Possibly taking a cue from his former coach’s propensity to use a polygraph, Broncos linebacker Elvis Dumervil secretly recorded a telephone conversation with a key witness in the Darrent Williams murder case.
And his decision to make the tape could end up providing a key link in the chain of evidence that delivers a conviction of Willie Clark.
The revelation was made today by prosecutors who were questioning Shaniqua Dunn, according to 9news.com in Denver, the local NBC affiliate. Dunn said that she could not recall what she had previously told authorities. So then she was reminded of things she said to Dumervil during the conversation he recorded.
In the conversation, Dunn said she overheard Willie Clark ask Dunn’s boyfriend at the time for a “burner.”
Though the out-of-court statement technically is hearsay, Dunn’s testimony regarding her failure of memory undoubtedly allowed the tape to be used.
Per the Denver Post, Dumervil later testified regarding the making of the tape.
"[Dunn] called me and started talking about it,” Dumervil said. “It was obviously fresh, so what she said could be valuable so I just started recording it. In the long run it could help some way, some how.”
And it has indeed helped. But not from Clark’s perspective.
UPDATE: Some of you have asked whether Dumervil’s taping of the call potentially violates the law. Assuming the call was placed and received in Colorado, the call may be recorded if one party to the conversation consents. Some states require both parties to consent. Here’s a link to the state-by-state laws on this point.
