City Council Refuses To Pay Man $6 Million After His Two Murder Convictions Were Overturned

Darryl Howard, from North Carolina, fought for 21 years to get two murder convictions overturned. After finally accomplishing that task, he is now fighting to get the $6 million he was awarded for his civil rights being violated.

Retired Detective Darrell Dowdy was proven to have lied about details in an investigation that resulted in Howard being wrongfully convicted. Howard had been charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of arson.

Despite him being granted the $6 million, the Durham City Council won’t pay Howard the money. Howard says that the city is fighting to do whatever they can to not pay him. This is even though they paid $4 million to hire attorneys that defamed him during his trial.

“I proved my innocence. I went through every court. Every judge says what this was, even the governor,” Howard stated.

Now, Howard’s lawyers are in another battle against the city council, who has met in closed sessions and have decided not to pay Howard. Additionally, the council wants Howard to pay the legal fees associated with two city workers that were dismissed in the matter.

Last year, Governor Roy Cooper pardoned Howard after he was exonerated in 2016.

In 1995, Howard was found guilty in connection to the murders of Doris Washington, 29, and her daughter, Nishonda, 13.

Because there was no DNA evidence, a judge vacated Howard’s convictions, and Howard was freed. He had been serving an 80-year prison sentence and had completed 21 of those years.

The matter is still in litigation.