New York Man's Life-Long Sentence Vacated After Prosecutors Failed to Disclose Key Evidence in 1995 Double Murder Trial
In a stunning reversal, a state judge on Friday vacated the life-long sentence of Allen Porter, a Queens man who spent over three decades behind bars for his alleged role in a Woodside Houses double murder. The decision comes after a remarkable friendship between Porter and investigator Jabbar Collins blossomed while both were incarcerated at Green Haven Correctional Facility. Collins, who was exonerated of his own wrongful conviction in 2010, has been instrumental in Porter's fight for justice.
Prosecutors had withheld key evidence from Porter's trial, including the testimony of a witness who identified another suspect as the gunman and the names of five witnesses that were never shared with the defense. Judge Michelle Johnson wrote that the amount of undisclosed evidence was "substantial and alarming" and that prosecutors' attempts to justify it were "shameful."
The reversal marks the latest blemish on the legacy of late Queens DA Richard Brown, who served from 1991 to 2019. Over the past decade, a series of murder convictions have been overturned due to his office's failure to turn over exculpatory evidence and other improper actions, costing taxpayers tens of millions in lawsuit settlements.
According to Porter's lawyers, including Karen Newirth, the case confirms that business was done under Brown in a way that was not an anomaly. "This is how it was done under Brown, that this was not an anomaly," Newirth said. "Allen Porter's case confirms everything that has come out in other cases."
The volume of undisclosed evidence was so great that Porter's original trial lawyer had to sign five sworn statements confirming he hadn't previously seen newly disclosed notes and documents. The lone eyewitness who identified Porter as the shooter, Jacqueline Aviles, also recanted her testimony in 2021, saying she had been coerced by detectives.
In a remarkable turn of events, Collins promised Porter that if he were exonerated, "he would not forget him." When Collins won his release for his own wrongful conviction in Brooklyn in 2010, he kept this promise. After Porter's case was turned over to the DA's office in 2018, Collins began working tirelessly to uncover the truth.
Judge Johnson's decision caps decades-long campaign by Porter and Collins to prove Porter's innocence. As Collins noted, "Allen Porter lost most of his life due to a conviction built on coercion, concealment, and constitutional violations." With his release, Porter is finally free after 33 years in prison.
In a stunning reversal, a state judge on Friday vacated the life-long sentence of Allen Porter, a Queens man who spent over three decades behind bars for his alleged role in a Woodside Houses double murder. The decision comes after a remarkable friendship between Porter and investigator Jabbar Collins blossomed while both were incarcerated at Green Haven Correctional Facility. Collins, who was exonerated of his own wrongful conviction in 2010, has been instrumental in Porter's fight for justice.
Prosecutors had withheld key evidence from Porter's trial, including the testimony of a witness who identified another suspect as the gunman and the names of five witnesses that were never shared with the defense. Judge Michelle Johnson wrote that the amount of undisclosed evidence was "substantial and alarming" and that prosecutors' attempts to justify it were "shameful."
The reversal marks the latest blemish on the legacy of late Queens DA Richard Brown, who served from 1991 to 2019. Over the past decade, a series of murder convictions have been overturned due to his office's failure to turn over exculpatory evidence and other improper actions, costing taxpayers tens of millions in lawsuit settlements.
According to Porter's lawyers, including Karen Newirth, the case confirms that business was done under Brown in a way that was not an anomaly. "This is how it was done under Brown, that this was not an anomaly," Newirth said. "Allen Porter's case confirms everything that has come out in other cases."
The volume of undisclosed evidence was so great that Porter's original trial lawyer had to sign five sworn statements confirming he hadn't previously seen newly disclosed notes and documents. The lone eyewitness who identified Porter as the shooter, Jacqueline Aviles, also recanted her testimony in 2021, saying she had been coerced by detectives.
In a remarkable turn of events, Collins promised Porter that if he were exonerated, "he would not forget him." When Collins won his release for his own wrongful conviction in Brooklyn in 2010, he kept this promise. After Porter's case was turned over to the DA's office in 2018, Collins began working tirelessly to uncover the truth.
Judge Johnson's decision caps decades-long campaign by Porter and Collins to prove Porter's innocence. As Collins noted, "Allen Porter lost most of his life due to a conviction built on coercion, concealment, and constitutional violations." With his release, Porter is finally free after 33 years in prison.
the fact that prosecutors withheld key evidence from Allen Porter's trial like it was no big deal is just crazy 
and to think this happened under DA Richard Brown's watch, it's like he was trying to cover up something or just didn't care about justice 
his dedication is truly inspiring, and now Allen gets to live the rest of his life free after serving 33 years for something he didn't even do 
. I'm so glad that Jabbar Collins stepped in and fought for Allen's freedom, he's literally a hero 
! Porter's case is just another example of how corrupt the system can be, but at least now he's free to live his life 
meanwhile, Allen Porter's life is back on track! 
and now Porter gets to live his life after 33 long years behind bars 
justice may be slow, but when it's served, it's always sweet 
just so wild how a friendship between an ex-con and the guy who was investigating him can change someone's life forever... I mean, 33 years in prison for something they didn't even do? it's crazy to think about all the mistakes that were made back then. and to know that there are still people out there like Jabbar Collins who care enough to make a difference is really inspiring 
. It's disgusting that he was locked up for so long without key evidence being shared with the defense. I mean, can you believe prosecutors withheld witness testimony and names of witnesses from the defense? That's just crazy 
it just goes to show how messed up the system can be sometimes 
at least now Allen Porter gets to live his life again 
... it just goes to show that even after all these yrs, truth can still come out and set people free 
️.
just when you think the justice system is all about fairness, it hits you with another wild card... like this Allen Porter case. I mean, I get why prosecutors thought they could hide that evidence, but come on, 33 years in the hole? That's a huge price to pay for their mistake. And what really gets me is how this just fits into the bigger picture of DA Richard Brown's legacy - it's like a domino effect of mistakes and oversight. 
. The DA's office has a history of botched cases and now we're seeing the consequences 
?
for a crime he didn't do 
who befriended him and found the missing piece of evidence 
that can prove his innocence 
. The system failed this guy, but now justice has been served 
️. It's not just about Porter, though - it highlights the need for better oversight in our courts 
so these kinds of mistakes don't happen again 
and can you believe this isn't an isolated incident, but part of a larger pattern of wrongdoings in the DA's office under Richard Brown 
his legacy is basically one big stain on Queens' history 