January 28, 2007
Hi Everyone,
I just received some sad and disturbing news from Michael's Mother that the 3-court judicial panel issued their decision and refused to lower Michael's severe sentence. We had been hopeful this panel would do the right thing and lower the sentence because they had done something quite unprecedented by granting an appeal to his original sentencing hearing. In most, if not all sentencing hearings, once the panel issues their ruling, which in almost all cases is always the same--original sentence upheld, Michael wrote a letter to the panel and they agreed to re-review his harsh sentence. We were optimistic this panel would do the right thing and lower Michael's sentence. Just to give you the severity of Michael's sentence there are prisoners in Massachusetts prisons that are serving a lesser sentence for a first time murder then Michael is for his crime (the victim in Michael's case is alive). In addition when considering a prison sentence the judge was supposed to look at Michael's record and had he done so would have seen he had never been convicted of a previous crime and had not spent any time in prison. So the 35-50 year sentence that Michael received is severe, harsh, and unfair. Lowering Michael's sentence is not our ultimate goal--exonerating him is that, but it would have been a small victory if just once the Massachusetts criminal justice sentence would have done the right thing; sadly once again they did not. In my years of working with Michael I have been involved with the wrongfully convicted movement and have watched prosecutors time and time again obtain false convictions only to have the judicial branch lack the courage to overturn those wrongful convictions.
I ask for your continued prayers and support for Michael. One wonders just how much bad news a person can take. It would be most welcome if you could send Michael a card, a note, or a letter just to let him know you are thinking of him; I know he will be most grateful for it. Please send all correspondence to:
Michael O'Laughlin
SBCC N-1 #57
P.O. Box 8000
Shirley, MA 01464
I will get back to you with further news after I have had a chance to read the 3-court panel's decision.
God bless you,
Dick
