NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Thomas Clardy spent almost two years as a free man after a federal judge overturned his conviction in a 2005 triple murder at a Madison auto body shop. Now, that's ending.

An appeals court has reinstated the 2007 conviction, siding with prosecutors who argued the original trial met the legal standard.

The case stems from the shooting deaths of three men at an auto body shop from nearly two decades ago. Clardy was convicted largely on the testimony of an eyewitness who identified him almost a month after the killings.

Clardy's attorneys with the Tennessee Innocence Project have long argued the identification was unreliable. They said it was a month late and flawed due to "cross-racial" identification.

They also claim that since his release, he has maintained steady employment and joined a men's spiritual group that has been advocating for his clemency.

"He is unbelievably a model citizen," said Steve Johnson, a member of "Justice for Thomas," which has organized prayer vigils on his behalf. "He is reunited with his family; he's coached football, and he is so active in his church."

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee said it has no role in the case because it was a state prosecution.

News 2 reached out to surviving relatives of the victims but did not receive a response on Tuesday.

Clardy, who served 17 years before his release, is maintaining his innocence.

"I am very hopeful that justice can be given," he said this week.

The Tennessee Attorney General's Office said Clardy will return to custody Friday to serve the remainder of his life sentence, unless Gov. Bill Lee grants him clemency.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/nashville/tennessee-attorney-generals-office-orders-thomas-clardy-back-to-prison-after-appeals-court-ruling/