The Hunt settlement
The city of Winston-Salem has announced a $1.65 million settlement with Darryl Hunt for its part in convicting him for a murder he did not commit.
I helped cover the Hunt case back in 1984 and remember the questions and the shoddy police work surrounding the grisly early murder of newspaper copy editor Deborah Sykes.
I also remember the city itself questioning the quality of the investigation in a scathing report back then. The city manager's office pointed out willful neglect in that report and the lead investigator was demoted.
Still, Hunt languished in prison for 18 years.
He received a reasonable settlement although it's arguable he deserved even more.
What price tag do you put on half of your adult life?
Hunt also received an official apology from the city.
So far as I can tell, this matter was handled gracefully and without a lot of political posturing.
Mayor Allen Joines say the city "expresses its sincere regret, extending its profound and sincere apology to Darryl Hunt for all that he has endured and suffered in this matter."
Wonder how Greensboro might have handled a similar case.
Comments (15)
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Allen,
Since you were involved in this case in Winston-Salem long ago and saw it evolve up close, what do you think that the answer is to your question?
"Wonder how Greensboro might have handled a similar case."
Posted on February 20, 2007 10:50 AM
Probably in a similar manner. However, we would have been heavy on the "regrets" but short on the "apology" part.
Posted on February 20, 2007 11:24 AM
I know this is going to sound insensitive, but why is the city responsible for giving Hunt this money? A jury convicted him, not the city.
Posted on February 20, 2007 11:36 AM
That may be true, but Hunt was convicted based on a shoddy investigation conducted by city police.
Posted on February 20, 2007 1:10 PM
What do I think if it had involved Greensboro? There would have been a loud public debate.
Posted on February 20, 2007 1:11 PM
How would Greensboro have handled it?
One could imagine at least two paths. In the first, the city manager begins working on a confidential report, but the report is then leaked by Councilwoman Bellamy-Small.
In the second, the city waits 20 years or so, appoints a commission loaded with partisans, promises to act on the commission's report, and then promptly disregards the report as being too divisive once its written.
Sigh.
Posted on February 20, 2007 2:01 PM
Touche', Dave. And probably as accurate as it is funny.
Posted on February 20, 2007 2:16 PM
Assuming Dave's analogy is to the Greensboro TRC, it's more funny than accurate. The city didn't appoint the TRC.
Allen, I'm curious to know if you really feel that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was "loaded with partisans"? Which of the seven individuals on the Commission do you feel that way about, and why?
Posted on February 20, 2007 4:53 PM
Not really, Anon. I do think that the seeds for initiative were planted by Nelson Johnson and his wife, Joyce, who are "partisans."
But I support the goals of the TRC and believe the commissioners were, on the whole, independent and impartial.
Posted on February 20, 2007 5:55 PM
I do not care how much money he gets to me its not worth to me.
Posted on February 20, 2007 7:23 PM
Say again, Doug?
Posted on February 20, 2007 7:59 PM
Would you spend 18 in prison for 1.65 million??
Not me.
Posted on February 21, 2007 7:36 AM
Good point, Doug. Hunt could have pressed for much, much more money, at least $1 million more, but he chose not to sue the city. The city should be grateful.
Posted on February 21, 2007 9:15 AM
I'm new to this case but, wasn't Darryl Hunt still found to have been at the scene of the crime?
Posted on February 23, 2007 2:02 PM
To my knowledge, no.
Posted on February 23, 2007 2:18 PM