Gordon Cordeiro, a Hawaii man who spent 30 years in prison for a murder he denied committing, was recently declared free on a day he referred to as “Freedom Friday” after a judge ordered his release due to new DNA evidence. The case involved the 1994 killing of Timothy Blaisdell during a drug deal robbery on Maui. Cordeiro’s first trial ended in a hung jury, but he was later found guilty of murder, robbery, and attempted murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. The Hawaii Innocence Project took up his case, arguing for his release based on new evidence proving his innocence, and prosecutorial misconduct.
During a hearing, Judge Kirstin Hamman ruled that new evidence, including DNA test results, could affect the outcome of another trial against Cordeiro. The Maui County Prosecuting Attorney expressed disappointment in the ruling and stated that the findings did not exonerate Cordeiro in any way. They plan to appeal the decision and seek bail to be imposed on Cordeiro due to concerns of a potential flight risk. The Hawaii Innocence Project, which took up Cordeiro’s case, along with his emotional response to being declared free after spending decades in prison.
Kenneth Lawson, co-director of the Hawaii Innocence Project, described the emotional moment when Cordeiro was told by the judge that his convictions were vacated. Despite going through two trials, Cordeiro had lost faith in the justice system but was relieved to finally hear the judge grant him freedom. Cordeiro, upon his release, expressed his gratitude to his supporters, the judge, and even the prosecutors. He mentioned his desire to visit his mother, highlighting his positive outlook on his newfound freedom.
Court documents revealed that Cordeiro was wrongfully convicted due to unreliable jailhouse informants who provided fabricated testimony about murder-for-hire plots. The judge, however, ruled that there was insufficient evidence to prove intentional false testimony or prosecutorial misconduct on the part of the state. Cordeiro had multiple alibis for the day of the murder, with evidence showing he was nowhere near the crime scene. Despite this, his conviction was based on shaky evidence and unreliable witnesses.
New testing conducted on physical evidence excluded Cordeiro as the source of DNA found on Blaisdell’s body, leading to the discovery of an unidentified DNA profile on the victim’s clothing. Cordeiro’s attorneys believe that Michael Freitas, who allegedly set up Blaisdell to be robbed, was involved in the murder. Freitas, who passed away in 2020, repeatedly changed his story and blamed Cordeiro falsely. The police handling of the case was criticized for turning Freitas into a star witness, despite being a prime suspect. The judge agreed that the new DNA evidence and information on gunshot residue would impact the outcome of any future trials.
Despite the challenges of readjusting to life as a free man after three decades in prison, Cordeiro expressed gratitude for the support he had received. The Hawaii Innocence Project and his legal team continue to advocate for his innocence, highlighting the flaws in the initial investigation and trial that led to his wrongful conviction. Cordeiro’s release on “Freedom Friday” marked a significant moment of vindication after years of maintaining his innocence and fighting for justice.
