BROCKTON, MASS. (WHDH) - In prison for more than 30 years for a crime he says he didn’t commit, Fred Weichel is now fighting for his freedom.
Weichel claims he has proof that he is innocent from former crime boss Whitey Bulger.
Weichel is appealing his conviction for shooting and killing a Braintree man outside the man’s apartment.
With the victim’s brothers looking on, lawyers for the innocence project argued Weichel was never given a newly-revealed police report that suggests another man may have carried out the killing.
Months ago, Weichel’s new lawyers told the judge they also have letters from Bulger pointing to someone else as the killer.
Weichel’s lawyer said he had to drop the Whitey letters from the appeal because Bulger refused to come in and explain them.
The lawyer said even if Bulger was willing to testify, having a mass murderer in his client’s corner would have been a mixed blessing.
Arguments will continue through this week.
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