Press Conference: William Labrador
William Labrador was released after more than three years in Her Majesty's Prison following the ruling of a court in London that he was wrongly convicted.
Read a transcript of a press conference with William Labrador and his mother, Barbara, following his release on April 7, 2003.
Question:
What has it been like for you, Barbara?
Barbara Labrador:
It's been ... a nightmare. It's been a nightmare. And today is a miracle. And I am still just ... it's a blur. Everybody from home in California, where Honey is, where our family is in Southampton, William's fraternity brothers in Virginia, it's on the radio in New York, it's on T.V...
But the most important thing is that an innocent person is free. And he happens to be my son.
Question:
But ... after two years --
Barbara Labrador:
Three years.
Question:
Three years. Can you actually believe it?
Barbara Labrador:
I'll believe it when ... (SIGH) we arrive in New York. Everybody's gonna be meeting us there. And right now, it's still, it's a miracle. And our team of attorneys did this, who working ... and presented this in London were brilliant.
And thank God for the Privy Council. Thank God, because they saw exactly what happened.
Question:
I believe you have spent some time with your son. Was it --
Barbara Labrador:
Oh gosh, yes. It will be so nice to have him with me, and not having to go into a prison to see him.
Question:
What do you ... what do you have planned for tonight?
Barbara Labrador:
He will probably take a swim. (LAUGHTER) He said that that's the most important thing, because he's been looking at this gorgeous water for over three years. And that's why he would always come down here. Very low key. He's gonna call his sisters ... his aunts. The people who really have stood by us through this whole thing.
Question:
What lessons you have learned from all this?
Barbara Labrador:
Never give up. Never give up when you are innocent. Never, never give up. Because the right people will enter your life to help you. And they did.
And I have to say that there are people on this island have ... who have become my dearest friends, who have carried us through this. And without them, I don't know that I would have been able to be here. And these people who work here for a living, God bless them, they've all been praying.
And the people at the hotel are overjoyed. The people in town ... I've gotten so many hugs all over the place. The local people, who have really known from the beginning that what happened was not right.
Question:
I believe this question will be better put to Labrador -- William -- when he comes out. But I believe he will have been in conversation with you. What will he tell you ... what he told you as regards to good times and the bad times in this?
Barbara Labrador:
(SIGH) We've been through so much, I think that the murder charge right at the beginning was horrendous. We couldn't believe it. The conviction was probably the worst day of our lives.
But the people here at Her Majesty's Prison made it bearable. I mean they are compassionate, they are professional. They've certainly taken very good of William ... good care of William. They have allowed us to be with him as often as possible. And that -- superintendent Frett (PH) and Smith and Percival (PH)-- the guards-- Mr. Williams, Mr. Joseph, they have become friends. And they have been wonderful. Wonderful.
Question:
Do you have any message for the McMillins ... today?
Barbara Labrador:
That my heart goes out to them. And as Mrs. McMillin said, we're all victims. This really has been a horrendous ordeal for everybody. And, I wish, and I hope that I'll be able to see her when we get back, so I can give her a hug.
Because ... they have been through so much. And I hope somebody here has the conscience to find out what happened to Lois. Because that is a real tragedy.
Question:
Throughout it all, you have maintained your son's innocence. He has maintained his innocence. What was it that was ...(UNINTEL) you personally that you definitely knew for sure that he was innocent.
Barbara Labrador:
I know my son. I know my children. Everybody who knows William, from the very beginning, knew that this was not possible. And because of that, they have stood by us for over three years.
And not only was there no evidence ... but when the only way you can convict an innocent person is to get a career criminal to lie ... there's something wrong. And that must change.
But William is a good person. I raised good children. And it's been proven, finally, that William, the other three Americans, they were friends of Lois ... friends of this girl. And that anybody could conceive that they would harm her was unbelievable to begin with. But to put us all through this without any evidence --
Question:
Do you see the whole thing as a judicial blunder from the beginning?
Barbara Labrador:
Oh, I think it's worse than a blunder. It's much worse than a blunder. When you have no concrete evidence against people you should rethink what you're doing and have the integrity to admit that you made a mistake by ... arresting them to begin with.
Question:
How has the experience ... influenced your opinion of the BVI (PH)?
