Man Once Convicted in 1980 Braintree Murder Now Free

BRAINTREE, MA — After spending over 36 years in jail for a Braintree murder he said he didn't commit, a South Boston man is free on bail.

Thursday, Norfolk Superior Court Judge Gregg Pasquale released Frederick Weichel on $5,000 bail. The decision goes against the prosecution's request to keep Weichel behind bars as they appeal the April 10 decision from Judge Raymond Veary that overturned Weichel's 1981 murder conviction and granted him a new trial, according to the Boston Globe.

In 1981, Weichel was convicted of the 1980 murder of Robert Lamonica in Braintree. In an interview, he placed the blamed on Whitey Bulger, claiming it was the famous gangster who gave his name to police.

Weichel's conviction was in part due to a witness that identified Weichel as the killer. Veary wrote in his decision that the trial may have turned out different if the defense obtained a police report which indicated that 10 prison guards identified the shooter as someone else, based on a composite sketch.

While free, Weiche will be on GPS monitoring and must remain at home between 6 p.m.-6 a.m.

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