DETROIT – Defense attorneys on Wednesday aggressively challenged the original fire investigation that led to Mario Willis’s prison sentence in the 2008 death of Detroit firefighter Walter Harris.
During day three of an evidentiary hearing, the defense team questioned Detroit Fire Department arson investigator Rance Dixon about his methodology and compliance with national standards.
His investigation determined that the fatal fire was intentionally set.
A key revelation emerged when Dixon testified that he didn’t interview Darian Dove and didn’t know about his involvement until after the trial.
Dove is the handyman who was at the house that night and admitted to starting the fire.
“I’m not blaming you. It’s not your fault. You didn’t know about Darian Dove. Nobody told you about Darian Dove. Right?” asked Defense Attorney Wolfgang Mueller.
“Correct,” Dixon replied.
“Until after the trial, after it was too late, and Mr. Willis was already convicted. Right?” Mueller asked.
“Right,” Dixon replied.
During questioning, Dixon reluctantly acknowledged that with the new evidence and without interviewing Dove, the fire’s cause would now have to be classified as “undetermined.”
“So, as you sit here today with the evidence you have been presented about Darian Dove, you would have to say as an ethical expert and intellectually honest expert, you would have to say it’s undetermined?” Mueller asked.
“Okay. Yes,” Dixon replied.
“And undermined does not support a crime, does it?” Mueller asked.
“By itself… no, it doesn’t,” Dixon replied.
The defense team highlighted several alleged deficiencies in the original investigation:
- Failure to interview all potential witnesses
- Lack of photographic documentation
- Absence of supervisor review or sign-off on the final report
- Non-compliance with National Fire Protection Association standards
An independent expert hired by the defense, Marc Fennell, is expected to testify Thursday.
Fennell has prepared a 36-page review disputing the Detroit Fire Department’s findings.
Adding complexity to the case, Dove, the prosecution’s key witness, has offered contradictory accounts of the incident. While claiming Willis ordered him to set the fire, he has also characterized the incident as accidental.