Will William Dillon be convicted again for Murder charges

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. -- William Dillon, who's been behind bars for murder for nearly 30 years, bonded out of jail early Tuesday evening after a judge granted a new trial.

Last week, Judge David Dugan granted a new trial for William Dillon, 49, who was serving a life sentence for killing James Dvorak in 1981 in Brevard County. Police said he was bludgeoned to death in a robbery. A judge ordered the new trial Friday based on DNA evidence that his lawyers said cleared him of the crime.

"Mr. Dillon, your motion for new trial is granted," Judge Dugan said Friday.

"Thank you, sir," Dillon replied.

Dillon's lawyers say DNA testing shows Dillon did not wear the killer's T-shirt. An eyewitness identified the shirt spattered with the victim's blood.

"I think they finally came to their senses that all they convicted Mr. Dillon on back in 1981 was corrupt evidence. And not only that, but we had the DNA evidence on our side to prove it wasn't him," said Dillon's attorney, Mike Pirolo.

Judge David Dugan on Tuesday set Dillon's bond at $100,000 with a $25,000 cash assurety. Dillon's family was able to come up with the necessary $2,500 in cash to get William out.

"My brother is coming home. My brother is coming home," Joe Dillon Jr. said Tuesday.

Special arrangements were also made so William Dillon can celebrate Thanksgiving in Orange County with family as opposed to having to stay in Brevard County, where he will be living with his brother in Palm Bay. As a restriction of his bond, Dillon will have to wear a GPS monitoring device and observe a curfew.