Gwinnett County

Man falsely accused of rape, freed after 17 months in jail

By Chris Jose, WSB-TV
By Chris Jose, WSB-TV

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A Gwinnett County man has spent the last 17 months in jail for allegedly raping a woman at a party.

Friday, he became a free man after his lawyer proved he was falsely accused of the crime.

Channel 2’s Chris Jose was the only reporter there as Demirel Huskovic walked out the jail.

Demirel Huskovic's mother broke down in tears as he returned home Friday.

The district attorney dropped the charges and the judge signed off Friday.

His mother had no idea her son was being released. Jose was there for the emotional reunion.

She broke down in tears as Demeriel walked up the driveway of their Loganville home.

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In May 2015, an alcohol-fueled party took place in a Snellville neighborhood. It's there where Huskovic said he met the woman who told police the day after the party she was drunk and raped in a bedroom.

Gwinnett County police arrested Huskovic nine months later.

“It was horrible. Every day I woke up and I saw those walls. I knew there was no reason that I deserved to be there,” Huskovic told Jose.

The judge issued no bond. But Huskovic's attorney, Jay Abt, kept on fighting.

"He was facing a sentence of 25 years to life in prison if he had been convicted," Abt told Jose.

Private investigator Cathy Crawford said she interviewed more than 40 people at the party. Among these were key witnesses that Crawford said Gwinnett County police missed.

"All these young people just told me truthfully, who was at the party, what they were doing, who they were with," Crawford said.

Huskovic won't get those 17 months back but he's making every moment count as a free man.

In a statement, Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter said, in part:

"The defense produced three witnesses previously unknown to law enforcement which contradict significant portions of the victim's testimony. We've interviewed these witnesses and corroborated their account."

Legally, Huskovic can only file a civil suit against the woman. It's not clear yet if he'll do that.

Cox Media Group

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