Hawaii man exonerated after 30 years in prison as DNA evidence overturns wrongful conviction.( Photograph :Hawaii News Now)
(EPICSTORIAN) — A judge in Hawaii has vacated the conviction of a man who spent 30 years behind bars for a murder he always denied committing.
New DNA evidence prompted the court to overturn the ruling, leading to his immediate release.
Gasps filled the courtroom when Judge Kirstin Hamman delivered the decision. “The judgment and sentence are vacated, and the defendant is ordered to be released from custody,” she announced. The virtual court feed, broadcasting the hearing, abruptly cut off after the ruling.
Gordon Cordeiro, now 51, had been convicted in the 1994 murder of Timothy Blaisdell during a drug-related robbery on Maui. His first trial ended in a hung jury, with only one juror voting to convict.
A second trial resulted in a guilty verdict for murder, robbery, and attempted murder, leading to a life sentence without parole.
The Hawaii Innocence Project challenged the conviction, arguing that newly tested DNA evidence proved Cordeiro was not involved. Legal filings also raised concerns over unreliable witness testimony and prosecutorial misconduct.
Why Appeal Now?
Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin expressed disappointment with the court’s decision. “None of the judge’s findings exonerate him in any way,” he stated.
Prosecutors plan to appeal and seek bail, citing a potential flight risk due to the severity of the original charges.
Kenneth Lawson, co-director of the Hawaii Innocence Project, described the moment as overwhelming. “He cried, we all cried,” Lawson said. “Two trials can erode faith in the justice system. When the judge finally vacated the conviction, reality sank in.”
What’s His Next Move?
Outside the Maui Community Correctional Center, Cordeiro spoke to reporters, calling the day “Freedom Friday.” Addressing the Associated Press via phone, he expressed gratitude toward his legal team, supporters, and the judge.
“I’d like to go see my mom,” he said. “Would be nice.”
Asked about adjusting to life outside prison, he responded, “I got good support.”
How Did It Happen?
Court documents reveal that four jailhouse informants played a key role in Cordeiro’s conviction. These informants received reduced sentences in exchange for statements implicating him, claiming he had confessed to a murder-for-hire plot.
“The state’s use of incentivized jailhouse informants and their fabricated evidence convinced a jury of his guilt,” the Hawaii Innocence Project stated in court filings.
The judge found insufficient evidence to prove prosecutors knowingly used false testimony, dismissing claims of prosecutorial misconduct.
Who’s the Real Culprit?
Defense attorneys argued that Cordeiro had multiple alibis for the day of Blaisdell’s murder. Witnesses placed him at home, working on a shelving unit and installing a stereo.
The crime occurred miles away in an area known as Skid Row, where Blaisdell had gone with Michael Freitas to buy marijuana.
Blaisdell’s body was later discovered at the bottom of a ravine. Freitas initially gave conflicting statements before shifting blame onto Cordeiro, wrongly believing he had informed on him in a separate drug case.
Recent DNA testing excluded Cordeiro as a contributor to evidence found on Blaisdell’s body. Instead, an unidentified DNA profile surfaced inside the victim’s pockets.
The judge determined that these findings, along with updated gunshot residue analysis, could alter the outcome of a retrial.
What Happens Next?
Defense attorneys suspect Freitas, who died in 2020, orchestrated the robbery and played a role in Blaisdell’s death.
“The police mishandled this case from the start,” Lawson said. “They turned the primary suspect into the prosecution’s star witness, leading to a 30-year miscarriage of justice.”
Cordeiro now faces the challenge of rebuilding his life after decades behind bars. Legal teams continue working toward full exoneration.
