Defendant claims false testimony

DENVER, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- The man accused of slaying Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams said the case against him is based on false testimony from witnesses who got plea deals.

Willie Clark, 26, said in an exclusive interview with The Denver Post that those who testified in his behalf were telling the truth, but were indicted by a grand jury for perjury. Other witnesses, charged with drug trafficking-related federal crimes, gave false testimony against him as a result of plea deals, Clark said.

"(The Denver district attorneys) fabricate cases, and they seek out people who are willing to lie," Clark said from the Denver County Jail. "So what needs to be found out is what motivated this person to do that? After looking at plea agreements and all that, well, now I see what is motivating this person. If they offered me that, I would say I am going to lie too."

Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting on New Year's Day 2007 after an argument between Clark's associates and Williams' friends at a Denver nightclub, the newspaper reported.

Clark denied killing Williams, but refused to say who he believes committed the homicide because he says he is not certain and fears reprisals against his family, the Post said.

Because he does not want to tip his hand on his defense strategy before his Feb. 22 trial, Clark said, he refuses to discuss any alibi he may have.