Pa. parole board fights man's recommended release

Associated Press

Updated Feb 22, 2012 20:30

PHILADELPHIA

The Pennsylvania parole board is fighting a judge's recommendation to release an elderly man who remains behind bars nearly two years after his acquittal on murder charges.

Seventy-five-year-old William Barnes has been incarcerated since Philadelphia police Officer Walter Barclay died. Prosecutors said Barclay's death in 2007 was directly caused by Barnes' shooting and paralyzing him in 1966.

Barnes served his full sentence for shooting Barclay. In 2010, a jury acquitted him of murdering Barclay, but he's still in prison.

U.S. Magistrate Timothy Rice two weeks ago issued a recommendation saying Barnes has endured "a shocking pattern of arbitrary and irrational expectations, requirements, and parole denials" and should be released immediately.

A parole board attorney filed court documents Tuesday arguing the case should go back to the parole board instead.