The Case of Temujin Kensu

(formerly known as Frederick Freeman)

Temujin Kensu (known as Frederick Freeman prior to his conversion to Buddhism) was wrongfully convicted of the shotgun killing of Scott Macklem in a college parking lot in Port Huron, Michigan on November 5, 1986. He has now served more than 23 years behind bars for a crime the evidence shows he did not commit.

Temujin Kensu is actually – not technically – innocent of the crime. As confirmed by at least 10 credible alibi witnesses, at the time of the murder he was in the Upper Peninsula in Rock, Michigan, 20 miles north of Escanaba and about 450 miles from the crime scene in Port Huron. In addition, there was absolutely no evidence at the crime scene – documentary, forensic, or physical – that connected Teminjun to the crime. No murder weapon was produced. No gunshot residue was found on his clothing. An ammunition box found at the scene contained a fingerprint not belonging to him. Police conducted a several-hour, warrantless, and illegal search of his house, trailer, and property and found nothing incriminating. Moreover, Temujin and his primary alibi witness have both passed polygraphs administered by respected former Michigan State Police polygraphers.

Temujin Kensu was wrongly convicted of murder due to a shocking failure of our criminal justice system. He was the victim of a combination of factors, including unprofessional and faulty police work, admitted perjury by a jailhouse snitch, an overly aggressive prosecutor, erroneous identification by witnesses caused by suggestive police procedures, and a court-appointed defense attorney who was cocaine-addicted, incompetent, and had an undisclosed conflict of interest with the lead detective in the case. Temujin literally drowned in a “perfect storm” of failures of our criminal justice system.

For more information on this case:

Complete Kensu Video Series

Why He is Actually Innocent

What Others Say About the Kensu Case 

You may write Temujin at:

Dec 11, 2008

A'miko Kensu states that "According to Granholm's office we can expect a decision on the Clemency sometime in January or the first of February." She also gives a correction to the article, that though the parole board's earlier decision was made after receiving a psychological report on Temujin, no statements were made in the report that he was denied clemency because of it. The board stated that it is not their job to second guess the decision of juries.

Feb 19, 2009

Granholm's Office had said to expect a decision on Temujin's clemency in January or by the first of February. So far, there is no news.

The effort has been aided by Ross Parker, former Chief Assistant Attorney at the Department of Justice in Easter Michigan, at the request of Proving Innocence. Ross has sent three letters to the Governor and has spoken to the attorney assigned to the request for clemency. He is also considering strategy for the habeas aspect. He is optimistic that one of their efforts will eventually bear fruit.

US Senator Carl Levin and US Representative Bart Stupak have also indicated their support.

April 8, 2009 - Gov. Granholm has Denied Temujin Kensu's Appeal for Clemency

A close look at Granholm's record shows, with one exception, that she maintains her philosophy of not "second guessing juries". In other words, she will grant clemency when there is a drastic change in the convicted person's status, such as a terminal medical prognosis. A clemency appeal based on problems with the original court case appears to be a very long shot.

For information about Temujin's specific case, see this article. 

February 2010 Update

On February 10th, Judge Hood gave an order today making it official that Ross Parker is Temujin's advisory counsel. In the order she references Proving Innocence and Temujin's innocence. You can read the order here.

After Bill Proctor had a meeting with Granholm's legal advisors, along with Ross Parker, Dave Moran of the Michigan Innocence Clinic and Donna McKneelen of the Cooley Michigan Innocence Project, the Michigan Innocence Project decided to do a thorough review of the case. We are welcoming their expertise and looking forward to their findings.

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