A Philadelphia man who was freed from prison after serving 24 years for a murder conviction for which he was exonerated is returning to prison for a separate killing. Shaurn Thomas, 50, was exonerated and given a $4.1 million settlement after he was released from a life sentence in 2017 following the overturning of his 1994 murder conviction.
However, Thomas recently pleaded guilty to a 2023 murder case, where he was convicted of shooting and killing his girlfriend’s friend, Akeem Edwards, last year. The incident reportedly stemmed from a dispute over $1,200 owed for cocaine that Thomas had provided to Edwards for sale.
During the plea hearing, the judge expressed surprise that Thomas, who had received a substantial settlement and spent a significant portion of his life behind bars, would jeopardize his freedom over a relatively small sum of money.
In addition to the murder charge, Thomas also pleaded guilty to conspiracy, illegal gun possession, and other related charges. The victim's family expressed their desire for Thomas to receive a life sentence during his upcoming sentencing in February.
Thomas' previous conviction, which was overturned in 2017, was related to the 1990 shooting death of a businessman during a robbery. The decision to vacate his conviction was based on issues with the police investigation, including failure to verify his alibi and questionable interrogation tactics involving alleged coconspirators.
The Pennsylvania Innocence Project, which played a key role in securing Thomas' release, maintained that he was not present at the murder scene. While prosecutors expressed doubts about Thomas' complete innocence in the previous case, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office chose not to pursue a retrial.
