Aviation experts who question a sensational theory that helped convict a Michigan man jailed on murder charges are asking for mercy in his case.
Temujin Kensu, 57, was sentenced to life in prison for the 1987 murder of student Scott Macklem, even though there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime and even though the then 23-year-old had an alibi.
Prosecutors theorized that Kensu, who was dubbed the “Ninja Killer,” was able to rent a plane to fly him from one side of the state to the other, where he then shot Macklem and then quickly flew home without that anyone ever tracked him down to the scene.
But now three aviation experts have written to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to advocate clemency for the 30-plus-year-old prisoner, claiming the theory is “so improbable as to be unbelievable,” NBC reports.
Crucial to the prosecution's case is the testimony of former pilot Bob Evans, who said it was possible a flight occurred even though there was no record because pilots often loitered and waited for customers.
Aviation experts have questioned the theory that convicted Michigan murderer Temujin Kensu chartered a plane to carry out the 1987 murder of Scott Macklem
The three experts have written to Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to advocate clemency for the 30-plus-year-old prisoner, nicknamed the “Ninja Killer” because of his fascination with martial arts
Kensu was sentenced to life in prison without parole even though there was no physical evidence linking him to the parking lot (pictured) where Macklem was shot
Investigators also claimed they interviewed the airport manager, who admitted this “could have been possible.”
However, this was questioned by Harvey Setter, 82, who previously ran Delta County Airport in Escanaba, Michigan, between 1982 and 1999.
In his letter, the former manager said he was never contacted by investigators.
“As for people loitering around waiting for a flight, that is highly unlikely,” he said in the letter.
He is assisted by Rick Orzel, 71, who was providing services such as fuel and maintenance for aircraft at the St. Clair County Airport in Port Huron at the time of the murder.
Orzel wrote a letter confirming the claim that the hanging pilots were a “complete fabrication” and also stated that he had never been contacted by detectives.
Meanwhile, Bob Thoms, 67, a flight instructor and commercial pilot who was friends with Evans, claimed he was “not known for his honesty”.
“He was a really good storyteller,” Thoms said in an interview. “Sometimes, let’s put it this way, you had to fact-check what he was telling you.”
The aviation experts contradicted a key statement from a pilot who claimed it was possible that Kensu could have chartered a plane without it being recorded
Kensu – real name Fred Freeman – in prison with his now fiancée Paula Randolph. He has exhausted all avenues of appeal but hopes his conviction can be overturned after it is taken up by the state's Conviction Integrity Unit.
Evans, whose testimony was so important in the prosecution's case, has since died. A juror later told investigative reporter Bill Proctor that his report convinced him of Kenu's guilt.
During the trial, the jury was told that Kensu's motive was to get rid of Macklem so that Kensu could “control” Macklem's girlfriend, whom he had dated six months earlier.
Macklem's girlfriend told police that she was dating Kensu and that he was “big into ninja” but didn't want anyone to know and that he would kill her if she told anyone.
At the time, the Kensu was known as Fred Freeman, but had used several aliases to evade arrest warrants for assault and other alleged crimes.
At trial, ex-girlfriend Crystal Merrill testified that he told her he was “higher up” in Japanese organized crime. Prosecutors also showed jurors pictures of his martial arts weapons.
A prison informant also claimed that Kensu told him after they were locked up together for a few hours that he had committed the murder. However, this statement was later retracted.
Ultimately, investigators were unable to find any physical evidence that he was in the parking lot where Macklem was shot.
Kensu was denied clemency three times and all appeal options were exhausted
Placed 400 miles from the crime scene by nine witnesses in the hours before and after the murder, Kensu has always maintained his innocence
Nine alibi witnesses also placed him in Escanaba, 400 miles away, in the hours before and after the murder.
Kensu was denied clemency three times and all appeal options were exhausted.
His case was later picked up by the Conviction Integrity Unit in Michigan.
However, Mike Wendling, the current top prosecutor in St. Clair County, dismissed the plane theory as a “red herring” and said that Kensu would still be his first choice as a suspect if he were analyzing the case for the first time today.