A Philadelphia man who was exonerated and given a $4.1 million settlement after serving 24 years in jail for a homicide conviction that was dropped is headed again to jail — for a separate killing.
Shaurn Thomas — who was free of a life sentence in 2017 after his 1992 homicide conviction was overturned — pleaded responsible final Thursday to a 2023 slaying, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Thomas, 50, was convicted of gunning down his girlfriend’s good friend, Akeem Edwards, final 12 months after the 38-year-old father allegedly didn’t pay out $1,200 for the cocaine Thomas gave him to promote, in response to the native paper.
The choose on the plea listening to appeared almost shocked by the details of the case — {that a} multi-millionaire who spent almost half his life in jail would danger being despatched again over a comparably measly amount of money, the Inquirer reported.
“Are these facts true?” Widespread Pleas Courtroom Choose Roxanne Covington requested Thomas Thursday.
“Yes, Your Honor,” he replied.
Along with the homicide cost, Thomas pleaded responsible to conspiracy, unlawful gun possession and different crimes.
Edwards’ relations advised the Inquirer they hope his killer will get despatched again to jail for the remainder of his life at his sentencing scheduled for February.
“There’s not enough time for them to possibly give him,” Edwards’ sister, Tyeisha Marshall, advised the newspaper.
Thomas had already been sentenced to life in jail as soon as when he was simply 20 years previous earlier than his conviction was overturned.
On the time, a jury convicted him of second-degree homicide for the 1990 taking pictures demise of a North Philadephia businessman in a theft gone flawed, in response to the native publication.
However a choose vacated his conviction in 2017 after points with the police investigation — together with the failure to confirm his alleged alibi — and interrogation techniques involving alleged coconspirators have been unearthed. The Pennsylvania Innocence Challenge helped safe Thomas’ freedom.
Prosecutors stated they weren’t 100% satisfied that Thomas was utterly harmless of the killing, however the Philadelphia District Lawyer’s Workplace declined to retry his case, the Inquirer reported.
