DA speaks out after Darrell Davis walks free in murder retrial

GIBSON COUNTY, Tenn. — District Attorney General Frederick Agee is speaking out after Darrell Davis was acquitted last week in the retrial of a 2017 murder case.

Davis was originally convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Tyion Taylor. He spent nearly eight years behind bars before a new jury acquitted him last week.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: ‘I feel great’: Darrell Davis speaks exclusively after acquittal in 2017 murder retrial

Agee contacted WBBJ to address the case.

“We respect the jury’s public service. We disagree with their verdict. The first jury agreed with us. The second jury agreed with the defense,” Agee said.

Errors acknowledged

Davis’ defense attorneys argued the original conviction should not stand, citing potential legal errors with the original trial.

Agee said his office acknowledges mistakes were made.

“There were errors made. There is no perfect trial. There is no perfect investigation. We’re humans, so the court felt like there was cumulative error. There was also a lab report that our office should have given them. We don’t think exculpatory,” Agee said.

Agee also said Davis has been convicted of felonies in the past.

“Mr. Davis has a violent past. He has four violent criminal convictions. Three in Tipton County and one in Gibson County,” Agee said.

Agee said his office’s priority is to keep violent crime off the streets going forward.

Davis is now living at home and cannot be retried in the Tyion Taylor case. The murder case of Tyion Taylor is now closed.

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