Jury Finds Man Failed to Prove Claims Against Baltimore Police in Overturned Conviction

BALTIMORE — A federal jury recently concluded that Clarence Shipley Jr., who was wrongfully convicted of murder in 1992, did not adequately demonstrate that the Baltimore Police Department (BPD) engaged in misconduct during his trial.

Shipley was found guilty of the murder of 29-year-old Kevin Smith in the Cherry Hill area of Baltimore and spent 27 years in prison. Throughout his incarceration, he maintained his innocence. His conviction was overturned in 2018 after an investigation by a retired homicide detective revealed significant flaws in the prosecution's case, including undisclosed testimony from a witness who had previously implicated another individual.

In 2021, Shipley filed a federal lawsuit against the BPD and nine officers, alleging violations of his due process rights. He claimed that the police failed to conduct a proper investigation, withheld evidence, and fabricated testimony. The lawsuit highlighted that the police had allegedly coerced a witness into falsely identifying Shipley as the perpetrator.

As the case progressed, it was narrowed down, and by the start of the trial, only three officers remained as defendants, not including the police department itself. During the eight-day trial, two of those officers were dismissed from the case by a federal judge.

On July 15, the jury ruled that Shipley did not prove his claim of fabricated evidence by the required legal standard, known as “preponderance of the evidence.” This standard requires that a claim is more likely true than not.

Neither Shipley’s legal team nor the Baltimore Police Department provided comments following the verdict.

This ruling comes at a time when the city is preparing to potentially settle another wrongful conviction lawsuit. Anthony Hall, who spent 25 years in prison for a murder conviction later found to be based on coerced testimony, is seeking $11 million in damages. His case was also investigated by the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project and was overturned in 2023.

Reported by HarborBeat based on Police1 (source).