David Cruz Appeals Life Sentence in Roaring Creek Murder Case

We turn now to a major legal battle unfolding at the Court of Appeal. David Cruz, the man convicted for the brazen 2020 murder of Roaring Creek resident Timroy Neal, is fighting to overturn his life sentence. Cruz was just twenty-five when Neal was gunned down in broad daylight, right across from the Roaring Creek Police Station. Three years later, Cruz was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison, with no chance of parole for thirty years. But today, his attorney Leroy Banner argued that the conviction was flawed. Banner says the trial judge relied on a ‘dock identification’, that’s when a witness points out the accused in court, without proper safeguards. He claims this led to an unfair trial and wants the judges to quash the conviction entirely, not even order a retrial. On the other hand, DPP Cheryl Lynn Vidal insists the trial was fair and guided by legal standards. She argues no miscarriage of justice occurred, especially since surveillance footage of the shooting was part of the evidence. After more than an hour of arguments, the judges reserved their decision. For now, Cruz remains behind bars, but the outcome could change Cruz’s fate.