One-time advocate for woman who recanted West Virginia torture says she’s being manipulated

Advocate: Woman’s recanting of torture is fraud

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — A lawyer who organized rallies and benefits for a woman who later recanted her story of being kidnapped and tortured in West Virginia says she’s being manipulated.

Malik Shabazz, founder of Black Lawyers for Justice, says he has no doubt that Megan Williams, who is black, was hideously tortured by a group of whites in Logan County in 2007.

The woman’s lawyer, Byron Potts, said Wednesday she fabricated the story to get revenge on an ex-boyfriend.

But Shabazz says he believes Williams is being taken advantage of, and worries that her recantation will make it harder for victims of serious crimes to be believed.

Seven people pleaded guilty to charges from the incident. Six are serving lengthy prison terms, and that’s not likely to immediately change.