August 25, 2023

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Fairness in the criminal justice system means we must re-evaluate cases when credible new evidence of actual innocence or wrongful conviction emerges. I filed motions this week with defense attorneys to vacate three wrongful convictions.  Including these three motions, the Conviction Integrity Unit I created in 2020 has vacated more than 100 convictions. In the latest cases:  In the case of Earl Walters, fingerprint evidence implicates other men in the 1992 abductions and robberies of two women for which Walters served 20 years in prison. A review of the case of Armond McCloud and Reginald Cameron found that their confessions in the 1994 shooting death of Kei Sunada were unreliable. They were elicited by a detective connected to two cases involving false confessions -- the “Central Park Five” rape case in 1989 and the murder case involving a tourist in 1990.  Overturning wrongful convictions and correcting injustices is a moral imperative. I thank members of my Conviction Integrity Unit, the New Jersey Innocence Project at Rutgers University, the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law, the Exoneration Initiative and the Legal Aid Wrongful Conviction Unit for their work on these cases. My top priority will always be keeping you and your loved ones safe. In Friendship, Melinda Katz Queens District Attorney

Select Cases of Interest

Man convicted of attempted murder for Whitestone attack on peaceful Black Lives Matter demonstrators Man charged with attempted murder in Astoria attacks by skateboarder wielding baseball bat Sexual predator sentenced for raping child relative NYC teacher charged with rape of14-year-old student

Cold Case

If you have information about Hope Blakely, who was found stabbed to death in Richmond Hill 34 years ago, contact NYPD Crimestoppers by calling 800-577-TIPS, or through the online form. It is never too late for justice.

Street Re-Naming In Honor of Local Hero

Firefighter Timothy Klein lost his life responding to a three-alarm fire on April 24, 2022. In recognition of his ultimate sacrifice and dedication to serving others, a street co-naming ceremony was held in his honor in his Breezy Point neighborhood. Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, Councilmember Joanne Ariola, and Timothy's family, friends, and colleagues came together to pay tribute to his life and legacy. May this symbolic gesture serve as a reminder of the profound impact that Timothy had on the community, and the deep appreciation we hold for his selflessness and bravery.

India Day Parade

The Queens India Day Parade started in 2016 and has quickly grown into one of the largest Indian American festivals in the borough. Celebrated annually to commemorate the nation's independence from the United Kingdom, the parade brings local communities together to experience Indian culture and heritage. Thank you to Koshi O. Thomas and the Floral Park-Bellerose Indian Merchants Association for hosting this event and inviting me to provide remarks to those in attendance.

Community Day in Southeast Queens

Back to School Supplies Giveaway in Flushing

Farewell to QDA Leadership Interns

As summer comes to a close, we say goodbye to our incredible QDA Leadership interns. Over the past six weeks, they have immersed themselves in the world of criminal justice and honed their professional skills. We're grateful for their dedication to public service and wish them all the best as they embark on a new school year.