Executive Summary
- Terrell Martin was granted parole 30 years after his conviction for the 1996 murder of Luis Tevenal.
- The decision follows the Commonwealth v. Mattis ruling, which outlawed life-without-parole sentences for offenders aged 18 to 20.
- Martin was 20 years old at the time of the armed robbery and shooting in Roxbury.
- The Parole Board cited Martin’s clean disciplinary record over the last six years as a factor in the decision.
Terrell Martin, convicted of first-degree murder for the 1996 shooting of Luis Tevenal in Roxbury, Massachusetts, has been granted parole following a pivotal state Supreme Judicial Court ruling regarding young adult offenders. The decision marks another significant application of recent legal reforms concerning sentencing for individuals aged 18 to 20 at the time of their crimes.
According to Parole Board records, the incident occurred on August 23, 1996, at Dennis Street Park. Witnesses testified that Martin, then 20, and Jose Duarte, 19, approached three men while armed. Duarte reportedly pointed a firearm at the group and asked Martin, “Le tiru?”—interpreted by the victims as “Should I shoot?”—before firing the fatal shot that killed Tevenal and wounding another man.
Martin was originally sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in 1999. However, his eligibility status changed following the January 2024 Commonwealth v. Mattis decision. The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that mandatory life-without-parole sentences for offenders aged 18 to 20 constitute “cruel and unusual punishment,” citing scientific evidence regarding the neurological development of “emerging adults.”
During the review process, the Parole Board noted that Martin had remained free of disciplinary reports for approximately six years. While the board observed that his engagement in prison programming was limited, they acknowledged his participation in Violence Reduction and Criminal Thinking courses. He was granted parole to an approved home plan contingent on completing six months in lower security.
The Mattis ruling has impacted approximately 210 cases statewide. According to data cited in the report, the Parole Board has granted release to about 35 individuals in this category while denying 14 others. Families of victims have expressed significant distress over the retroactive hearings, describing the process of revisiting the trauma as a betrayal by the justice system.
Judicial Precedent
The release of Terrell Martin highlights the operational shift within the Massachusetts judicial system following the Commonwealth v. Mattis decision. By prohibiting life-without-parole sentences for late adolescents, the state has mandated a retrospective evaluation of rehabilitation and risk for hundreds of inmates previously considered permanently incarcerated. This legal framework requires the Parole Board to weigh updated neuroscientific standards against public safety concerns and the rights of victims’ families.
