BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez today announced a motion to vacate the conviction of Steven Ruffin, 45, for a 1996 homicide. Ruffin, wrongfully convicted at 18, served 14 years before being paroled in 2010. This decision follows a comprehensive reinvestigation by the Conviction Review Unit (CRU).
Ruffin was convicted for the murder of 16-year-old James Deligny in Crown Heights, a case of mistaken identity. The CRU’s reinvestigation revealed crucial evidence pointing to another individual as the perpetrator, which was not properly investigated or presented in the original trial.
The CRU found that Ruffin’s defense lawyer failed to effectively challenge the prosecution’s case, including not showcasing evidence that another man, matching the description of the shooter and connected to the crime, was the real killer. This man, who had possession of the murder weapon and a similar motive, was never thoroughly investigated by the police or the prosecution.
Gonzalez stated, “We cannot stand by this conviction. The combined errors by the defense counsel and law enforcement’s tunnel vision led to a miscarriage of justice. Correcting such injustices is crucial, and we will continue to work to prevent them in the future.”
Ruffin will appear in court today at 2:30 p.m. before Justice Matthew D’Emic at the Brooklyn Supreme Court. The CRU’s findings highlight the need for rigorous case reviews to ensure the integrity of the criminal justice system and prevent wrongful convictions.