A Massachusetts man is now out of state custody after spending more than two decades in prison for what a court is now calling a wrongful murder and armed robbery conviction. James Lucien, 48, was serving a life sentence after a 1995 conviction that was linked to the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Ryan Edwards in 1994. Lucien had an emotional reunion with his family after Judge Robert Ullman approved the conviction against him in Suffolk County Superior Court on Tuesday. “I feel better because I’m with my family now,” Lucian said. “I’ve been waiting for this for 27 whole years, and now I have the opportunity to be free.” Lucien’s defense attorney Dennis Tomei argued during Tuesday’s hearing that the murder and robbery sentences against his client should be tossed because of an unfair police investigation. “The heart of our appellate argument here is that the jury simply didn’t hear evidence they could have used to acquit Mr Lucien, so they didn’t get due process,” Tommy said. The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said a former Boston police officer involved in Lucien’s case, Det. John Brazil, along with other officers from 1990 to 1996, participated in a massive corruption scheme in which he plotted to lie, rob and steal drug dealers by submitting false warrant applications, and then confiscating cash, drugs and drugs. Represented the income of the business, and kept it for himself. “Almost everywhere we look in this case, there are serious problems,” Special Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Gene Kempthorn said during Tuesday’s hearing. Family members of Ryan Edwards, the man who shot and killed in 1994, protested Lucien’s release. Terrible,” said Edwards’ sister Dion Richards. “Now she is free and there is no one to help our family, and my brother’s murder goes by as another unsolved murder.” Ullman asked Edwards’ family Lucien, but Brazil, who allegedly lied and tampered with the evidence. It is clear to me. Justice may not have been served as per the charges of murder and armed robbery. ” According to the district attorney’s office, Brazil cooperated with a federal investigation and testified against fellow criminals and disgraced Boston police detectives Kenneth Asera and Walter Robinson. Both of whom pleaded guilty. The Brazilian was granted an exemption in exchange for his testimony and served without time. He is taking pension now.
A Massachusetts man is now out of state custody after spending more than two decades in prison for what a court is now calling a wrongful murder and armed robbery conviction.
James Lucien, 48, was serving a life sentence after a 1995 conviction that was linked to the fatal shooting of 23-year-old Ryan Edwards in 1994.
Lucien had an emotional reunion with his family after Judge Robert Ullman approved the sentence against him in Suffolk County Superior Court on Tuesday.
“I feel better because I’m with my family now,” Lucien said. “I’ve been waiting for this for 27 years, and now I have the chance to be free.”
Lucien’s defense attorney Dennis Tomei argued during Tuesday’s hearing that the murder and robbery convictions against his client should be tossed because of an unfair police investigation.
“The heart of our appellate argument here is that the jury simply didn’t hear evidence that they could have used to acquit Mr. Lucien, so they didn’t get due process,” Tomé said.
The Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office said a former Boston police officer involved in Lucien’s case, Det. John Brazil, along with other officers from 1990 to 1996, participated in a massive corruption scheme in which he plotted to lie, rob and steal drug dealers by submitting false warrant applications, and then confiscating cash, drugs and drugs. Represented the income of the business, and kept it for himself. ,
“Almost everywhere we look in this case, there are serious problems,” Special Suffolk Assistant District Attorney Gene Kempthorn said during Tuesday’s hearing.
Family members of Ryan Edwards, the man who shot and killed him in 1994, protested Lucien’s release.
“I think it’s terrible,” said Edwards’ sister, Dion Richards. “Now he is free and there is no one to help our family, and my brother’s murder is another unsolved murder.”
Ullman urged Edwards’ family not to blame Lucien, but instead blame Brazil, who allegedly lied and tampered with the evidence.
“It is clear to me that justice would not have been served in the charges of murder and armed robbery,” the judge said.
According to the district attorney’s office, Brazil cooperated with a federal investigation and testified against fellow criminals and disgraced Boston police detectives Kenneth Asera and Walter Robinson, both of whom pleaded guilty. The Brazilian was granted an exemption in exchange for his testimony and served without time. He is taking pension now.
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