Exonerated After 27 Years: Michael Sullivan Awarded $1 Million for Wrongful Conviction
Michael Sullivan, who spent more than 27 years in a Massachusetts prison for a murder he consistently maintained he did not commit, has been awarded $1 million in compensation following his exoneration by new DNA evidence.
Convicted in 1985 and sentenced to life without parole, Sullivan, now 61, was freed in 2013 after advancements in DNA technology proved his innocence, leading to his conviction being overturned.
Earlier this month, a Massachusetts court awarded him $13 million (£10 million) in damages, but state regulations cap wrongful conviction payouts at $1 million, limiting the compensation he can receive.
During his imprisonment, Sullivan faced devastating personal losses, including the deaths of his mother and four siblings.
In a statement, he acknowledged the financial award but reflected, “The money is appreciated, but it will never make up for the years stolen from me or the loved ones I lost while I was in prison.”