He was charged for the sensational November 2004 murder of police constable Euwin Armstrong. But tonight the one-time accused killer, John Earl Young Crawford, is a free man and the police's former star witness against Crawford is now the new murder suspect. Crawford's trial began today but it fell apart after the lead witness, Bruce Willacey, who was with Crawford on the night of the murder changed his story. Crawford is free tonight and Willacey is now in jail, charged for the same murder. We'll tell you more about that later, but first we go back to November of 2004 when a dedicated constable Armstrong was walking to work for a midnight shift when he was shot, basically, for wearing his police uniform. Here's more.
Keith Swift Reporting,
27-year-old police constable
Euwin Armstrong was murdered while walking to work near the Belcan Bridge. It was a senseless murder and after an intense search - police arrested 26-year-old John Earl Young Crawford for the murder. This morning - 24 months later - Crawford walked out of the Supreme Court a free man.
John Earl Young Crawford, Acquitted
"I proved that I am innocent, the people didn't have enough evidence to convict me. It was just something they were making up and so I just hope they leave me alone. That is all I have to say."
Keith Swift,
Did you have anything to do with the murder of Constable Armstrong?
John Earl Young Crawford,
"No, I am innocent."
Crawford is free because the prosecution's star witness - Bruce Willacey - who once told police that he saw Crawford shoot Constable Armstrong - changed his story on the witness stand this morning.
Keith Swift,
Your friend first told police that he thought you did it.
John Earl Young Crawford,
"The man was afraid to go to jail so he told a lie."
And while that friend is now in jail - after two years in lockdown - Crawford is preparing for freedom.
Keith Swift,
So what are you going to do now?
John Earl Young Crawford,
"Well I just have to hope for the best and not get into problems."
This morning on the witness stand - star witness Willacey told Prosecutor Merlene Moody that, actually, he wasn't with Crawford on the night of the murder, he was instead drinking with friends. That version conflicts with his original story to police in which he stated he was with Crawford.
What accounts for the change? Willacey told the court that he was pressured by police to sign his original statement. Whatever the case, Willacey is detained tonight and police indicate that he will be charged for the murder of Constable Euwin Armstrong shortly.
