Accused killer has bail revoked after murder charge in NYC death of Indiana tourist

The Bobster

Senior News Editor since 2004


Accused killer has bail revoked after murder charge in NYC death of Indiana tourist​



By
Georgett Roberts and

Jorge Fitz-Gibbon


November 9, 2022 5:50pm
Updated








The Brooklyn thug charged with gunning down a young Indiana tourist outside a Brunswick Airbnb in 2020 has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge — and finally had his bail yanked.
William Freeman, 26, who was picked up last week and charged in the senseless Oct. 23, 2020, shooting death of 20-year-old Ethan Williams, had been held on $350,000 bail until Brooklyn prosecutors revealed in court that a grand jury had slapped him with the murder rap.
“Now that there is an indictment, the top count, murder-2, I am asking the court to revisit this issue… because there is now a change in circumstances,” Brooklyn Assistant District Attorney Caroline Camomanes said.
Criminal Court Judge Christopher Robles agreed.
“Bail is always before the court when there is a change in circumstances and prior warrant history,” Robles said. “So, if you are asking me to reconsider bail, I’ll do it in the context of a change. In this case, you have an indictment.”
The move came as a relief to the slain man’s father, who said he was shocked last week when another judge, Brooklyn Criminal Court Judge Leigh Cheng, set bail for Freeman rather than remand him to Rikers Island without bail.
Accused killer William Freeman.William Freeman was indicted in the shooting death of Indiana tourist Ethan Williams in 2020.Gabriella Bass
“Our family is deeply relieved to learn that our son’s killer has finally been remanded . . . while he awaits arraignment,” grieving dad Jason Williams told The Post on Wednesday.
“Additionally, we are thankful to the judge who did the right thing and will continue to hope and pray that justice prevails,” he said.
Freeman is due to be formally arraigned on the indictment in Brooklyn Supreme Court sometime later this month.
Ethan Williams was on the stoop of the Brooklyn building where he and his friends had booked an apartment when he was shot and killed in an alleged gang shooting.
Jason Williams, left, and his son, Ethan Williams. Jason Williams, left, said he is relieved that his son’s accused killer had his bail revoked.


Freeman remained free in the case until his arrest Thursday — despite having an arrest warrant out on an unrelated shoplifting case from January, records show.
His lawyer, Jay Schwitzman, questioned Freeman’s alleged confession and likened it to other cases based on reputed confessions, “most notably the Central Park Five.”
He said, “there were promises made to Mr. Freeman to get him to make statements.”
 

Idiotic dad of slain Indiana tourist Ethan Williams said son would have befriended his killer​



By
Georgett Roberts and

Gabrielle Fonrouge


November 18, 2022 2:16pm
Updated











The heartbroken dad of an Indiana tourist gunned down on a Brooklyn stoop said Friday his son would’ve tried to befriend the killer if he hadn’t opened fire.
Just moments after William Freeman, 26, pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder indictment in the killing of Ethan Williams, 20, outside his Bushwick Airbnb on Oct. 23, 2020, the victim’s father was asked about his slain son.
“He would’ve invited that guy onto the stoop to hang out if he had not shot at him,” Jason Williams answered when asked how he wants his son remembered.
“He would’ve wanted to been his friend.”
Ethan had been living out a lifelong dream to visit the Big Apple and was in town to produce a skateboarding film when he was fatally shot while sitting on a stoop with friends outside his rented Airbnb.
Ethan Williams (right) and his father Jason posing in an undated photo.Ethan Williams (right) and his father, Jason, posing in an undated photo. William Freeman, 26, appears in Brooklyn Supreme Court in a khaki jumpsuit. William Freeman pleaded not guilty to murder and weapon possession charges. Gabriella Bass
Freeman managed to evade cops for more than two years before they finally busted him Nov. 3 after a car in which he was riding was stopped by police, prosecutors said.
He allegedly confessed to the crime when he was in custody and told cops he mistook Ethan and his buddies for a group that killed his cousin a few weeks prior.
Outside court, Freeman’s lawyer Jay Schwitzman said his client gave a “false confession” and was allegedly coerced into admitting the crime after police promised he could go home if he divulged what had happened.
“My position is that this is a false confession. Once I get the details and look at it, I am confident that at the end of the day, you will see that promises were made, either on the record or off the record, to induce him to make false statements,” said Schwitzman.
Ethan Williams is pictured smiling in an undated photo.Ethan Williams had long dreamed of visiting New York City before he was killed during his visit.Williams family
He also questioned the strength of other evidence against his client.
“They say that this is such a strong case, yet two years went by and there has been no arrest of my client until (last week), so that’s another factor we will be looking at in the course of this investigation,” the defense lawyer said.
“There is no explanation as to why. If they have such a strong case, why did they not arrest him in the two-year period that this incident took place? So I will be looking at that as well as the false confession.”
Jason Williams is pictured  speaking on Fox and Friends.Jason Williams said his son would’ve tried to befriend his killer if he hadn’t opened fire on him.
Ethan’s parents said they are eager for justice.
“It’s all just really sad. We miss Ethan, we’re looking forward to justice,” said Ethan’s mom, Susan Williams.
“He was a good kid. He didn’t deserve any of this.”
Ethan Williams in his graduating cap and gown posing next to a female friend.Ethan Williams was a sophomore film student at Indiana University when he was killed.Williams family
Freeman was indicted on murder and weapon possession raps last week and was remanded to Rikers Island during the brief arraignment on the charges, where he made no comments beyond answering yes-or-no questions.



“Ethan Williams was a kind and compassionate young man who had his whole life ahead of him,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement.


“His visit to New York City was the culmination of a lifelong dream and his untimely and unnecessary death is horrific and heartbreaking.”


Freeman’s relatives didn’t comment on the case. He’s due back in court Feb. 23.
 
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