Lamar Johnson was convicted of murder for the 1994 fatal shooting of a man, allegedly over drug money. Johnson always maintained his innocence.
, 50, closed his eyes and shook his head slightly as a member of his legal team patted him on the back when Circuit Judge David Mason issued his ruling. In coming to his decision, Mason explained that there had to be "reliable evidence of actual innocence — evidence so reliable that it actually passes the standard of clear and convincing."
"As he stated when he was sworn in, Attorney General Bailey is committed to enforcing the laws as written," Sieren wrote. "Our office defended the rule of law and worked to uphold the original verdict that a jury of Johnson’s peers deemed to be appropriate based on the facts presented at trial." Johnson was convicted of murder for the October 1994 killing of Marcus Boyd, who was shot to death on his front porch by two masked men. Police and prosecutors blamed the killing on a dispute over drug money. Johnson maintained his innocence from the outset, saying he was with his girlfriend miles away when the crime occurred.
The case for Johnson's release was centered around a key witness who recanted his testimony and a prison inmate who says it was he — not Johnson — who joined Campbell in the killing.
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