PHILADELPHIA (AP) - A man jailed for more than two years on charges he killed the owner of a check-cashing store during a robbery will soon be freed after prosecutors agreed that his alibi checked out.
Philadelphia prosecutors dropped the capital murder charges Friday against Eric Locke, The Philadelphia Inquirer (https://bit.ly/1sdVmK7 ) reported
Locke had been awaiting trial on charges he robbed and shot 53-year-old Joel Blumer, of Holland, Bucks County, on March 3, 2012. Blumer, a married father of two, was opening his B&R Check Cashing store in Philadelphia just before 9 a.m.
Defense attorney Anthony Voci Jr. said Locke surrendered to police after he saw his mug shot on the television news, identifying him as a suspect.
“He really thought he was going to clear his name,” Voci said. “He had an alibi and told them to look at his cellphone.”
Instead, police took the word of a witness who later testified at a preliminary hearing that he heard a gunshot and saw Locke run past, then return and pick up a bag Blumer had removed from his trunk.
In all, four witnesses picked Locke’s picture from a photo lineup.
But Locke insisted he was in Williamsport visiting his children’s mother that morning. Now, Assistant District Attorney Jude Conroy said the phone records and a witness who drove Locke 180 miles to Philadelphia later that day support Locke’s claims.
“In light of the evidence we have … the most prudent court was to withdraw the charges and continue to investigate,” Conroy said.
The charges have been dropped without prejudice, meaning prosecutors can recharge Locke if they find other evidence that rebuts his alibi or otherwise links him to the crime.
Voci said Locke will likely be released from jail Monday.
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Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, https://www.inquirer.com
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