World
November 28, 2024 11:50
massachusetts, usa - A man from Massachusetts, USA, who was wrongfully convicted of murder was awarded $13 million in compensation, but is receiving only a small portion of the amount.
During the nearly three decades Michael Sullivan (64) spent behind bars, his mother and four siblings passed away, his girlfriend left him for another man, and he suffered severe injuries in prison attacks, almost losing an ear and his nose. All of this was a result of a murder he did not commit.
In 1987, at the age of 26, Sullivan was convicted of armed robbery and murder after victim Wilfred McGrath (52) was robbed, beaten, and his body dumped behind an abandoned supermarket the year before. Authorities focused on Sullivan as his sister had been out with McGrath the night before and they went to the apartment she shared with Sullivan. Another suspect, Gary Grace, accused Sullivan of the crimes in exchange for charges against him being dropped.
Sullivan was found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. 'I could not believe I was convicted of murder,' Sullivan said. 'My mother was crying in the courtroom, my brother was crying. I was crying. It was very hard for me and my family.'
Prison turned out to be a nightmare for Sullivan. In one attack, his nose was nearly bitten off, and in another, he almost lost his ear. Throughout his time, Sullivan maintained his innocence. His luck began to change in 2011 when his lawyer requested crucial evidence be tested for DNA, which was not possible at the time of the murder. A new trial took place in 2012, and Sullivan was acquitted in 2013.
Despite leaving prison after almost 30 years, the legal battle continued. In 2019, the state decided not to retry the case. Sullivan then sought compensation and was awarded $13 million earlier this month. However, he will receive only a fraction of that amount as state rules limit wrongful conviction rewards to $1 million.
'The most important thing is that I was found innocent of the murder and it will be cleared from my record,' Sullivan said at his attorney's office in Framingham, Massachusetts. 'The money will, of course, be helpful to me.'
'I'm still not completely adjusted to the outside world,' Sullivan said, mentioning he spends time with his Yorkshire terrier Buddy and the doves he keeps at his sister's. 'It's hard for me,' he said. 'I don't go anywhere. I am scared all the time... I'm actually a recluse.'
Sullivan's sister, Donna Faria, said the family 'never for a moment' believed he had killed McGrath. She regrets all that Sullivan lost in prison. 'He never had children or got married like the rest of us.'
His former girlfriend visited him in prison for a while. But eventually, she left him for someone else. Sullivan now plans to treat himself to a new car, but he intends to save most of the money to ensure his nieces and nephews have everything they need when they turn 21. 'That makes me happy,' he said.