Folks around Huntsville know that former Huntsville police officer William Darby was convicted of murder for the on duty killing of Jeffrey Parker. Subsequently a mistrial was declared because it was found that presiding judge Dona Pate had incorrectly advised the jury.
Darby had been sentenced to 20 years plus 5 for lack of contrition. A 25 year sentence for which he had served only 20 months was suddenly overturned. A new trial would have to commence unless another attempted plea deal could be reached.
Darby was offered a deal, and he took it. The conviction would stand for manslaughter, a felony, with a 20 year sentence, suspended to time served. Darby walked a free man after only 20 months for the murder of Jeffrey Parker. An ostensibly mentally ill man in his own home, sitting on his own couch, minding his own business when Darby pulled the trigger.
Rob Broussard, Madison County district attorney said afterwards: “we offered him the same plea deal to begin with.”
Why? Why should the law enforcement community scratch their own backs like that? The deal was obviously a slap on the wrist and pat on the back with a smile.
Darby was stuck in the middle in terms of legal representation. The City of Huntsville was paying his attorney. Seems right at first blush but shouldn’t Darby have been sueing the city for faulty training? Shouldn’t the FOP support the officers legally?
Darby deserved his day in court. But so did Jeffrey Parker. Darby should’ve gone through the retrial. The plea deal had no integrity, was a total farce and disservice to the community.
©2024 – Jim Casey
