Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s prosecutors pushed for the dismissal of both cases against Williams. And exonerated him for the murder cases.
Jane Roh, Krasner’s communications director, said in a statement that Williams’ slaying was “tragic.”
“What Chris endured as a twice-wrongfully convicted exoneree is unfathomable. And that his short-lived freedom was marked by struggle, as Pennsylvania is one of 12 states in the U.S. that does not compensate the wrongfully convicted, is unconscionable,” she added.
Krasner was impeached by the Pennsylvania state House in November on unrelated matters.
Williams became an advocate for others
After being freed Williams began advocating for other prisoners he believed were wrongly convicted. And his dream was to start a program to help former prisoners re-enter society.
Williams’ long-time attorney, Stuart Lev, claimed the death is a tragedy.
“It’s incredibly tragic. This guy went through decades in prison, 25 years on death row, for crimes that he did not commit, because the system failed. He kept fighting, and he wouldn’t give up. He just kept insisting that he keep trying different ways of fighting. Whether that was to keep his hopes up or that was just his own determination and perseverance, that’s what he did. He worked very hard with his lawyers to make sure his lawyers kept doing that, too.”
