North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper granted a pardon of innocence Friday to a man imprisoned for two decades before his two murder convictions were vacated more than four years ago by a trial judge.

The pardon means Darryl Anthony Howard, who is now 58, can apply to the North Carolina Industrial Commission for compensation of up to $750,000 for his wrongful convictions.

“It is important to continue our efforts to reform the justice system and to acknowledge wrongful convictions,” Cooper said in a news release.

The governor’s office said this pardon of innocence was Cooper’s sixth since taking office in early 2017.

Howard was convicted in Durham County court in 1995 for the 1991 deaths of 29-year-old Doris Washington and her 13-year-old daughter, Nishonda. He was serving an 80-year prison sentence for convictions on two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson.

The mother and daughter also appeared to have been sexually assaulted. Years after the conviction, Howard’s attorneys tested rape kits related to the case and uncovered new evidence, according to Cooper’s pardon. In 2014, Judge Orlando Hudson threw out Howard’s sentence, saying the prosecutor had failed to share with defense attorneys a police memo and other evidence that pointed to suspects other than Howard.

But Howard remained in prison, and in August 2016 Hudson freed him after ruling DNA evidence showed he didn’t participate in the rapes or the murders. Hudson ordered a new trial, but the Durham district attorney’s office soon after dismissed the case, which was based heavily on the testimony of witnesses at the Durham public housing project where the killings occurred.

 

Photo via Kaitlin McKeown/The Herald-Sun.

 

Related Stories
‹
North Carolina Education Board Approves New Social Studies Rules
The Democratic majority of North Carolina’s Board of Education has voted to adopt new K-12 social studies standards that would have teachers discuss racism, discrimination and the perspectives of marginalized groups. The standards, which will go into effect this fall following Thursday’s 7-5 vote, are supposed to guide teachers in classroom discussions of both the […]
NC Racial Justice Task Force Makes Dozens of Recommendations
A task force commissioned by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper in the days following George Floyd’s death on Monday formally recommended far-reaching changes to police, criminal justice and court systems, with a goal of eliminating racial inequities. “This task force took the governor’s charge seriously and worked to develop recommendations that will make North Carolina […]
Cooper Unveils Criminal Justice Panel to Address Racial Bias
Calling George Floyd’s death a “defining moment” for justice reform, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced the creation of a panel on Tuesday to recommend ways to reform police, prosecutor and judicial conduct with an eye toward ending racial disparities. Cooper said the North Carolina Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice will be […]
Judge Strikes Down North Carolina Law on Prosecuting Ex-Felons Who Voted Before 2024
A federal judge has halted the enforcement of a North Carolina law that made it a serious crime for someone to vote while still on probation or parole for a felony conviction when they had simply violated the voting law by mistake.
'Do Not Forget Us': Soil Collection Ceremony Held for 5 Orange County Lynching Victims
Orange County community members gathered Saturday afternoon for a soil collection ceremony for five lynching victims killed in 1869.
Conservative Robinson Joins Race for N. Carolina Governor
Written by GARY D. ROBERTSON Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson formally entered next year’s gubernatorial race at a rally Saturday, with the sharp-spoken social conservative saying North Carolina needs a leader like him who can relate to the challenges and desires of working people. Elected the state’s first Black lieutenant governor in 2020 in his […]
North Carolina GOP Again Seeking To Limit Racial Teachings
Written by HANNAH SCHOENBAUM A previously vetoed proposal advancing in the North Carolina House would restrict how teachers can discuss certain racial topics in the classroom amid a national GOP crusade against ideas they associate with “ critical race theory.” The bill, which passed Tuesday in the House Education Committee, would ban public schools from compelling students […]
Gov Vetoes North Carolina Bill Limiting K-12 Racial Teaching
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper vetoed two bills on Friday that would have limited how public school teachers can discuss certain racial concepts and raised penalties on those who engage in violent protests. The vetoed education bill was part of a national effort by Republicans in more than two dozen […]
North Carolina Senate OK’s Bill Limiting Racial Teachings
Written by BRYAN ANDERSON North Carolina Senate Republicans on Thursday passed a bill to limit how teachers can discuss certain racial concepts inside the classroom. The proposal seeks to bar educators from compelling students to personally adopt any ideas from a list of 13 beliefs, including the views that one particular race or sex is inherently […]
NC Governor Pardons Man Who Had Murder Convictions Vacated
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper granted a pardon of innocence Friday to a man imprisoned for two decades before his two murder convictions were vacated more than four years ago by a trial judge. The pardon means Darryl Anthony Howard, who is now 58, can apply to the North Carolina Industrial Commission for compensation of […]
›