WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – Thorney Lee Cooper has been incarcerated for about 29 years for his role in a first-degree murder case of Andre Watkins in Taylor Homes in the 1990s.
On Monday, June 24, Cooper was granted a parole recommendation by a New Hanover County judge.
Although the statute that lets judges review a first-degree murder case after 25 years has since been repealed, Cooper was convicted before the repeal.
He stood in court for a judicial review in March 2022, but the superior court judge decided against a parole accommodation.
Thorney and Watkins’ sister worked with the Restorative Justice Clinic at Campbell Law over the past two years and have discussed why the crime happened, according to Assistant Public Defender Max Edward Ashworth for New Hanover County.
The victim’s family says they owe it to the Restorative Justice program and one of their agents, Jon Powell, for helping shift their mindset to forgiveness.
“He’s human, everybody else he makes mistakes. Like I’ve been 19 he’s been 19. Still deserve to have the chance to do something different in life,” Shakira Watkins said.
Copyright 2024 WECT. All rights reserved.