Virginia Man Convicted of Murder Gets Chance to Claim Innocence

A Virginia man convicted in 2002 for his involvement in an alleged murder-for-hire will have another chance to present evidence showing his innocence, the Fourth Circuit said Monday.

A Virginia federal district court dismissed Justin Wolfe’s petition for habeas relief without properly considering new evidence that a witness testified against Wolfe to avoid the death penalty, Judge Stephanie D. Thacker of the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit said.

Virginia’s coercive tactics against the witness defies fundamental principles of due process and justice, the appeals court said in its decision to remand the case to the district court. ...