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
‹
Cooper Extends Curfew as GOP Questions COVID-19 Vaccine Plan
Gov. Roy Cooper on Wednesday extended a trio of executive orders allowing for curbside alcohol sales, a halt to evictions and a requirement for people to remain at home from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. North Carolina’s modified stay-at-home directive that was set to expire on Friday will now remain in place until Feb. 28, while the […]
Governor Warns of Holiday COVID Spread; No New Restrictions
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper advised residents to avoid traveling over the holidays, saying Tuesday that he would limit his Christmas gathering in Raleigh to immediate family members. Speaking at a news conference, Cooper warned of increases in coronavirus spread similar to the one that occurred over Thanksgiving if people disregard public health guidelines. He […]
Sen. Berger Asks Gov. Cooper to Let Counties Reopen Barbershops
One of North Carolina’s most powerful Republican elected officials has called on Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper to give county governments the ability to reopen barbershops and hair salons now. Senate leader Phil Berger said on Wednesday that most Southeastern states have allowed these personal service businesses to reopen in some capacity. They are mostly run […]
Governor Cooper Defends Rules for Businesses, Churches
Stating “pandemics cannot be partisan,” North Carolina Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper on Tuesday defended his eased stay-at-home order as criticism mounted from elected Republican officials and demonstrators who gather weekly outside his home. Cooper’s altered COVID-19 order, which took effect Friday, allowed more businesses to open to customers as long as social distancing rules are […]
Gov. Cooper: North Carolina to Move to Phase 1 Beginning Friday
North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper said he will sign an executive order for the state to enter Phase 1 of lifting the restrictions issued during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cooper said North Carolinians’ efforts to stay home, use face coverings and physically distance themselves when in public have affected the virus’ spread enough to move into […]
Hundreds Demand North Carolina Governor End Stay at Home Order
Hundreds of people angry and frustrated with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home order designed to blunt COVID-19 marched on Tuesday around his home, demanding that he cancel it now to unleash the state’s economy. Carrying placards and banners and chanting, the crowd gathered in a parking lot before being escorted by Raleigh police motorcycles to walk […]
N.C. May Ease COVID-19 Restrictions if Outbreak Pace Slows
North Carolina’s governor said Monday that he could ease some coronavirus-related restrictions on businesses after April if social-distancing practices continue to slow the virus outbreak over the next two weeks. Meanwhile, corrections officials said they are letting some inmates out of state prisons early if they didn’t commit violent crimes and fit criteria such as […]
Doctor: 2 Weeks for North Carolina Order to Take Slow Cases
North Carolina’s new stay-at-home order won’t show any conclusive effect on blunting the intensity of the new coronavirus for about two weeks, the state epidemiologist said Monday. New restrictions on business operations and prohibitions of gatherings of more than 10 people issued by Gov. Roy Cooper on Friday were set to take effect at 5 p.m. Monday. […]
Gov. Cooper Issues Statewide Stay-At-Home Order, Enacted Monday Night
Governor Roy Cooper announced a statewide stay-at-home order for North Carolina Friday afternoon, marking the latest step to mitigate the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus. The order bans gatherings of more than ten people at a time and requires businesses to close or have employees work from home, with the exception of essential businesses. […]
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 […]
›