A Brooklyn man's murder conviction was vacated on Thursday after a reinvestigation by the Brooklyn District Attorney's office found that the sole eyewitness was unreliable.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said Keith Roberts, 67, will be vacated after a reinvestigation by the DA’s Conviction Review Unit (CRU), according to a press release.
Roberts served eight years in prison for a 1986 murder before accepting a plea deal in 1995, allowing him to stay out of prison after his original conviction was overturned on appeal. The CRU found the sole eyewitness to be unreliable, Roberts’ alibi plausible and the police investigation inadequate.
Roberts becomes the 40th individual exonerated by Brooklyn’s CRU since its inception in 2014, which has overseen more exonerations than any other DA’s office in New York City during that time.
“This exoneration underscores the critical importance of our Conviction Review Unit,” said Gonzalez. “Mr. Roberts, like many others, was trapped by a system that failed to recognize his innocence. Today, we can restore his dignity and good name.”
The case stemmed from the murder of Pierre Sanon, 33, who was fatally shot in East Flatbush. Roberts was convicted based on an eyewitness identification, but multiple witnesses attested to his alibi. After his initial conviction was reversed on appeal, Roberts pled guilty to first-degree manslaughter to avoid a second trial and a potential return to prison.
Roberts reached out to the CRU, stating he had pleaded guilty out of fear of being re-incarcerated despite his innocence. Following a thorough review, the CRU determined that Roberts likely had no involvement in the crime. The investigation revealed significant flaws, including the identification of Roberts based on shaky testimony and the rushed police investigation.
