Gordon Cordeiro, who spent over 30 years in prison for a murder he continually claimed he did not commit, was released on a judge's order based on new evidence. The judge vacated his conviction due to DNA evidence indicating he was not present at the crime scene. Cordeiro expressed relief upon his release, supported by his legal team from the Hawaii Innocence Project who celebrated the victory with him. Despite the joy, the prosecuting attorney's office plans to appeal, questioning Cordeiro's release as a flight risk.
On Friday, Mr. Cordeiro's sentence was vacated in a Maui courtroom because of new evidence, including DNA evidence that his legal team said showed that Mr. Cordeiro was not at the crime scene.
Kenneth Lawson, a director of the Hawaii Innocence Project, choked up in an interview as he described sitting beside Mr. Cordeiro in the courtroom on Friday. There was relief, there was joy.
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