Somali neighborhood involved after decide vacates Portland man’s conviction
Somali neighborhood leaders in Portland mentioned a decide’s determination final week to vacate a manslaughter conviction in a high-profile case is reopening outdated wounds.
Mark Cardilli Jr., who’s white, had been serving greater than seven years in jail for the 2019 killing of Isahak Muse, a younger Somali-American man. Cardilli might now obtain a brand new trial, pending an attraction from the state.
Cardilli’s conviction was vacated final week after a Superior Court docket decide discovered that Cardilli’s authentic attorneys had supplied “ineffective help” by failing to vigorously argue that their consumer acted in self-defense.
Cardilli had been discovered responsible of manslaughter for fatally taking pictures Muse, who was unarmed, throughout a bodily altercation on the Cardilli household dwelling in 2019. Muse was courting Cardilli’s sister on the time, and the killing set off racial justice protests in Portland.
Fatuma Hussein, with the Immigrant Useful resource Heart of Maine, needs the state to satisfy with Somali neighborhood members to listen to their issues in regards to the Cardilli case.
“And what we’re asking the state of Maine, particularly the legal professional normal’s workplace, is to satisfy with us to speak by this course of. And collectively to have the ability to receive justice for Isahak Musa and his household,” Hussein mentioned.
Cardilli’s bail was set at $20,000. Assistant Legal professional Normal Leanne Robbin mentioned the state will attraction.
Maine Public author Caitlin Andrews contributed to this report.
This text seems by a media partnership with Maine Public.
