‘He still fought for his life’
Brockton man put away on murder charge readies to return after commutation
Family members of William Allen, the 48-year-old Brockton man who received a rare commutation from Gov. Charlie Baker for a first-degree murder conviction, are preparing to welcome their prodigal son home in the coming months after 27 years in prison.
Allen’s father and stepmother spoke about the Governor’s decision from the steps of their home, where William is expected to return “very soon,” according to his attorney.
“We still have to be a little patient, but we all know that one day he’s going to walk on these steps, on to this door, and ring the bell,” his stepmother Frances Bynoe said.
Allen was convicted of first-degree murder in 1997 after he and his co-defendent broke into the home of Purvis Bester with intentions of robbing the property. During that 1994 robbery, Allen’s co-defendent stabbed Purvis to death. As a result, Allen was sentenced to life behind bars without parole.
Bynoe credits her stepson’s release to the character he demonstrated while in prison, which Gov. Baker reiterated in his commutation recommendation:
“While incarcerated Mr. Allen participated in significant programming — among them restorative justice and violence alternatives — as both a student and a facilitator. He has earned vocational licenses to be a barber, food service worker, and law clerk, served as a Eucharistic minister for the Catholic community, and consistently held a job, including working as a companion and assistant to severely mentally ill patients at Bridgewater State Hospital.”
“He didn’t take that time
just to say oh, OK, alright, I’m here for life. He still fought for his life,” Bynoe said.
Advocacy group Second Chance Justice began lobbying
for Allen’s freedom in 2017, and were joined by New England Patriots captain Devin McCourty, who heard the commutation news Wednesday.
“It’s probably the greatest team victory that I’ve ever been a part of,” McCourty said.
In a statement, William Allen thanked the governor and his advocates, and promised, “I will never let you down.”
The third and final step towards Allen’s release will be consideration of his case by the Governor’s Council, and Allen’s attorney said members of that group have already expressed optimism about approval — meaning William could be home in a matter of months.
If approved, Allen’s firstdegree murder sentence will be downgraded to seconddegree murder, which offers the possibility of parole after 15 years served. Allen will then be expected to go through the parole process, his attorney said. The state’s last commutation was in 2014.
“You just don’t know how much in my heart, right now, I feel for William, and the things that me and him are going to accomplish from this point on,” Allen’s father said.