Judge: Justin Wolfe to be Released Thursday
Federal courts previously vacated Wolfe's conviction related to the 2001 murder of Daniel Robert Petrole Jr.
A circuit court judge in Prince William County has ordered the release of Justin Michael Wolfe at 5 p.m. Thursday pending a stay from federal courts.
Wolfe was sentenced for the 2001 murder of Daniel Robert Petrole Jr., but that conviction was vacated by the federal courts after trigger man Owen Merton Barber IV in November 2010 recanted his 2002 trial testimony that Wolfe ordered the murder.
The state has filed an appeal to the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals as well as a motion to vacate the federal order of Wolfe's release. In addition, special prosecutor Ray Morrogh indicated that if the appeals court denies the request, the state plans to to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Unless the federal courts step in, Wolfe will be released Thursday.
Click here to read more about the judge's decision.
For all previous coverage of the Justin Wolfe case, click here.
Fizban
1:44 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Great just great. In other words he was guilty of nothing. I have a feeling there is going to be a law suit and rightly so.
JB
2:16 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
It is about time...........the kid has lost years of his life he will never get back...........I wish you well Justin
Mary C. Stachyra
5:33 pm on Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Here is an updated story with all the new information from today's court hearing:
http://woodbridge-va.patch.com/articles/without-federal-stay-wolfe-to-be-released
April Matherly
11:28 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013
He should have been released years ago!!
Common Sense
11:28 pm on Thursday, January 3, 2013
As an influential and respected member of the UVA alumni community, is there potential for bias in having this federal judge rule on the UVA innocence project? Many judges and officials have disagreed with this appeal.