After spending 31 years in prison, Gordon Cordeiro was released following the dismissal of his murder conviction. However, the Maui County prosecuting attorney’s office filed a motion for a bail hearing indicating a possible retrial. The motion stated that Cordeiro could still be a flight risk and needed to put up bail or other assurances.
The Hawaii Innocence Project, which worked on Cordeiro’s case for over 15 years, spent $100,000 on tests that showed his DNA did not match evidence from the 1994 crime scene where Timothy Blaisdell was murdered. New technology revealed sweat from an unknown person in Blaisdell’s pockets, contradicting the prosecution’s claims against Cordeiro.
The HIP is now using genetic genealogy testing to identify the person behind the sweat. Additionally, witnesses from the trial have recanted their testimony, and evidence regarding gunshot residue was found to be inaccurate.
Deputy prosecutor Richard Rost disagreed with the judge’s decision to dismiss Cordeiro’s conviction, stating that no evidence establishes his innocence. The prosecutor’s office is pushing for a retrial despite the new evidence.
Cordeiro’s bail hearing is scheduled for Friday as he navigates the possibility of facing the same charges once again. The case has raised questions about the justice system and the importance of DNA evidence in criminal proceedings.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.]
