Imprisoned

After 30 Years Wrongly Imprisoned, Man Wins Freedom and $13M, Plans Future for Family

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FRAMINGHAM, Mass. — After spending nearly three decades in prison for a crime he did not commit, Michael Sullivan’s tragic story took a turn this month when a Massachusetts jury awarded him $13 million, a decision influenced by a wrongful conviction in 1986 for the murder and robbery of Wilfred McGrath. However, due to state regulations, Sullivan will only receive $1 million of the awarded sum. Sullivan, now 64, endured 30 years of life behind bars, suffering the loss of close family members and sustaining severe injuries in multiple prison attacks. His wrongful imprisonment sparked … Read more

After 27 Years Wrongly Imprisoned, Massachusetts Man Finds Peace Among Pigeons

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Billerica, MA — At 64, Michael Sullivan is a free man, tending to pigeons in the tranquil backyard of his sister’s home in Billerica, where he now resides. The peace of this simple pastime belies the turbulent decades he spent wrongfully incarcerated. Sullivan was arrested and subsequently convicted for murder and armed robbery back in 1987, charges that saw him serving 27 years behind bars before his conviction was ultimately overturned. The wrongful conviction stemmed from a fatal incident that occurred in Lowell, Massachusetts, where Sullivan lived at the time. Prosecutors at his trial presented … Read more

After 36 Years Wrongfully Imprisoned, Man Acquitted of Murder Wins $13 Million, Dreams of a Simple Future

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Framingham, Massachusetts — After almost three decades of incarceration for a crime he didn’t commit, Michael Sullivan, a 64-year-old Massachusetts man, was declared not guilty of the 1986 murder and robbery of Wilfred McGrath. A jury recently awarded Sullivan $13 million as compensation, although state rules limit the payout for wrongful convictions to $1 million. The heart of Sullivan’s wrongful conviction stemmed from flawed forensic testimony by a state police chemist and incriminating claims by another suspect, Gary Grace, who was initially charged with the murder but later testified against Sullivan to have his charges … Read more

Critical Health Concerns Mount for Imprisoned Chinese Activist Xu Zhiyong Amid Hunger Strike and Calls for International Intervention

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Beijing, China — Concerns are intensifying for Xu Zhiyong, a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer and legal scholar, amid reports that his health is severely declining after nearly a month on a hunger strike. Xu, a staunch advocate for transparency and civil liberties in China’s New Citizens’ Movement, has been incarcerated since February 2020 due to his participation in a gathering of activists and lawyers. Xu began his hunger strike on October 4, 2024, as a protest against the conditions of his detention in Lunan Prison, Shandong Province, where he is subjected to stringent surveillance … Read more