It's About Time - Recantation Leads To Perjury Charges
The Chicago Tribune's Jason Meisner ran a story yesterday about how the Cook County State's Attorney's Office has charged Willie Johnson with perjury after he tried to recant his prior testimony from 17 years ago. Johnson was shot nine times back in 1992 and identified two rival gang members - Cedric Cal and Albert Kirkman - as the men who shot him. Two years later, at the criminal trial, Johnson testified under oath that Cal and Kirkman were the shooters. His testimony sent them both to prison for life without parole. Now, 17 years later, Johnson has recanted his testimony (how convenient) and testified in a post-conviction hearing that he identified the defendants out of fear of the real killer. But, the criminal court judge didn't buy it and found that Johnson's recantation was not credible. And here's the interesting part - before providing his "recantation," Johnson sought advice from "Ray Ray" Longstreet, a "five star universal elite" member of the Vice Lords who was sentenced last year to 30 years in prison. Hmm. . . . Sounds to us, and the judge, like the Vice Lords convinced/demanded Johnson to recant his prior testimony. We've been talking about this issue for some time - recantations due to pressure from gangs and gang leaders. Way to take a stand against this nonsense State's Attorney's Office. Keep up the good work.
