Gordon Cordeiro was freed after 30 years behind bars, thanks to new DNA evidence that proved he wasn't the killer, leading him to declare 'Freedom Friday' while eyeing a slice of mom's home-cooked pie.

After three decades of wrongful imprisonment for the murder of Timothy Blaisdell, Gordon Cordeiro is basking in freedom—much to the chagrin of Maui County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Martin, who is already plotting an appeal. The judge's verdict was prompted by the Hawaii Innocence Project revealing that new DNA testing exonerated Cordeiro and uncovered serious prosecutorial missteps, leaving many to wonder how many more 'Free Fridays' are in store for those wrongfully convicted thanks to jailhouse informants and shaky evidence.

Cordeiro's journey to exoneration was not a straightforward road. His first trial ended in a hung jury, a situation that rivals any romantic comedy plot twist, yet things took a more serious turn during his second trial. Convicting him largely hinged on the questionable credibility of jailhouse informants, whose testimonies seemed to be inspired by the very best of courtroom drama scripts but offered little more than fabricated narratives. It turns out, relying on incentivized jailhouse informants is about as wise as asking a raccoon to guard your trash.

The relaunch of Cordeiro's case came courtesy of the Hawaii Innocence Project, who took considerable interest in untangling the knot of misleading evidence that had incarcerated him for years. They argued that Cordeiro had an alibi for the day of the murder, including being at home with family. Jailhouse informants may have had lots to say, but family members tend to provide a more credible alibi than your neighborhood inmate's tall tales. Focusing on the facts, the innocence project pushed for new DNA testing, and the results were significant.

The new DNA analysis not only excluded Cordeiro as the source of the evidence but also discovered an unidentified DNA profile at the crime scene. One can only imagine the reactions in the courtroom each time that DNA results were presented: Cordeiro on one side, the prison informants on the other, and the DNA playing the role of the dramatic witness nobody was expecting. This new information prompted Judge Kirstin Hamman to order Cordeiro's release, branding this significant moment as a mix of emotional triumph and a definitive end to a 30-year nightmare.

Kenneth Lawson, co-director of the Hawaii Innocence Project, provided insight into the emotional atmosphere surrounding Cordeiro's long-awaited release. It was described as very emotional. While Lawson embraced the significance of the day, it also left the lingering question of what on earth took so long for this long-overdue verdict to surface in the first place.

Unfortunately for Cordeiro, his newfound freedom didn't fully elicit unbridled joy; it also came with the tone-deaf disappointment expressed by the Maui County Prosecuting Attorney, Andrew Martin. After evidently binge-watching too many legal shows, Martin indicated plans to appeal the ruling. In a surprising twist, it's almost as if his coffee had gone bitter that morning as he waved his fists at the heavens, struggling to fathom a justice system that could allow Cordeiro to step out into the sunshine he was denied for three decades.

One must wonder what life for Cordeiro will look like in the days to come. Cordeiro celebrated his release by calling the day 'Freedom Friday' and expressed a desire to see his mother, while the fight against a flawed system drags on. The judge's ruling notes that the new DNA evidence and other findings are likely to change the outcome of any future trials—a concept that surely gives prosecutorial offices nightmares, reminiscent of students cramming for an exam they swore they had prepared for.

In reflecting on this highly publicized case, the hope remains that Cordeiro's story prompts a re-evaluation of the justice system. With new evidence and the truth finally coming to light, it raises the question: how many others remain imprisoned by the very system meant to protect them? As the country shakes its head in disbelief, Cordeiro’s story serves as a reminder that the road to justice can sometimes lead straight through the courts of irony, absurdity, and the occasional successfully dodged pie slice.