Murder conviction may get tossed after flip-flop by witness
Murder conviction may get tossed after flip-flop by witness
New York State Department of Correction/NYS Department of Corrections
Tullie Hyman maintained his innocence in 2000 slay.
This birdie may soon fly out of his cage.
Thirteen years ago, Tullie (Birdie) Hyman was found guilty and sentenced to 21 years to life in prison in the murder of Queens tenant patrol leader Maria Medina, who was hit by a stray bullet that crashed into the lobby of a Far Rockaway housing project.
Now, Hyman’s conviction is teetering and may soon collapse in a Brooklyn courtroom, where the sole eyewitness against him is expected to recant her trial testimony, the Daily News has learned.
Hyman filed a petition in Brooklyn Federal Court to have the conviction tossed, and Judge Raymond Dearie has taken several steps suggesting the case has merit.
The judge assigned a lawyer to Hyman and ordered the U.S. Marshals Service to pay the tab for witness Shaquana Ellis’ travel and hotel costs to ensure her appearance at the hearing.
“At this Court’s invitation and to address petitioner’s actual innocence claim, (state authorities) conducted its own interview of Shaquana Ellis, the only eyewitness to the crime, and reported to the Court at the conclusion of that interview that it found Ellis’ recant of her incriminating trial testimony to be generally credible,” Dearie stated in court papers.
Hyman, who has served nearly 15 years behind bars, has maintained his innocence all along.
Murder conviction may get tossed after flip-flop by witness
New York State Department of Correction/NYS Department of Corrections
Tullie Hyman maintained his innocence in 2000 slay.
This birdie may soon fly out of his cage.
Thirteen years ago, Tullie (Birdie) Hyman was found guilty and sentenced to 21 years to life in prison in the murder of Queens tenant patrol leader Maria Medina, who was hit by a stray bullet that crashed into the lobby of a Far Rockaway housing project.
Now, Hyman’s conviction is teetering and may soon collapse in a Brooklyn courtroom, where the sole eyewitness against him is expected to recant her trial testimony, the Daily News has learned.
Hyman filed a petition in Brooklyn Federal Court to have the conviction tossed, and Judge Raymond Dearie has taken several steps suggesting the case has merit.
The judge assigned a lawyer to Hyman and ordered the U.S. Marshals Service to pay the tab for witness Shaquana Ellis’ travel and hotel costs to ensure her appearance at the hearing.
“At this Court’s invitation and to address petitioner’s actual innocence claim, (state authorities) conducted its own interview of Shaquana Ellis, the only eyewitness to the crime, and reported to the Court at the conclusion of that interview that it found Ellis’ recant of her incriminating trial testimony to be generally credible,” Dearie stated in court papers.
Hyman, who has served nearly 15 years behind bars, has maintained his innocence all along.
