Convicting the Innocent
DNA Exonerations Database

James Curtis Williams

First Name James Curtis
Last NameWilliams
Year of Conviction1984
Year of Exoneration2012
Testing inculpated culpritCold Hit
State of ConvictionTexas
Trial, Bench Trial, or Guilty PleaTrial
Type of CrimeRape
Death SentenceNo
Life / LWOP sentenceLife
Gender of ExonereeMale
Race of exonereeBlack
JuvenileNo
Type of Innocence Defense
  • Alibi
Did the defendant testify at trial?Yes
Types of evidence at trial
  • Eyewitness
  • Forensic Evidence
Type of Forensic Evidence
  • Fingerprint
  • Serology
Types of Flawed Forensics
  • Valid (Excluded)
Brief Quote / Description of Testimony

Victim was a non-secretor, and defendant fell within 14% of the population that could have contributed the observed enzymes. Latent fingerprints excluded the defendant and co-defendant.

Identity of eyewitness
  • Cross Racial Identification
  • Victim
Highest level reachedNR