John Wesley Griffin, Jr.

possibly Innocent In New York

John Wesley Griffin, Jr.
# 96-A-1541
Green Haven Correctional Facility
P.O. Box 4000
Stormville, NY 12582
USA

DOB 5-29-1973

THE CASE

Case No: 1001/94
Date of the Crime: 1-31-1994
Date of Conviction: 2-27-1996
Sentenced to indeterminate prison term - 25 years to life
for second degree murder, 125.25 (1)

On January 31st, 1994 (the date of the crime) I was working. I called my ex-girlfriend about 3:30 PM to tell her I would see her after work. After 8:00 PM, I called her again to tell Vanessa Johnson, I would see her at 9:00 PM or 9:15 PM.

After stopping in a cab to pick up food, the cab caught a flat. It was charged maybe within a half hour. I got to her apartment located at 218-16-137th Ave, close to Springfield Blvd, Queens, New York.

I got there, and remained there all night. Some of my clothing were there. We got up in the morning, showered and went our separate ways to go to work. I was not at the crime area. Everything remained well with us. We were getting serious, talking about marriage.

Then out of nowhere, March 8th, 1994, my parole officer and others "rushed" me to a wall after being there close to an hour. They handcuffed me. I went crazy, screaming. After calming down, I was told some detectives wanted to talk to me. Hours later they came. Detective J. Barrow and B. Lally.

Now I am here fighting for my life.

Reason I believe why I was arrested for the crime

In 1988, I was robbed and shot by the deceased Octavious Washington. The police kept a file an apparent file of all shootings. Washington was arrested on unrelated shootings and robbery. He was initially found with the weapon that shot me.

Detective B. Lally, stated he could not find any person who committed the crime against Mr. Washington, although he showed photographs to various witnesses including Antione Scott and David Johnson. In the photographs was a picture of me. Still they did not pick me out. Several weeks later, Lally checked the crime file computer of Octavious Washington and noted all of his incidents. Det. Lally then at that moment testified that I had to "be the one."

My parole officer was called February 14th, 1994 and he was told to call the Detective's office when I was going to report to parole on March 8th, 1994. I reported and was arrested although there was no gun or physical evidence to link me to the crime. (See State of New York, Executive Department, Division of Parole, Case Summary, 3-14-1994 (pdf))

CRIME SCENE DRAWING

(click above to open the file and click once again thereafter to enlarge the picture.)

David Johnson stated in court he saw Washington and the perpetrator fighting for the gun. He was asked, did he see me commit the crime as he stood 2 1/2 feet away from the murder. He said, "No! I told you, I didn't see anyone."

Counsel put a motion in to dismiss the charges. The court refused. They went with the testimony of Antoine Scott who claimed to see "me" at 35 feet away from the crime scene walk up to Washington and shot him, while Scott was 35 feet away inside his parked vehicle around the corner (!) as David Johnson testified.

Antoine Scott said he sat on the hood of his car and saw the perpetrator walk by two times before he pulled out what appeared to be a gun. He stated the perpetrator fired the first shot. Washington grabbed the gun and was shot about the head and torso several times. As the victim "Washington" Scott stated the perpetrator fired close up range at the head of Washington. Scott said, the perpetrator wore a black jacket (Columbia). The accused ("me") was arrested months later with a similar jacket. The jacket had no blood or gun powder on it, which would confirm it was the same jacket. The court still allowed the jacket even though there was "no blood or gun powder" when tested by the forensic.

Analytical Synopsis of this Case (pdf, 41 pages)

Supreme Court - State of New York (pdf)
Motion For Transcript pro se opposed on December 9, 2005

How you can help

John Griffin's News Forum

I, John W. Griffin, Jr. would appreciate any kind of support. I earn US$ 7.75 a week. I will use this money to carry out legal endeavors.
Sincerely,

John Wesley Griffin, Jr.

For more information check out the rest of the Innocent In Prison Project International website, please.