NEW YORK CITY, NY – October 7, 2015 (Gephardt Daily) – One of the men convicted in the 1990 killing of Utah tourist Brian Watkins on a New York City subway platform walked out of a courthouse a free man Tuesday afternoon.
State Supreme Court Justice Eduardo Padro, who said new evidence, including testimony of witnesses, helped in making the decision to overturn the conviction of Johnny Hincapie, 43, on Tuesday and grant the Colombian immigrant a new trial.
The witness testimony supports Hincapie’s claim of innocence and he had no involvement in the crime.
In 1990, Watkins, 22, and his parents were in New York City for the U.S. Open. The trio was on a subway headed to Greenwich Village for dinner when a group of youths, who tried to rob the family, slashed the victim’s father with a knife and punched and kicked the victim’s mother. The 22-year-old rushed to defend his parents but was stabbed in the chest in the incident. After being stabbed, Brian Watkins chased the suspects until he collapsed under a subway turnstile.
Hincapie was one of seven suspects tried and convicted in Watkins’ killing. However, he claimed to be an innocent bystander who was coerced into a confession. Since going to prison 25 years ago, Hincapie finished high school and earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Judge Padro did not confirm any belief in Hincapie’s actual innocence but allowed him to be released on $1 bail while he awaits a new trial.
