‘Ninja Killer’ will stay in jail after Michigan AG finds no proof supporting innocence – New York Day by day Information

A Michigan man dubbed the “Ninja Killer” will stay in jail regardless of repeated claims that he’s harmless within the 1986 slaying that landed him a life sentence.

Temujin Kensu, who glided by Frederick Freeman earlier than he transformed to Buddhism, has been battling his homicide conviction for almost 30 years, based on MLive. The convicted killer, now 58, has stated he was some 400 miles away when 20-year-old Scott Macklem was fatally shot in a car parking zone at St. Clair Neighborhood Faculty in Port Huron.

On Thursday, the Michigan Lawyer Basic’s Workplace stated it didn’t uncover any extra proof suggesting Kensu didn’t commit the lethal crime. Valerie Newman, the pinnacle of the Wayne County Conviction Integrity Unit, stated her workplace has determined to formally shut the case.

“The CIU’s choice is pushed by the standards set forth for the AG’s workplace CIU,” Newman wrote. “There may be nothing that qualifies as new info supporting the factual innocence declare. Kensu’s case is now closed on this workplace.”

Throughout his trial many years in the past, prosecutor Robert Cleland — who’s now a federal choose — pitched a concept suggesting Kensu rented a personal airplane the evening of the homicide. He referred to as a pilot to the stand, who testified it was actually attainable for somebody to journey between the crime scene after which again to Escanaba with out being detected or linked to the slaying.

Cleland famous the stunt required ninja-like stealth, earing Kensu, then a 23-year-old who was nicely versed in martial arts, his nickname of “Ninja Killer,” based on NBC Information.

Within the years since, appellate courts have mulled proof in help of Kensu’s innocence that was not introduced at trial, together with an alibi witness — his girlfriend — who claimed she was dwelling with him when the homicide occurred. A federal choose stated his lawyer’s failure to name on her to testify amounted to ineffective help of counsel, finally concluding that Kensu ought to both be launched or granted a brand new trial consequently.

The next courtroom later overturned that ruling on procedural grounds.