[MSN] Shaurn Thomas, who was released from prison and paid $4.1 million by the city after serving 24 years for a murder he says he didn't commit, pleaded guilty Thursday to killing a man over a $1,200 drug debt.| There are lots of bad habits to be picked up in prison, unfortunately. |
That admission of guilt — by a millionaire who killed someone over a relatively paltry sum — means that the now 50-year-old Thomas, who has already spent half of his life behind bars, will now return there to live out much of what is left of it.
At least he has coin for the prison commissary
More than 30 years ago, a jury convicted Thomas of second-degree murder for the 1990 robbery and shooting death of a North Philadelphia businessman. For that, he was sentenced to life in prison.
His conviction was vacated by a judge on appeal in 2017, after documents emerged showing that detectives knew Thomas had a potential alibi, but did not try to verify it. Investigators zeroed in on Thomas based on statements made by two alleged coconspirators, whose stories shifted and who later recanted their testimony. One of the men said the detectives fed him a false story, and assaulted him until he repeated it.