Fourth Circuit Affirms Vacation of Wolfe Death Sentence

Justin Michael Wolfe learned Thursday that the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with a lower court ruling that his convictions and sentences related to the death of Daniel Robert Petrole Jr. should not stand, primarily because of the lack of disclosure of exculpatory evidence by the prosecutors.

A Prince William County jury sent Wolfe to death row in 2002 for a murder-for-hire.

Owen Merton Barber IV admitted to killing Petrole in 2001. Barber testified against Wolfe in a 2002 trial, but later recanted his testimony, saying prosecutors and his own defense attorney forced him to testify to escape the death penalty. Barber has stated in federal court that Wolfe had nothing to do with Petrole’s murder.

Patch will update this story with information from the court’s order.