Keith Roberts served eight years in prison after being convicted based on the testimony of an unreliable witness.
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An East Flatbush man who pleaded guilty to a 1986 killing to avoid prison after a successful appeal in 1996 had his wrongful conviction overturned Thursday, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced.
Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Matthew D’Emic vacated Keith Roberts’ conviction and dismissed the indictment on Oct. 3 following a reinvestigation by the Conviction Review Unit (CRU). The CRU found that the sole eyewitness at trial was unreliable, Roberts’ rejected alibi defense was credible, and the police investigation was inadequate.
“This exoneration underscores the critical importance of our Conviction Review Unit and its mission to right the wrongs of the past,” Gonzalez said ahead of Roberts’ court appearance. “Mr. Roberts, like many others, found himself trapped by a system that failed to recognize his innocence, and nearly 20 years ago, he pleaded guilty just to stay out of prison.”
“Our reinvestigation revealed the deep flaws in the original case — unreliable testimony, overlooked evidence, and a rushed investigation. Today, we are able to restore his dignity and good name and affirm his innocence,” he continued.
Roberts, now 67, was previously convicted for the September 1986 fatal shooting of Pierre Sanon, 33, outside the Holiday Social Club in East Flatbush.
According to the only identifying witness, the shooter fled to a nearby house after the killing. Police went to the house, where Roberts lived, and interviewed him. He claimed to be at another party that night and voluntarily participated in a lineup, where the witness identified him.
Roberts was arrested, and the case was closed just over 12 hours after the homicide. At trial, the eyewitness testified, as did several witnesses supporting Roberts’ alibi. Despite this, the jury convicted Roberts of second-degree…
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