The two men charged for the March 2007 execution style murder of Sherwin Locke walked out of Magistrate's Court Room #4 as free men this morning. The accused were Altreed Williams and Lincoln Sabido. 20-year-old Locke was shot twice to the head at 4 in the afternoon as he was walking on Lawrence Avenue – going to a friend's house to return a video game.
The case against Sabido and Williams fell apart after the DPP's office withdrew the charges. And so it was vindication day for Altreed Williams. And indeed, from the day he was charged – his mother went on record here on 7NEWS proclaiming her son's innocence.
Well after 7 months and 2 days in jail, Williams was freed this morning and as he embraced his mother Gladys Peters, Altreed told us he was innocent all along.
Altreed Williams, Freed from Murder Charge
"I am one of the happiest persons right now because I never believed something like that would ketch me. I don't put myself in any mishaps in society and all my life I've been working and I never believed a murder charge would come against my name and I just want the people know out there that I am the same person they know from ever since, I haven't changed. It is just me this and I don't want them to look at me or take me or downgrade me because they had my name against a murder charge."
Keith Swift,
So you didn't kill Sherwin Locke?
Altreed Williams,
"No, I didn't even know the person and I told the policeman I don't know the person none at all. If they didn't show me a picture of this man – I would be sitting at jail for somebody I don't know. I don't know how he looked."
Keith Swift,
And where were you when he was killed?
Altreed Williams,
"From in the morning I was at the tourism village from morning until evening."
Gladys Peters, Mother
"I know that my son didn't do it. I know but I sympathize with the mother for the loss of her son because I know how it feels for her to lose a son. I lost my son in jail for seven months and 2 days and she lost her son for the rest of her life and I just wish that the police do the right thing and find the correct person., who did it."
Keith Swift,
How do you move on? You've been in jail for seven months?
Altreed Williams,
"Just pick up the pieces and find something constructive to do."
Sherwin Locke had numerous run ins with the law while he was alive but his family has maintained that he was the victim, mostly of a bad reputation.
