Prosecutor takes stand in Williams’ final death penalty appeal

A Philadelphia court heard testimony Thursday in the final appeal of Terry Williams, the Philadelphia man scheduled to be executed next month.

The prosecutor who handled the case spent hours on the stand, saying no one promised a key witness a shorter sentence to change his testimony.

Terry Williams and Marc Draper were co-defendants in a case of murder that occurred in the summer of 1984. During the trial, Draper testified against Williams. He has since come forward with new testimony that Williams killed the man because he had been sexually abusing Williams.

The attorney who prosecuted the case, Andrea Foulkes, said no one told Draper to change his statement 26 years ago.

“I never told him to lie about anything,” said Foulkes. “I never told any witness to lie about anything.”

Foulkes spent the entire day on the stand. It appears likely Draper will not appear until Monday.

Williams, scheduled for execution Oct. 3, remained in Harrisburg after the State Board of Pardons rejected his plea for clemency this week.