Keith Roberts, 67, is finally free after spending eight years wrongfully imprisoned for a murder he did not commit.
His exoneration marks the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office’s 40th exoneration since the inception of its Conviction Review Unit in 2014, underscoring systemic issues within the criminal justice system, particularly regarding the treatment of Black men.
Roberts was cleared of all charges connected to the 1986 murder of Pierre Sanon, who was fatally shot outside a social club in East Flatbush.
CBS News New York reported that a single unreliable eyewitness identification, combined with overlooked evidence and hasty legal procedures, led to Roberts’ wrongful conviction.
In a poignant moment shared with family and the Brooklyn DA before the judge’s official ruling, Roberts expressed relief, stating:
“I feel good. I’m happy to be out.”
The DA acknowledged the miscarriage of justice, remarking:
“Since 1986, he’s declared his innocence. Today, we know that a miscarriage of justice had been done against him, and the system failed.”
Roberts’ case highlights critical flaws in the judicial process during a time when law enforcement resources were stretched thin due to a surge in crime. In the 1990s, Brooklyn witnessed nearly 900 homicides, resulting in insufficient investigative efforts for individual cases.
Ron Kubie, a prominent criminal defense and civil rights attorney, noted that advances in crime-solving technology have led to a decrease in wrongful convictions in recent years.
Roberts maintained hope throughout his ordeal, attributing his resilience to faith.
“I prayed, I prayed, I prayed. If my knees could have talked, I prayed,” he shared.
The Brooklyn DA’s office continues to investigate other potential wrongful convictions, currently reviewing 60 additional cases.
The broader implications of this exoneration raise important questions about the number of innocent Black men still incarcerated and the urgent need for reform within the justice system.
The NYPD has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the case, and no additional arrests have been made.
