On Christmas Eve in 2015, 63-year-old William “Ricky” Virgil walked free after 28 years in prison. “I feel probably like being beamed up,” he breathed. But, although he was out on bond, Virgil had a long way to go. Police had framed him for murder, and he was gonna fight for his day in court.
But did he get it?
When his partner was stabbed to death in 1987, Virgil was immediately pinned for her murder. But decades later, DNA evidence proved otherwise. And, with the Kentucky Innocence Project’s help, Virgil filed a wrongful conviction lawsuit against the police who framed him.
But the system wouldn’t make it easy.
Five years was long enough to wait to finally go to trial. But a judge delayed Virgil’s case slated for August 2021. Why? So the police could appeal!
“People do not live forever,” Virgil’s attorney had cautioned. “Justice delayed is justice denied. Justice frivolously delayed is even worse.” And he was right.
On January 2, 2022, Virgil died at 70 years old. His trial might not happen until 2023.
Having a fair trial is the bare minimum. But the criminal legal system couldn't even give him that – because it isn't designed to.
Virgil is gone. But we can still fight for what may be true justice for him: building a world where something like this can never happen again!