Barbara Labrador:
The BVI, the people on the BVI, are wonderful. But the system must change. And hopefully the decision on this case will begin changing things down here so it never happens again to anybody. Not tourists, not Americans, not Tortolans, not Saint Vincents. Nobody should have to go through this. It isn't right.
William Labrador:
Thank you. Bye bye. Bye, Miss Haley (PH), bye Mr. Lindo (PH).
Question:
-- Santio (PH) as he comes out the main entrance here at (BACKGROUND NOISE) Her Majesty's Prison. William Labrador making his final exit just--
Question:
-- His mother a big hug, and--
William Labrador:
Let's go.
Question:
Hi, William.
William Labrador:
Hello, hello. How are you?
Question:
-- Present today. How does it feel?
William Labrador:
Relieved. Very relieved. We're very relieved. It's been a long journey. But --
Question:
What has it been like for you?
William Labrador:
Well ... from the very outset, 1179 days ago, I mean an innocent man has been sitting in prison for that period of time. But our attorneys and our team of people, and the commitment of family and friends and community, we continued with unwavering support. And I'm gonna go back home to New York and enjoy the next six months.
Question:
What was your reaction when you got the news this morning?
William Labrador:
Well, Mr. Fitzgerald, who called me, told me very clearly that they quashed the conviction, and there would be no retrial. And in the 37 page decision, there was ... 13 points that were questionable that the Privy Council, upon further review, felt ... did not warrant keeping me (INAUDIBLE).
Question:
William, how would you describe the two -- years in prison?
William Labrador:
Well, it's actually three (UNINTEL) and change. But as far as this facility goes, and considering the crime that I was convicted of, there's probably no place on the face of the planet that would have given me the opportunity to stay focused on what I needed to do to reach the goal, which was (UNINTEL) 11 o'clock (INAUDIBLE).
I'm gonna go jump in the ocean. I'm gonna go jump in the ocean for the first time since I've been living (INAUDIBLE)-- over two years. But I'll be back here tomorrow morning, because I still have more than enough ... things that I need to (UNINTEL) back to the United States. So --
Question:
When you leave for the United States, you will be back to (UNINTEL).
William Labrador:
In the immediate future, no. I have a life to go lead. Possibly, you know, a future. But I have nieces, and nephews, and aunts, and uncles and -- grandparents. And it's time to go live my life again, which -- thank God, was not taken away from me in --
Question:
-- Briefing how you spent the time.
William Labrador:
Well, cycling, gardening, working out. You know, there's a core group of people up here that also provided me the strength and the focus to get through my daily. And helping other inmates in the prison, whether it was (UNINTEL) or early release applications, or even appeals that are ongoing -- in the brief time that I was here, you still have to give something back.
And when you're an innocent man, you continue to move forward with your life, but taking into consideration the others who were with you, who could possibly have been wrongly accused and convicted. So ... you know, as we continue to strive forward, you know, just thank God. And I think ... all our hopes and prayers should be with the coalition forces that are in the Middle East.
Lemme go -- no, lemme go.
Question:
Okay, that's William Labrador running off with his mother now.
William Labrador:
Let's go (UNINTEL). Let's get outta here.
Question:
Final thought, William. How has it tarnished the reputation of the BVI? Or has it anyway?
William Labrador:
No, because--
Question:
Final words?
William Labrador:
You know, you can't ... you can't ... sum up a culture of people based on a circumstance that was beyond not only their control but it has been the West Indians within the prison, whether it's the Jamaicans, or the Saint Kittians (PH), or the San Vincentians (PH), that have also given me the strength to continue to move forward.
Question:
Will you come back?
William Labrador:
In the immediate future, no. You know, I'm gonna go live my life. But ... like I said, I'll be back here tomorrow. I still have more than enough to do. And they've been more than kind, because it's not protocol.
But, you know, I'll be back here tomorrow at nine. We're all gonna go catch the last of the sunset and the ocean.
Question:
Will you come take your vacation starting tomorrow, or will you be leaving tomorrow, the other day?
William Labrador:
No, there's ... you know, there's logistics that need to be taken care of. And there is six inches of snow in New York. So -- (LAUGHTER)
Question:
William, your mother, she was (UNINTEL PHRASE)?
William Labrador:
Yes, she was a cornerstone of this whole ordeal. And ... if it wasn't for her strength and comfort and love I don't think I would have been able to get this. Thank you.