It appears William Allen may soon be free. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker commuted the Brockton man's first degree murder conviction to second degree, making him eligible for parole. Baker commuted Allen's conviction and that of another man, former U.S. Marine Thomas Koonce, also of Brockton.
In the months since Stonehill College journalism students reported on the effort to gain a commutation for William Allen, things moved quickly. First, at the commutation hearing last year, both the victim’s daughter and Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz joined others in voicing support for Allen’s commutation. Now, after years of work by supporters, that step has been taken by the governor.