Paula Kensu, a mother of 61, is fighting for her husband Temujin Kensu’s release from prison. Kensu, who was convicted of first-degree murder 37 years ago, has faced numerous challenges, including severe medical issues and a lack of support from his wife. Despite these obstacles, Kensu remains determined to pursue legal avenues and continue her letter-writing campaign to Governor Gretchen Whitmer, seeking clemency.
Kensu, who was formerly known as Fred Freeman before adopting Buddhism, has been incarcerated at the Macomb Correctional Facility in Lenox Township. He has faced major medical issues, including severe combined immunodeficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, and organ damage. Despite these challenges, Kensu maintains a positive attitude and believes that his only hope lies with the governor.
Kensu has attempted to seek a sentence commutation through the Michigan Parole Board but has been denied both times. The prosecutor of St. Clair County, Michael Wendling, has the power to release Kensu by dismissing the murder charges, but he supports the conviction. Kensu filed a complaint with the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission against Wendling and Cleland, alleging that Wendling failed to take action after discovering issues with her husband’s case.
Wendling maintains his stance on Kensu’s conviction and has appealed his case to numerous judges and courts. Kensu has also filed two federal court petitions that were reviewed three times by the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Despite the Grievance Commission’s refusal to investigate her claims, Kensu remains determined to push forward and ensure his wife’s success.
Temujin Kensu, a former Michigan state prisoner, has faced numerous challenges in his case. His initial testimony against the defendant, Joplin, was later recanted, and the appeals court did not order an evidentiary hearing. In 2022, Nessel announced that her Conviction Integrity Unit would investigate Kensu’s case, but the investigation concluded that Kensu was not eligible for relief due to an alibi witness who did not qualify as “new evidence.” Paula Kensu believed that Governor Whitmer would grant a pardon or commutation to her husband, but despite numerous voices urging her to do the right thing, the Governor has refused to act.
Whitmer’s spokeswoman, LaRouche stated that individuals seeking a pardon or commutation must apply to the Michigan Parole Board, which reviews each application on a case-by-case basis. Kensu believes that Governor Whitmer is purposely delaying his case until he passes away, as he wants to avoid paying out millions of dollars in a wrongful conviction lawsuit and admitting her mistake about his innocence.
In 2007, former Governor Jennifer Granholm denied Kensu’s plea for clemency, following the Parole Board’s suggestion to turn it down on the grounds that Kensu didn’t express remorse for the murder. David Sanders, a board member at the Proving Innocence nonprofit, testified on Kensu’s behalf, stating that the repeated denial of Kensu’s attempts to overturn his case makes no sense.
Paula Kensu, a human resources manager at Ally Financial Services, shares a personal connection to the murder case and became aware of Kensu’s claim of being wrongfully convicted after reading an article by Detroit News columnist Nolan Finley on Christmas Day 2019.
The case of Temujin Kensu, a man accused of murdering his wife, has been investigated by Attorney General Nessel’s Conviction Integrity Unit. Valerie Newman, head of the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Conviction Integrity Unit, examined the account of a new witness, Beth Stier, who had gone on a date with Kensu on the night of the murder. Newman stated that Stier’s testimony would not have presented any new evidence to support Kensu’s claim of innocence.
Critics, including U.S. Representatives Andy Levin, Rashida Tlaib, and Michigan Sen. Stephanie Chang, have expressed their belief in Kensu’s innocence and that the governor of Michigan has the authority to grant pardons as per the Michigan Constitution. They hope that Mr. Kensu will be granted relief after a thorough review by those in authority who have the power to do so.
Records requests were denied, and Proving Innocence filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the investigative report/documentation. However, the Conviction Integrity Unit did not prepare summary reports, and the report was considered an “attorney work product” and exempt from open records law. The Michigan Court of Claims Judge Brock Swartzle ruled that the report did not need to be released by Nessel, but the decision was taken to court and upheld in 2023.
Despite the setbacks, Paula Kensu remains steadfast in her beliefs and continues to write letters to Whitmer every holiday, pleading for her husband’s release. Despite uncertainty about his future, Temujin Kensu remains committed to his dream of settling down with his wife in a remote cabin in the woods.
