After several weeks of trial, a state appellate panel upheld the million dollar rulings against an Essex County detective who wrongfully arrested a man.
On June 26, 2014 the court determined that Robert Prachar not only arrested and imprisoned Edwin Williams, 52, of Newark, without probable cause but maliciously prosecuted Williams.
Williams who spent over a year in jail before the charges in connection to the assault of Jean Walker on Jan. 4, 2009 and fatal shooting of Darsail Crooks on Feb. 8, 2009, were dismissed on June 30, 2010.
In the lawsuit filed by Williams, he claims that the two alleged witnesses were coerced by Prachar to identify him.
In the appellate's decision, Williams was awarded roughly $850,000 as well as an additional $560,000 to cover his attorney's fees and costs.
Based on evidence provided by Williams, the appellate judges found sufficient reasons to believe Prachar's intentional conduct was wrongful without just cause or excuse.