Man fights for his freedom after being imprisoned for three decades
RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A man locked up for more than 30 years is asking the Innocence Commission to overturn his murder conviction.
In 1976, Willie Womble was sentenced to 80 years in prison for killing a convenience store clerk, but Womble maintains he didn't do it.
The 60-year-old Womble has spent more than half his life behind bars as a convicted murderer. However, the Innocence Inquiry Commission spent Monday considering whether Womble is actually an innocent man.
Womble was just 22 years old back in Nov. 1975 when a Granville County convenience store was robbed, and the store clerk was shot to death.
Womble and Joseph Perry were both arrested and convicted.
Monday, in front of the Innocence Commission, Perry testified that Womble was innocent. Perry confessed that he and another man actually committed the robbery and murder.
Field investigators for the commission say Womble told them he was innocent. Family members say he's nearly illiterate. Womble says he was violently pressured by Durham police officers to sign a confession that was written by them.
"He was interviewed seven or eight times," said Sharon Stellato with the Innocence Inquiry Commission. "During the interview, they put a piece of paper in front of him, jumped on him, and told him to sign or else."
Womble said he had no knowledge of the robbery and murder until he saw a news report in 1975. He will testify Tuesday morning.
If the commission decides there are facts to suggest his innocence, the case will move to a special three judge panel, which could dismiss the charges and set Womble free.
