Detroit Man’s Murder Conviction Overturned 22 Years Later Due to Police Misconduct

Key Testimony From Convicted Police Officer Found to Have Tainted Case

After spending over two decades in prison, LaVone Hill has been released following revelations of police misconduct that tainted his original murder conviction. Wayne County prosecutors acknowledged that Hill’s 2002 conviction was compromised by the testimony of former Detroit police officer Sgt. Walter Bates, who was later convicted as a serial bank robber.

“Not much shocks me anymore, but this did,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy. “I have never seen anything like this in all of my decades of being a judge or a prosecutor.”

The Case That Sent LaVone Hill to Prison

Hill was sentenced to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of murdering two men. Investigators had initially obtained a signed statement from a man who claimed to be an eyewitness to the crime, but that witness recanted in court, testifying that he had been coerced by police.

The jury also heard a pivotal testimony from Sgt. Bates, who denied any coercion. Unaware of Bates’ criminal behavior, the jury believed him and found Hill guilty. Worthy emphasized that neither the jury nor Hill’s defense attorney knew at the time that Bates had been suspended and was later convicted of organizing multiple bank robberies.

“I cannot say whether [Hill] is guilty or not guilty of this crime,” Worthy stated. “However, it’s clear that Sgt. Bates’ testimony was a pivotal part of the case. No one was informed of Bates’ ongoing criminal behavior before, during, or after the trial.”

Wrongful Conviction and the Path to Justice

The Innocence Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School represented Hill in his bid for exoneration, uncovering further inconsistencies in the case. Evidence revealed that the victims were shot by a rifle, not a handgun as jurors were led to believe.

Hill, who has consistently maintained his innocence, expressed his relief and frustration in court. “I was not even there when this crime took place,” Hill told the judge. “I’ve sat in prison for almost 23 years because of the misconduct of the Detroit Police Department.”