The jury in the trial of Willie D. Clark went home for the night at about 4:45 this afternoon, and will resume deliberations Thursday morning.
While waiting for the verdict, a second alternate juror who was dismissed said he would have found Clark not guilty because prosecutors did not prove their case.
The juror, No. 371, a 24-year-old African-American man who asked not to be named, said he believes Clark was set up by gang members who wanted him to take the fall for killing Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams.
“There was not enough evidence,” he said. “Maybe if they had good witnesses.”
Jurors today have asked two questions, both of which were addressed in the judge’s chambers with lawyers for the prosecution and defense. The nature of the questions was not released.
The former alternate said he was disappointed prosecutors didn’t charge everyone they believed was involved in the drive-by shooting rather than making deals.
“I think all of them were friends and maybe he is like their little homie and they just put him under,” the juror said about the gang members who testified against Clark.
He said he felt sorry for the family of Williams but didn’t think a guilty verdict would be the right decision.
The juror said he was especially disappointed with the investigation conducted by Denver police.
He did not understand why police did not get more surveillance tape from the surrounding businesses outside the Shelter nightclub where the altercation between Williams and a group of gang members took place.
He also criticized Denver Police for not going down to Mexico to interview a woman who claimed Daniel “Ponytail” Harris told her he was the person who shot Williams.
“I think they (the police) are just trying to get the case out of the way,” he said. “Like, somebody needs to be blamed for it.”
The juror says he was not upset to find out he was an alternate because the burden of making a decision over a man’s life was lifted off of his shoulders. Another alternate who was dismissed as deliberations began said Monday that he also would have voted for acquittal.
A member of the jury who had previously been removed because his wife contacted the courtroom sketch artist said that he would have found Clark guilty.
Jurors, who resumed deliberations at 8:30 this morning, were still behind closed doors at 2 p.m.
Felisa Cardona: 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com
