Aviation experts call for clemency for Michigan’s ‘ninja killer’ as they cast doubt on wild theory used to convict him of shooting dead student in a parking lot 37 years ago

Aviation experts questioning a sensational theory that helped convict a Michigan man jailed for murder are asking for leniency in his case.

Temujin Kensu, 57, was jailed for life for the 1987 murder of student Scott Macklem, despite there being no physical evidence linking him to the crime and the then 23-year-old having an alibi.

Prosecutors presented the theory that Kensu, who was dubbed the “ninja killer,” was able to rent a plane to fly him from one side of the state to the other, where he then shot Macklem and then quickly flew home without anyone seeing him could ever have traced. the place.

But now three aviation experts have written a letter to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in support of clemency for the inmate of more than 30 years: suggesting the theory is “so unlikely it's unbelievable,” NBC reports.

Key to the prosecution's case is the testimony of ex-pilot Bob Evans, who testified that it was possible a flight could have occurred even though there were no records because pilots often loitered while waiting for customers.

The three experts have written to Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in support of clemency for the inmate of more than 30 years, nicknamed the “ninja killer” because of his fascination with martial arts.

Kensu was sentenced to life in prison without parole, despite no physical evidence linking him to the parking lot (pictured) where Macklem was shot dead

Detectives also claimed to have interviewed the airport manager, who admitted this could have been 'possible'.

However, this has been questioned by Harvey Setter, 82, who previously managed the Delta County Airport in Escanaba, Michigan, between 1982 and 1999.

In his letter, the former manager states that he was never contacted by investigators.

“As far as people waiting for a flight are concerned, that is highly unlikely,” he said in the letter.

He is supported by Rick Orzel, 71, who was providing services including fuel and aircraft maintenance at the St. Clair County Airport in Port Huron at the time of the killing.

Orzel wrote a letter confirming the claim that pilots loitering was a “complete fabrication” and also stated that he had never been contacted by investigators.

In the meantime Bob Thoms, 67, a flight instructor and commercial pilot who was friends with Evans, claimed he was “not known for his honesty.”

“He was a very good storyteller,” Thoms said in an interview. “Sometimes – let's put it this way – you had to check the facts of what he was telling you.”

The aviation experts contradicted crucial testimony from a pilot who claimed it was possible that Kensu had chartered a plane without it being registered.

Kensu – whose real name is Fred Freeman – with his current fiancée, Paula Randolph, in prison. He has exhausted all appeal options but hopes his conviction can be overturned after it is picked up by the state's Conviction Integrity Unit.

Evans, whose testimony was so important to the prosecution's case, has since died. A juror later told investigative journalist Bill Proctor that his story had convinced him of Kenu's guilt.

During the trial, jurors were told Kensu's motive was to get rid of Macklem so that Kensu could 'control' Macklem's girlfriend, whom he had dated six months earlier.

Macklem's girlfriend told police that she had dated Kensu and that he was “heavy into ninja” but didn't want anyone to find out, and that he would kill her if she told anyone.

At the time, the Kensu was known as Fred Freeman, but he had used multiple aliases to evade arrest warrants for assault and other alleged crimes.

During the trial of ex-girlfriend Crystal Merrill testified that he told her he was “higher up” in Japanese organized crime. Prosecutors also showed jurors images of his martial arts weapons.

A prison informant also claimed that when they were locked up together for a few hours, Kensu told him that he had committed the murder, but this testimony was later retracted.

Detectives ultimately couldn't find a shred of physical evidence that placed him in the parking lot where Macklem was shot.

Kensu has been denied clemency three times and has exhausted all appeal options

Kensu was placed 400 miles away from the murder scene by nine witnesses in the hours before and after the murder and has always maintained his innocence.

Nine alibi witnesses also placed him 400 miles away in Escanaba in the hours before and after the murder.

Kensu has been denied clemency three times and has exhausted all appeal options.

His case was later processed by the Michigan Conviction Integrity Unit.

However, Mike Wendling, the current chief prosecutor in St. Clair County, dismissed the plane theory as a “red herring” and stated that Kensu would still be his top choice as a suspect if he were to analyze the case for the first time today.