Witness Who ID’d Gunmen in 1994 Murder Trial Charged with Perjury After Recanting Testimony

Wounded in a 1992 shooting in which two of his friends were killed, Willie Johnson identified the two alleged gunmen in a 1994 trial. They were convicted and sentenced to life prison terms.

Now, in a highly unusual twist of fate, the 40-year-old Johnson is facing a related criminal case, reports the Chicago Tribune.

Earlier this year, he recanted his testimony in the Cook County murder prosecution, saying that he had falsely identified Cedric Cal and Albert Kirkman in his 1994 testimony. However, not only was Johnson not believed, he was charged with perjury and is being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Defense attorney Steve Greenberg said he's never before seen such an indictment resulting from a post-conviction relief motion, and points out that it could discourage other witnesses who lied on the stand and regretted doing so from coming forward.

"When the state starts indicting people for perjury like this, eventually that will lead to suppressing the truth," he told the newspaper.