Killer’s Mistaken Parole Rescinded

A murderer mistakenly released from prison two years ago has to go back for 11 more years even though he has stayed out of trouble since being set free, the Tennessee Board of Paroles has ruled.

Eugene Burnett Jr. had his parole rescinded by the board, which voted last week that he must serve the time remaining on the 55-year sentence he received for a 1973 murder and kidnaping.

Burnett was paroled routinely on April 2, 1984, based on a recomputation of his sentence in 1980, according to the petition filed by his attorney, Paul Morrow Jr.

The mistake was discovered when an inmate convicted along with Burnett asked for the same treatment, according to state officials.