BOSTON – A Massachusetts man whose murder conviction was overturned after he spent 36 years in prison is seeking compensation from the state.
In lawsuit filed Monday against the state, Frederick Weichel is asking for the maximum $500,000 state law makes available to people who have been wrongfully convicted.
Weichel was convicted in the 1980 killing of Robert LaMonica. A judge in April overturned the conviction, saying authorities failed to give the defense a police report suggesting another possible suspect.
Prosecutors decided not to retry him and dismissed the murder charges.
Convicted gangster James "Whitey" Bulger wrote letters from jail several years ago claiming Weichel didn't kill LaMonica.
Weichel also is asking for the state to help pay for education and provide mental health counseling.
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