After spending 30 years in prison for a crime he claims he did not commit, Gordon Cordeiro has been adjusting to life outside and adapting to the high level of connectivity in today’s world. In 1994, Cordeiro was imprisoned for the murder of Timothy Blaisdell on the island of Maui, but his conviction was recently overturned thanks to new DNA evidence. Cordeiro has been trying to get used to people constantly looking at their phones, as he expressed during his first Zoom interview since release. He also expressed gratitude for the advancement in DNA technology, calling it “awesome.”
Upon his release, Cordeiro’s first act was to visit his mother’s grave, where he had constantly thought of her during his incarceration. His mother, Paulette, passed away aged 49 in 1994, a month before Cordeiro’s arrest. Cordeiro recalled saying, “Thanks for looking over me. Keeping me safe,” at her grave. In a picture provided by his sister, Cordeiro is seen kneeling graveside with a garland of flowers draped over the headstone, a gift he received upon his release.
Cordeiro went on to share that he celebrated his freedom with a steak dinner with his family at his father’s house. He also visited more relatives’ graves and planned to go to Costco. Cordeiro described his experience as feeling normal, but noted that Maui has changed, referring to the destruction caused by a wildfire in Lahaina in 2023.
Judge Kirstin Hamman ruled in favor of Cordeiro’s release, stating that the new evidence, including DNA test results, would likely change the outcome of another trial. Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin, however, plans to appeal against the decision and seek bail for Cordeiro’s release.
Cordeiro’s first trial resulted in a hung jury, with only one juror voting to convict him. However, he was later found guilty of murder, robbery, and attempted murder, leading to a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/everybody-is-looking-at-their-phones-says-man-freed-after-30-years-in-prison-13315407
