Salvi’s Murder Convictions Erased After Death Killer Of 2 At Abortion Clinics Died Before His Appeal Heard

In life, John C. Salvi III was an anti-abortion fanatic found guilty of murdering two abortion clinic workers. In death, his conviction is history.

Judge Barbara Dortch-Okara, who had sentenced Salvi to life in prison, voided his convictions because he died before his appeal could be heard. Salvi, 24, died of an apparent suicide in his prison cell in November.

Lee Ann Nichols, 38, and Shannon Lowney, 25, were killed and five others wounded by Salvi in the Dec. 30, 1994, attacks at two Brookline, Mass., clinics.

The judge’s Jan. 21 decision delivered new pain to the families of his victims.

“I have to tell you the truth, it’s as if John Salvi is coming from the grave to bring me some hurt,” Ruth Nichols, Lee Ann’s mother, told WBZ-TV.

Salvi was sentenced to life in prison without parole last year by Dortch-Okara after a jury rejected arguments that he was insane.

Salvi’s lawyers never disputed the facts of the shooting, but claimed he believed there was a conspiracy against Catholics.

The attorney who argued for voiding the convictions, James Sultan, said he relied on a state court ruling that held if a defendant dies before a conviction is reviewed, the charges are dismissed.

“Mr. Salvi is no longer with us, so I think he has suffered the ultimate punishment,” Sultan told The Boston Globe. “In our legal system, everybody is entitled to have the fairness of their conviction reviewed on appeal before it is considered legally final and binding. John Salvi never had that opportunity.”

Sultan said Salvi’s parents, John and Ann Marie Salvi, were comforted and “thrilled” their son’s convictions were erased.

Salvi was found dead in his cell in the state’s maximum security prison. Officials said he was under his bed with a plastic bag tied around his head and his hands and feet bound with laces.

The state medical examiner ruled out foul play and said the death appeared to be a suicide.

Nicki Nichols Gamble, president of Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, who employed Lowney, was stunned that Salvi’s name had been cleared, but called it a “minor footnote” to the case.

“From my point of view, absolute justice was done in that trial and there can be no doubt about that.”