A Philadelphia man who was released from prison after serving 24 years for a murder conviction for which he was acquitted, is returning to prison for a separate murder.
Shaurn Thomas, 50, was acquitted and received a $4.1 million settlement after being released from a life sentence in 2017 following the overturn of his 1994 murder conviction.
But on Thursday, Thomas pleaded guilty to a 2023 murder The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Shaurn Thomas, 50, pleaded guilty Thursday to murder, conspiracy, illegal possession of a weapon and other charges. (iStock)
Thomas was convicted last year of shooting and killing his girlfriend’s boyfriend, Akeem Edwards, after the victim allegedly failed to pay $1,200 for the cocaine Thomas gave him to sell, the outlet reported.
The judge at the plea hearing seemed shocked that a man who received millions in settlement money after spending nearly half his life in prison would risk being sent back for a relatively small amount, according to the newspaper.
“Are these facts true?” Judge Roxanne Covington asked Thomas, which he confirmed.
Thomas was convicted last year of shooting and killing his girlfriend’s boyfriend, Akeem Edwards, after the victim allegedly failed to pay $1,200 for the cocaine Thomas gave him to sell, the outlet reported. (iStock)
On top of the murder charge, Thomas pleaded guilty to conspiracy, illegal possession of weapons and other charges.
Edwards’ family told the newspaper they hope Thomas will return to prison for the rest of his life after his sentencing, which is scheduled for February.
“There’s not enough time to possibly give it to him,” Edwards’ sister, Tyeisha Marshall, told the newspaper.
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Thomas was acquitted and received a $4.1 million settlement after being released from a life sentence in 2017. (iStock)
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Thomas’ previous life sentence, which was overturned in 2017, came after the 1990 shooting of a businessman in a botched robbery.
A judge has vacated his conviction due to problems with the police investigationincluding the failure to verify his alleged alibi, as well as interrogation tactics involving alleged co-conspirators. The Pennsylvania Innocence Project, which helped secure Thomas’ freedom, says he was nowhere near the murder scene.
Prosecutors said they were not entirely convinced that Thomas was completely innocent of the murder, but the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office declined to retry his case.
