RICHMOND, Va. -- A Virginia parole board has voted to release from prison a man convicted of killing a police officer in 1979.
Parole Board Chair Adrianne L. Bennett told the Richmond-Times DispatchTuesday that the board voted Friday to grant 64-year-old Vincent Lamont Martin parole.
Martin was sentenced to life in prison in the fatal shooting of Richmond patrolman Michael P. Connors.
Bennett said three co-defendants gave conflicting testimony that contributed to Martin’s conviction at the time.
The newspaper reports that Richmond's police chief and other advocates have since called for the prevention of Martin's release, but Bennett says the board followed all policies and its decision is final.
