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Lawyer for suspect in student slay speaks out

Monday, March 13, 2006

Eyewitness News' Nina Pineda

(New York -WABC, March 13, 2006) (WABC) -- The lawyer for the prime suspect in the murder of Imette Saint Guillen is speaking out and criticizing the police.

The lawyer for Darryl Littlejohn is telling Eyewitness News that his client has new information to share about the murder of the graduate student.

Eyewitness News Reporter Nina Pineda is in SoHo with the latest.

Police believe after being asked to show Saint Guillen the door at The Falls bar, the seven time convicted felon employed as a bouncer, raped and tortured and murdered her.

But today, Darryl Littlejohn told his lawyer a different story.

The man suspected of brutally killing Imette Saint Guillen is scared. His attorney told Eyewitness News that Darryl Littlejohn is aware that his face is the one being seen everywhere -- and the man police believe viciously attacked the grad student.

Kevin O'Donnell, suspect's attorney: "Of course he's frightened. His face has been plastered across every newspaper across the country."

Assigned by the public defender's office to represent the bouncer on a rape charge in Queens, the attorney spent the day at Riker's Island talking with the suspect.

Littlejohn shared new information that he believes will prove he's innocent.

"Now I have something to submit to my investigators that they will go out and conduct their investigation ... I'm not going to get into any portions of this case ... Only a jury will exonerate him and that's what we are looking for." O'Donnell said.

The hard evidence the police say they have may prove difficult to dispute. Darryl Littlejohn's cell phone records place him in the area the body was discovered. Animal hairs found on the blanket used to wrap the victim, had been traced to the suspect's cat.

And Darryl Littlejohn's blood, investigators say, turned up on plastic ties used to bind the 24-year-old's hands.

Ray Kelly, NYC Police Commissioner: "We're talking about the certainty of one in a trillion, so it is a very important piece of evidence for us."

"My concern is that it took two weeks to conclude that the wrist cuffs are tied to my client. Now my question is, why did it take them two weeks for a test that should have been conclusive in 72 hours normally? I have great concerns," O'Donnell added.

Mr. O'Donnell said when the grand jury in Brooklyn hands down an indictment of his client -- which they could do this week after hearing evidence -- Darryl Littlejohn plans to plead not guilty.

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