Laurence Adams

Now, this is exactly why there is no need for Massachusetts to bring back the death penalty. On May 20, 2004, Superior Court Judge Robert A. Mulligan vacated Laurence Adams' conviction "to avoid a miscarriage of justice." Adams was convicted in 1974 of killing a transit worker in 1972. He was sentenced to death, but the state's capital punishment law was abolished shortly after his conviction. Adams has sought a new trial since 1980 when police documents casting doubt on his guilt surfaced. These documents included a statement from a witness who said two other people committed the murder. Additionally, the state's star witness changed his story several times and another witness recanted her testimony altogether before her death.

Adams served over 30 years in a Massachusetts prison. He was released from that prison alive. You can vacate the conviction of a man who was put to death, but you cannot give him his life back. Adams very likely would have been put to death had the laws in Massachusetts not changed in 1974. This man alone should be reason to prevent capital punishment in Massachusetts or any other state.

Man sentenced to death penalty released