Judge Overturns 1985 Murder Conviction of Edward Wright After 40 Years

Edward Wright, who has spent over 40 years in prison for the 1984 murder of Penny Anderson in Springfield, Massachusetts, has had his conviction overturned after a judge found that prosecutors intentionally withheld exculpatory evidence and presented false testimony at his 1985 trial. Key evidence included a police report documenting a break-in at the crime scene after Wright's arrest, which was not disclosed to the defense, casting doubt on the reliability of the forensic evidence used to convict him. New DNA testing also excluded Wright from key items connected to the murder. The decision to grant Wright a new trial marks a significant victory after six attempts and decades of advocacy by the New England Innocence Project, whose lawyers highlighted both the injustice Wright endured and his hope for eventual freedom. Wright remains incarcerated pending appeal. The case has prompted renewed scrutiny of prosecutorial conduct and evidence handling in wrongful convictions.