The Tennessee Clemency Board heard testimony for over 6 hours on Wednesday concerning the Adam Braseel case. He’s the Grundy County man who spent 12 years in prison for a murder charge that was later thrown out by a judge.
After a unanimous vote, the board recommended that Governor Bill Lee exonerate Braseel.
In 2007, Braseel was convicted of the murder of Malcom Burrows in Tracy City and aggravated assault of his sister.
A fingerprint from the crime scene was tested by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. The results showed the fingerprint belonged to Kermit Eugene Bryson, who had similar features to Braseel. Bryson is now deceased after allegedly killing a Grundy County deputy.
Last year, the murder charge was thrown out and Braseel pleaded an “Alford Plea” of guilty to aggravated assault, which allowed him to be released from prison on time served.
It cleared him of murder, but it left the felony on his record.
