Tag: Darrent Williams

Willie Clark, convicted of the murder of Denver Bronco Darrent Williams, was sentenced today to life in prison plus 1,152 years.

Clark got an additional 1,152 years in prison for the 16 attempted murder charges and the sentencing enhancements for his habitual criminal history.

"Mr. Clark, I will simply say from where I sit, barring a retrial of this issue, you are spending your life in prison and you too can be a good person and make a change and make a difference with your life however it turns out," Judge Christina M. Habas said.

If there's a point to such a sentence, it escapes me. Colorado law mandates life without parole for first degree murder, that wasn't in doubt. Clark asked to be absent from his sentencing and the judge refused, saying he had to listen to the victims' witness impact statements. Why? According to the Judge: [More..]

Update: The judge has released the three questions asked by the jury during deliberations. The second one:

... a question asked yesterday about whether Clark could be found guilty of first-degree murder "as a result of being complicit." The judge said yes.

If, the judge wrote, "you find that another person committed all or part of either the crime of murder in the first degree (extreme indifference) or murder in the first degree (after deliberation)... then the defendant may be found guilty of either or both murder in the first degree."

Update: 12:08 pm. Foreman hands over verdict forms. Judge examines. Count 1: 1st degree murder: Guilty; Count 2: 1st degree murder: Guilty; Guilty on all 21 counts. (Update: Audio clip of reading of verdict here.)

After 11 hours of deliberations, the jury has reached a verdict in the Willie Clark murder trial. He's accused of killing Denver Bronco Darrent Williams. It will be read in 15 minutes.

I haven't been able to blog about the trial because it's too closely related to a certain federal drug case I'm involved in, but I will cover the verdict. [More....]

Update: 1/4, 7:13 am MT: Denver's KOA radio reports police have found the car in the Green Valley section of Denver. It was painted over but not burned. It's on its way to the police evidence department.

Denver police have identified a "vehicle of interest" in the New Years' Eve shooting death of Denver Bronco cornerback Darrent Williams. (background here.)

Police put out a bulletin earlier today looking for a White 1994 Chevy Tahoe with Colorado license plate number 665-OBS. They didn't identify the owner, but the local news has: Brian Hicks.

It may or may not be the vehicle involved in the shooting, but if it was, Hicks couldn't have been the shooter because he's in jail awaiting trial on drug charges -- and on charges of shooting a woman who was supposed to testify against him at trial. The woman was later killed the week before his trial was supposed to begin.

Hicks has been jailed since Nov. 9 on a charge of possessing drugs with intent to distribute. He's also accused of shooting at a woman who was later killed a week before she was to testify against him. His bond was increased to $1 million after the woman was killed and his trial date was rescheduled.

Denver Bronco cornerback Darrent Williams was gunned down at 2:00 a.m. last night in a drive-by shooting at 10th/11th Ave. and Speer Blvd. in Denver.

The Fort Worth, Texas native, according to team officials, was shot in what police had informed the team was a drive-by shooting. Williams was in a Humvee limousine with several others when it was hit with several bullets fired from another vehicle shortly after 2 a.m. Monday morning. Williams was one of three people in the limousine who were shot. All three, including Williams, were taken to hospitals.

The execution-style murder may have resulted from an altercation at a nightclub earlier in the evening. Another Bronco player may have been in the vehicle. As of this writing, no one has been arrested but suspects have been identified.