IU McKinney Wrongful Conviction Clinic Wins Release for Delaware County Man
03/09/2017
Professor Fran Watson, ’80, director of the Wrongful Conviction Clinic at IU McKinney, saw another of her clients walk free after spending years in prison convicted of a crime DNA evidence indicated he did not commit.
William Barnhouse walked out of the Delaware County Courthouse in Muncie, Indiana, on March 8 after spending 24 years and 11 months in prison for a crime that recent DNA testing results indicate he did not commit. Professor Watson signed on one year ago to serve as co-counsel in Barnhouse’s case with the Innocence Project’s attorneys Seema Saifee and Barry Scheck. The Innocence Project’s mission was to have DNA testing conducted on a 1992 rape kit from the crime at issue.
Delaware County deputy prosecutor Eric Hoffman came to agree that the testing was warranted and appropriate, Professor Watson said. Months later, when the testing results established that Barnhouse was not the contributor of the relevant biological evidence, the Delaware County Prosecutor further agreed that the newly discovered DNA testing results required that the conviction be vacated and a new trial ordered.
In Delaware County Circuit Court 2 on March 8, Judge Kimberly Dowling granted the joint motions of the parties to vacate the convictions and release Barnhouse on his own recognizance to live in a placement that would serve his immediate medical needs, Professor Watson said. The Delaware County Prosecutor told the court that the decision had not been made whether to retry the case by relying on the witness identification. The court scheduled a hearing on the matter for May 18.
Barnhouse, with members of his family in the background, posed for this photo shortly after he walked out of the courthouse into the sunshine. With him is attorney Seema Saifee and staff from the Innocence Project’s New York office, Professor Watson, and IU McKinney students Tiffany Guthrie, David Paul, Karla Lopez-Owens, and Dillon Salge.
“What a great spring day for Mr. Barnhouse to experience freedom again,” Professor Watson said. “After his release, the students and I were able to share lunch with Mr. Barnhouse, members of his family, and counsel, students, and staff from the Innocence Project. In addition, Mr. Barnhouse enjoyed the new experience of a Skype visit connecting him to Innocence Project attorneys and students from New York celebrating his release. Most certainly this day created powerful memories for all involved.”
IU McKinney’s Wrongful Conviction Clinic will continue to serve as co-counsel with the Innocence Project until the case is concluded.