The trial and ultimate conviction Thursday of a gang member who gunned down Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was an eye-opening look into a world where witnesses feared for their lives and a judge received SWAT-like escorts out of her own courthouse.
We were glad to see justice served — despite the fear and intimidation that goes hand-in-glove with gang life.
The conviction of Willie Clark on 21 counts, including first-degree murder, came in spite of the reluctance of witnesses, three of whom were jailed for refusing to testify, and criticism of the deals prosecutors cut with others who testified.
As prosecutor Bruce Levin eloquently said: “Crimes conceived in hell seldom have angels for witnesses.”
The high-profile case put a spotlight on a world that most Denverites do not know, which is something they should be thankful for.
Clark, nicknamed “Little Let Loose,” encountered Williams and other Broncos out celebrating New Year’s Eve 2006 at a club south of downtown that reportedly was on Clark’s turf.
Prosecutors said Clark was enraged after being “disrespected” by the NFL players and their entourage. Clark, driving an SUV, pulled alongside a stretch Hummer limo carrying the Broncos group and opened fire.
Williams, shot in the neck, died in the arms of then-teammate Javon Walker.
The state faced a tough case. The interior of the SUV used in the crime was burned out, destroying potential evidence, and it was spray painted black and abandoned.
Witnesses backed away from the case, and the prosecution was left with a crack dealer named Daniel “Ponytail” Harris, who said he was in the SUV when Clark began shooting up the limo.
Federal and state prosecutors agreed to recommend that Harris, who was facing life in prison on drug-dealing charges, get a five-year prison sentence if prosecutors thought he testified truthfully in the case. He is also in the federal witness protection program.
It wasn’t an unusual deal, but it’s understandable that some jurors had qualms about it since Harris was a key witness in the case.
However, this was never an ordinary case.
In an unrelated case, Clark and two others are to face trial for the killing of a woman who was planning to testify against a gang member.
Furthermore, the fame of Williams and other professional sports players involved in events that evening ensured the case would get the kind of attention that an ordinary gang-related killing never gets.
The case opened a window onto a world where you could take a bullet for doing the right thing and telling the truth.
Protecting witnesses so they are free to testify without intimidation is crucial to our criminal justice system.
We are glad the jury in this case had the freedom and strength to do their part as well.
