Current:Home > StocksWhite man convicted of killing Black Muslim freed after judge orders new trial-DB Wealth Institute B2 Expert Reviews
White man convicted of killing Black Muslim freed after judge orders new trial
View Date:2024-12-23 19:00:43
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A white man from Maine who was convicted of manslaughter for shooting his sister’s Black boyfriend in 2019 was released on bail Friday after a judge ordered a new trial, sparking confusion and outrage from the victim’s family.
Mark Cardilli Jr. says he killed Isahak Muse in self-defense during a confrontation that escalated after Muse refused to leave the Cadilli family’s home when asked by the parents. Cadilli was 24 at the time, and Muse was 22.
A judge ruled this week that attorneys for Cadilli failed to “vigorously argue” the self-defense claim during the trial. His lawyers included an attorney who’s now a district judge.
The attorney general’s office vowed Friday to appeal the judge’s decision that vacated the conviction and ordered a new trial. In the meantime, a judge set bail at $20,000 for Cardilli and he was released Friday.
The shooting created tension in Portland’s Muslim community, with some calling it a hate crime by a white man against a Black Muslim.
In a statement, Muse’s sister said she was heartbroken that Cardilli was released after serving less than half of a 7 1/2-year prison sentence.
“We are devastated and shocked to hear of this decision and can not understand how we could lose my little brother, but Cardilli will get to walk around free,” Asli Muse said. “He took my brother’s life, and was convicted of this. It is not fair that he barely served any time and can just walk away from it all. We can’t get my brother back.”
Cardilli, now 28, was originally charged with murder, but he was convicted of the lesser charge of manslaughter.
The confrontation happened when the 22-year-old Muse, who was dating Cardilli’s 17-year-old sister but was barred by her bail conditions from being in her presence, refused to leave the family’s Portland home at the request of her parents, witnesses testified. Pandemonium broke out, and Cardilli retrieved a handgun from his room.
Cardilli said he was assaulted by Muse, backed against a wall and in fear for his life when he fired three times with one bullet grazing Muse and two bullets hitting Muse, who died at the scene.
veryGood! (2)
Related
- Why Josh O'Connor Calls Sex Scenes Least Sexy Thing After Challengers With Zendaya and Mike Faist
- Do snitches net fishes? Scientists turn invasive carp into traitors to slow their Great Lakes push
- More cases of applesauce lead poisoning announced by Oregon Public Health, FDA
- 'It felt like a movie': Chiefs-Rams scoring outburst still holds indelible place in NFL history
- Amazon Best Books of 2024 revealed: Top 10 span genres but all 'make you feel deeply'
- Horoscopes Today, November 17, 2023
- Jordan’s foreign minister offers blistering criticism of Israel as its war on Hamas rages on
- Michigan makes college football history in win over Maryland
- Kraft Heinz stops serving school-designed Lunchables because of low demand
- House Republicans to release most of Jan. 6 footage
Ranking
- Kentucky governor says investigators will determine what caused deadly Louisville factory explosion
- Sugar prices are rising worldwide after bad weather tied to El Nino damaged crops in Asia
- Amazon Has Thousands of Black Friday 2023 Deals, These Are the 50 You Can’t Miss
- 'Hunger Games' burning questions: What happened in the end? Why was 'Ballad' salute cut?
- The results are in: Peanut the Squirrel did not have rabies, county official says
- For this group of trans women, the pope and his message of inclusivity are a welcome change
- Fox News and others lied about the 2020 election being stolen. Is cable news broken?
- Daisaku Ikeda, head of global Japanese Buddhist organization Soka Gakkai, dies at 95
Recommendation
-
Alexandra Daddario shares first postpartum photo of baby: 'Women's bodies are amazing'
-
Man fatally shot while hunting in western New York state
-
Suspect and victim dead after shooting at New Hampshire State Hospital in Concord
-
Federal authorities investigate underwater oil pipeline leak off the coast of Louisiana
-
Trump’s economic agenda for his second term is clouding the outlook for mortgage rates
-
Winning numbers for Mega Millions Friday drawing, with jackpot at $267 million
-
Taylor Swift fan dies at Rio concert as fans complain about high temperatures and lack of water
-
'Wait Wait' for November 18, 2023: Live from Maine!