Hawaii man freed after 30 years in prison for murder, new DNA evidence proves innocence
Soror Shaiza | Feb 23, 2025, 00:17 IST
( Image credit : AP )
A Hawaii man who spent 30 years in prison for a murder he always maintained he didn’t commit was freed after new DNA evidence came to light. Gordon Cordeiro, now 51, was released from custody following a judge’s decision on Feb. 21, 2025, marking the day “Freedom Friday” for him. The judge ruled that the new DNA evidence, along with claims of ineffective legal defense and prosecutorial misconduct, suggested Cordeiro’s conviction should be vacated.
A 1994 Killing and A New Fight for Justice
The case dates back to 1994, when Timothy Blaisdell was murdered during a drug deal robbery in Maui. Cordeiro was initially tried but faced a hung jury. However, he was convicted in a second trial based on the testimony of jailhouse informants and sentenced to life without parole. Despite maintaining his innocence, Cordeiro’s fate seemed sealed until the Hawaii Innocence Project took up his case.
During a hearing this week, the Hawaii Innocence Project argued that Cordeiro should be released due to new DNA evidence, flaws in his initial defense, and the state's reliance on false testimonies from jailhouse informants who were incentivized by promises of reduced sentences. The case had been riddled with inconsistencies and manipulations that led to Cordeiro’s wrongful conviction.
DNA Evidence and New Information Alter the Case's Outcome
New DNA tests from physical evidence at the crime scene excluded Cordeiro as the source of DNA found on Blaisdell’s body and other crime scene evidence. Furthermore, a DNA profile of an unidentified individual was found on Blaisdell's jeans, which had previously gone unnoticed. Cordeiro’s legal team believes that the police mishandled the case and wrongfully elevated Michael Freitas, who had initially been a suspect, into a key witness for the prosecution. They believe Freitas, who died in 2020, may have been involved in Blaisdell’s death and framed Cordeiro.
Reaction to the Court's Decision and Cordeiro's Release
While Cordeiro’s conviction was vacated, the Maui County Prosecuting Attorney, Andrew Martin, disagreed with the ruling, stating that the findings did not exonerate Cordeiro. Martin's office intends to appeal the decision and file for bail to be imposed due to the nature of the original charges.
Nonetheless, Cordeiro’s attorneys, and Cordeiro himself, were emotional as the ruling was delivered. "He cried, we all cried,” said Kenneth Lawson, co-director of the Hawaii Innocence Project. "He believed that he was going to be exonerated... To finally hear a judge say, ‘I’m vacating your convictions,’ that’s when it hit him.”
Now freed, Cordeiro described his release as a long-awaited moment of freedom. He expressed gratitude for the support he received over the years, even thanking prosecutors for agreeing to certain facts in the case. "I’d like to go see my mom," Cordeiro said, a poignant expression of his desire to reconnect with family after more than three decades behind bars.
The case highlights serious issues with prosecutorial misconduct and the systemic flaws that led to Cordeiro's wrongful conviction. The Hawaii Innocence Project continues to advocate for justice in this case, pointing out the critical errors that led to one man’s 30-year ordeal.