Tag Archives: David Ranta

Ruling marks historic week in Brooklyn D.A.’s Office: Discredited detective’s files to be reviewed by judge

As reported (here) in the New York Daily News, New York Supreme Court Justice Desmond Green yesterday denied a motion by the Brooklyn District Attorney to suppress a subpoena, submitted by lawyers for inmate Shabaka Shakur, to obtain the files of former police Detective Louis Scarcella. The retired detective is implicated in possible tampering in nearly 40 cases that may have resulted in wrongful convictions. In addition to the denied motion, the judge ordered the Brooklyn D.A. to provide the files of all the identified cases, two at a time, to the judge himself for review.

District Attorney Charles “Joe” Hynes had called for the review of Scarcella’s cases, after his Convictions Integrity Unit had cleared the conviction of David Ranta. Mr. Ranta had spent 23 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Continue reading

Recently Freed Man in Stabilized Condition Following Heart Attack

David Ranta, released from prison last Thursday after serving 23 years in prison in a high-profile wrongful murder conviction, suffered a heart attack Friday night. According to this CNN report (here), as of Sunday night, Ranta’s conditioned was stabilized. He is being treated in cardiac intensive care unit at a New York hospital. Continue reading