Nebraska law students hear story of man who sentenced to death as a teen

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Some University of Nebraska law students gathered Monday for a presentation by a lawyer and a formerly incarcerated man.

The presentation was put on by the Black Law Student Association.

The students heard the story of Shakur Abdullah, who was convicted of first-degree murder when he was 17 years old.

He was sentenced to death, but the Nebraska Supreme Court changed his sentence to life in prison in 1977.

Then, a few years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that sentencing minors to life without parole is unconstitutional.

So Abdullah was resentenced and then later released on parole.

Now he shares his story to try to get young law students to see social injustices.

“If I can help maybe spark some interest in their mind about working on some of the social ills that exist, I think it’s important for me and others to come and do that,” Abdullah said.

He compared his situation to Earnest Jackson’s, though, unlike Abdullah, Jackson maintains his innocence.

Jackson was resentenced, too, in 2016 to 60 to 80 years.

He isn’t eligible for parole until 2029.