Crime & Safety

Wolfe Appeal Granted, Conviction Vacated

Chantilly man has been on death row for a decade; triggerman recanted testimony against Wolfe

Justin Michael Wolfe’s conviction and death sentence related to the 2001 murder of Daniel Robert Petrole Jr. has been vacated. The decision comes in response to a hearing last fall in which the triggerman in the case testified that Wolfe was not involved.

The court found: “Wolfe was denied the right to due process pursuant to the Fourteenth Amendment as interpreted in Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963), to be apprised of all material, exculpatory information within the hands of the prosecution.”

Wolfe’s attorneys had argued that he had not been given the opportunity to pursue information that could have cleared Wolfe prior to his trial in January 2001.

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A Prince William County jury convicted and sentenced Wolfe. Some jurors signed affidavits saying they felt cajoled into finding Wolfe guilty.

More to come.

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