A Manhattan judge on Thursday vacated the murder convictions of two childhood friends accused of killing a French tourist on New Year’s Day 1987.
Eric Smokes, who was 19, and David Warren, who was 16, were sent to prison for the murder of Jean Casse, who was attacked and killed on West 52 Street minutes after the ball drop in Times Square.
When Casse was mugged, he fell and hit his head and died.
Smokes, 56, was released in 2011 after serving 24 years in prison. Warren, 53 was released in 2007 after serving 20 years.
The pair are still best friends all these years later. They never gave up on their friendship, and they never gave up on justice.
“I’ve gave no pleas- I didn’t do none of that in court, that was for y’all. I knew we didn’t do nothing,” said Warren. “What would I take a plea for? I didn’t do nothing. I wasn’t going to sell him out, he didn’t do anything.”
And even though it took time, the pair never gave up on hope.
“Everyone says the system doesn’t work. It does work, but it’s slow at working,” said Smokes.