A man from Philadelphia, United States, who previously received a $4.1 million settlement after serving 24 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, has been sent back to jail.
Shaurn Thomas, now 50, pleaded guilty on Thursday to the murder of 38-year-old Akeem Edwards on 3 January 2023, over a $1,200 drug debt, as reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
During the plea hearing, Common Pleas Court Judge Roxanne Covington expressed disbelief that someone who had received millions in compensation after nearly half a lifetime in prison would jeopardise his freedom for a relatively small sum of money. “Are these facts true?” the judge asked Thomas, who confirmed them.
In addition to the murder charge, Thomas admitted guilt to conspiracy, illegal gun possession, and other offences. Edwards’ family expressed their desire for Thomas to remain in prison for life following his sentencing, scheduled for February. “There’s not enough time for them to possibly give him,” Edwards’ sister, Tyeisha Marshall, told the newspaper.
Thomas’ earlier life sentence, overturned in 2017, was linked to the 1990 shooting death of a businessman during a botched robbery. His conviction was vacated due to concerns about the police investigation, including a failure to verify his alibi and questionable interrogation tactics involving alleged co-conspirators. The Pennsylvania Innocence Project, which played a pivotal role in securing his release, stated that Thomas was not present at the crime scene.
While prosecutors at the time of his release expressed doubts about his complete innocence in the 1990 case, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office decided against retrying him. Thomas is set to face sentencing in February.
