Alabama Man Found Guilty in Second Jury Trial: In Mobile, Alabama, Alvin Ray Allen has been found guilty in a retrial for the rape and murder of a 19-year-old girl in 1980. Deliberations started Monday and continued into Tuesday, with a brief break mandated by Judge Brooks. The jury, facing challenges, returned after the break and swiftly reached a verdict in just 15 minutes.
“Sandra Williams sister Judy Barfield expressed, ’43 years of long justice, and we finally did it.'”
Allen’s initial trial in 2020 resulted in a mistrial due to the jury’s inability to reach a verdict. His arrest in 2019, 39 years after the crime, came after DNA testing connected him to the case.
Denis Knizley, Allen’s lawyer, noted that the evidence and arguments mirrored those of the previous trial, but the presence of DNA on Williams’ pants posed a significant challenge for the jury.
“DNA evidence is sometimes really difficult to overcome, but that was the jurys verdict, and we respect it,” Knizley acknowledged.
The heinous crime occurred on September 11, 1980, when Williams was discovered on Clementine Court in the Toulminville area, 8 miles from her apartment complex. She had resided in her Azalea Road apartment for three months. Williams’ body bore multiple stab wounds, and she had been sexually assaulted.
Judy Barfield, the victim’s sister, expressed relief, saying, “We knew the truth. We just needed the right jury. We got it; we got justice for her.”
Alvin Ray Allen now faces a 10-year-to-life sentence in prison. His bond was immediately discharged and revoked, with sentencing scheduled for December 20 at 1:30 p.m.
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