Court upholds parole, over sentencing judge's objections

The state Court of Appeals has upheld the parole of a convicted murderer over the objections of the judge who sent him to prison. 

Phillip Paquette was convicted of stabbing a man to death at a party in the summer of 1994. Paquette maintains to this day he is innocent and acted in self defense. While in prison, Paquette committed a string of infractions, but the pattern of misconduct ended in 2004.

Paquette became eligible for parole last year, and the Michigan Parole Board granted his request to be released.

The judge that sentenced Paquette objected, citing Paquette’s record of misconduct and insistence that he’s innocent. 

Paquette took his case all the way to the state Supreme Court – which returned the case to the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals noted Paquette went six years without a violation, and has expressed sorrow for the killing. The appeals court reversed the judge and said Paquette is to be paroled.