Even as New Jersey legislators continue to press for the return of terrorist♔ cop-killer Joanne Chesimard from her safe haven in Cuba, the state may be forced to free one of her accomplices.
This despite a sentence — life plus 24 to 30 years, to be ser💦ved consecutively — that made clear the judge never wanted him to walk free again.
New Jersey’s Supreme Court has agreed to hear the state attorney general’s appeal of a stunning appellate court decision ordering the state to spring Sundiata Acoli, formerly known as Clark Ed𝓡ward ꦰSquire.
Evidenc💟e at trial showed that Chesimard shot and killed State T♌rooper Werner Foerster in 1973 with Acoli’s gun. He claims he blacked out and can’t recall what happened.
Acoli’s bids for parole h🍌ave consistently failed, thanks to his temporary escape and multiple violations while in prison, plus hi𒁏s refusal to accept responsibility for his crime.
Amazingly, the court ruled Acoli can’t be expected to take responsibi🎀lity for a crime hꦆe says he doesn’t remember.
The state contends only the Parole Board can free a prisoner, and♊ it wants the lower court’s decision overturned. That’s what the Supreme Court justices will decide.
We hope the state prevail♔s, but it’s likely 💃a long shot.
After all, one of New Jersey’s most notorious cop-killers, Thomas Trantino, was also ordered freed when the courts ruled that his life sentence — commuted from executioꦰn when the death penalty was outlawed — was too harsh.
If Acoli pr❀evails, it will be a🅠nother mockery of justice.
And an important reminder that, no matter what sentenc🏅ing advocates claim, there really is no such thing as life without parole.