, says the number of wrongly convicted individuals freed in the past six years shows a troubling trend within the city’s justice system.
“Yet another exoneration in Philadelphia — the fortieth in six years — raises an interesting question: does Philadelphia have a wrongful conviction crisis?” Mr. Markos says. “As a civil rights lawyer who, over more than a decade, has advocated on behalf of victims of police abuse and the falsely accused, I believe the answer is yes.”
On February 20, 1995, Joyce Dennis, an employee at a laundromat, was found bludgeoned to death with a metal pipe. Her body was found in the back of the laundromat and approximately $1,100 was missing. In 1996, Philadelphia police detectives picked up two suspects, Mr. Ramirez and Billy Weihe. Despite having no physical evidence, the detectives relied on witness testimony and interviews with Mr. Ramirez and Mr. Weihe’s friends and families, neighbors and laundromat workers to build a case.
Over the years, almost all witnesses called in the case against Mr. Ramirez recanted their testimony. Additionally, it was discovered that evidence was withheld from Mr. Ramirez, including evidence implicating a wholly different suspect. On November 30, 2023, Mr. Ramirez was released from prison.
“Eddie Ramirez’ exoneration on November 30 is attention-grabbing, and for good reason: he spent his entire adult life incarcerated,” Mr. Markos says. “That is an immeasurable loss, not only for him and his family, but for what he could have contributed to his community.”
Mr. Markos says this pattern of police and prosecutorial misconduct has caused pain for the wrongfully incarcerated, such as Mr. Ramirez, and their families. “If we value public safety, then we must value public confidence in the fairness of the judicial system,” he says. “Rampant corruption and misconduct erodes that confidence. And that, too, is an immeasurable loss.”
For more information, call (215) 557-0099 or visit williamscedar.com.
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About Williams Cedar LLC
Williams Cedar LLC is a personal injury law firm that serves areas throughout the State of Pennsylvania, with offices located in Philadelphia. The firm is focused on the practice of personal injury law, employment law, and civil rights litigation, serving victims of negligence and civil rights violations throughout New Jersey. They assist clients with a variety of claims, including product liability claims, toxic torts, wage and hour violations, police misconduct, and malicious prosecution, among others. For more information, call (215) 557-0099 or visit williamscedar.com.
