A blandly titled resolution up for consideration Monday may actually mark a final chapter in one of the most notorious crime stories in Plainfield's history, at a cost of $1,365,200.
Byron Halsey spent 19 years in jail for the gruesome murders of two children in 1985, but as detailed by the Innocence Project, he was exonerated through DNA testing. The actual killer died in prison in 2009. On the July 13 agenda, the caption, "RESOLUTION REQUESTING APPROVAL FOR 2015 EMERGENCY
APPROPRIATION FOR LITIGATION SETTLEMENT," represents the first installment of a proposed settlement
There is plenty of information about the crimes on line, including the false confession itself, numerous news articles and a report on the April 2014 decision that Halsey could sue the police officers involved in obtaining the confession.
Now the City Council is asked to approve an emergency appropriation for the first of four payments totaling $1,365,200 to settle the case. The governing body has already passed the 2015 budget, so the $341,300 payment due on or before July 22 becomes an emergency appropriation that will be charged against the 2016 budget. A 2/3 majority of the council, five of seven votes, is necessary for passage at the regular meeting on July 20.
It appears that the emergency appropriation plus the second payment due in 2016 will add up $682,600 off the top of next year's budget before any other costs are considered.
The last major emergency appropriation that Plaintalker recalls was up to $200,000 for an emergency demolition that took place in March 2010. The debt had to be charged against the FY 2011 budget for the fiscal year that began on July 1, 2010. The city has since changed to a calendar year budget, so the possible $682,600 debt will affect the budget for the year starting Jan. 1, 2016.
Monday's agenda-fixing session is 7:30 p.m. in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.
--Bernice
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A sloppy investigation from the start. Plainfield police had the real killer in for questioning. Let him walkout and roam the streets of Plainfield for 20 years. All the while the investigators knew byron was innocent. For 19 years plus he was blamed for this horrendous crime. Lets keep these children in our prayers and remind those trusted to protect and serve. That its not about arrest and numbers but about justice. Truth crushed to the earth shall rise again. Now that we know the truth which is plfd police blew it. lets make sure it never happens again. Organizing for Peace and justice for all. Mr. N.D. MUHAMMAD
ReplyDeleteBernice, thanks for picking up on this. Halsey's case was the turning point in our struggle to eliminate the death penalty in NJ. Although the prosecution sought it, it requires a unanimous jury vote to impose it--and ONE juror held out, which is why Halsey got life without parole. Bless that anonymous juror, who not only saved an innocent life but paved the way!
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