Willie D. Clark’s attorney put the Denver police on trial Wednesday, asking a detective why he changed his testimony about an incriminating letter Clark is accused of writing and questioning why some leads in the death of Darrent Williams were never followed.
Jurors appeared to take notes throughout the cross-examination of homicide Detective Michael Martinez, who is the lead case agent on the Williams case.
Clark, 26, is charged with killing the Denver Broncos cornerback and wounding two others who were riding in Williams’ rented Hummer limousine early New Year’s Day 2007.
He faces life in prison if he is convicted.
Clark’s attorney, Abraham Hutt, accused the Denver police of not following a Crime Stoppers tip that came from a woman in Mexico who reported prosecution witness Daniel “Ponytail” Harris told her he was the one who shot into Williams’ limousine.
Harris, 39, is the only witness thus far who has testified seeing Clark fire into the limousine where Williams was killed. But he claims Clark was the only person shooting even as prosecutors concede two guns and at least two shooters were involved.
Harris fled to Mexico about 10 days after Williams was killed, and while there, Harris communicated to police that he wanted to make a deal.
About that same time, a woman in Mexico who wanted a reward for the information called the tip line five times from Feb. 14, 2007, through May 2007, Hutt said, to say Harris was the shooter.
Martinez testified that a Denver police detective did not go to Mexico to interview the woman.
Investigators did not ask Harris about the woman in Mexico or whether Harris had a sexual relationship with her until defense lawyers tried to question Harris about it during their own pretrial investigation in August, Hutt said.
Martinez said another detective was assigned to the Crime Stoppers tip, and when the detective talked to the woman, she didn’t directly say Harris told her he was the shooter.
Hutt argued with Martinez and said the tipster told the original call taker the information and it wasn’t followed up on thoroughly.
Hutt also tried to establish that Martinez had changed his testimony dramatically about a key conversation he had with Clark.
On Wednesday, Martinez testified Clark admitted to him that his handwriting matched a letter published by the Rocky Mountain News that appears to be a confession by Clark to the homicide. A handwriting expert hired by the News concluded Clark was the author.
Clark’s contention is he never admitted writing the letter, only that he said it had been proved it was his handwriting. And on cross examination, Martinez agreed with Clark’s recollection.
“You said Mr. Clark said, ‘I wrote that letter,’ when you were here under oath,” Hutt said, raising his voice. “He never said to you, ‘It’s been proven that I wrote the letter,’ he said, ‘It’s been proven that it’s my handwriting.’ “
“Don’t get upset,” Martinez said.
Hutt calmed himself.
“You were under oath, and you answered the question truthfully, yes?” Hutt asked.
“I answered the question as I recalled it at that time,” Martinez said.
“Do you agree that you understood (the questions) on that day?” Hutt asked.
“I hope I did,” Martinez said.
“And you agree with me that what you said to the jury a minute ago was very different?” Hutt asked, referring to Martinez’s now saying that Clark had actually said he knew someone had proved it was his handwriting on the letter.
“I am telling you how I remember it today,” Martinez said.
“Under oath?” Hutt asked.
“I might have misspoken,” Martinez said.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
Other highlights of the Willie Clark trial Wednesday
Other highlights from Wednesday’s court proceedings:
