Queens prosecutors reluctantly agreed Thursday to open a “full investigation” into the possible wrongful conviction of a man in a notorious 1996 drive-by shooting. Hit the jump to read the rest of the story.
@WiL
The Queens district attorney’s office requested 30 days to reevaluate problems with Tejpal Singh’s conviction that had been raised Sunday by The Daily News.
“Even though there is nothing new, we would like to fully investigate this,” said Assistant District Attorney Ushir Pandh at a hearing in which lawyers for Singh asked a judge to overturn the conviction.
Queens Supreme Court Justice Michael Aloise agreed to adjourn the case until Oct. 27.
The judge also agreed to review a request by Singh’s lawyer, Stephen Murphy, for subpoenas for documents related to a corruption investigation involving the lead detective on the case.
The hearing was held as around 100 demonstrators held a silent protest outside the court demanding Singh’s release.
They held signs that read: “Do the Right Thing – Exonerate the Innocent.”
Singh’s conviction has been thrown in doubt after two key witnesses have changed their stories, with one admitting he never saw Singh pull the trigger.
It has also emerged that an ex-NYPD sergeant swore under oath that he wanted to arrest someone else for the killing, but was stopped by prosecutors.
Singh, 37, has served nine years of a 25-year-to-life sentence.
The case dates back to Aug. 25, 1996, when two men, Kamaljit (Goldie) Singh and Ramjit (Rocky) Singh were shot in a drive-by in Richmond Hill. Goldie died, but Rocky lived.
Prosecutors said Rocky and an eyewitness, Sukjinder (Kala) Singh, identified Tejpal Singh as the triggerman.
A private investigator recently recorded Rocky saying he really didn’t know who shot him and that he was pressured by prosecutors to finger Tejpal.
The investigator says Kala Singh told him if he said what had really happened that night it would help overturn the conviction, but he only offered to tell the truth if paid.
