A man who said he's spent 45 years imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit is getting the chance to plead his case at a clemency hearing this week.

James Rodwell, a man serving a life without parole sentence for the 1979 murder of Louis Rose Jr., will go before the Massachusetts Advisory Board of Pardons Tuesday.

Rodwell, now 70, was convicted based on the testimony of two witnesses, including a jailhouse informant, and no physical evidence. He testified at his own trial and has always maintained his innocence.

 To say he's excited would be an understatement,  Rodwell's attorney Veronica White told the Boston Herald.  He wakes up in the middle of the night and thinks about what he's going to say to the board. 

Because of changes to the executive clemency guidelines under Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Rodwell is allowed to go before the board without having to admit that he committed the crime he vehemently denies.

White said they plan on presenting new evidence at the hearing, including information from a witness who has come forward, under oath, to say that Rodwell was set up.

 Jimmy has waited his whole adult life for someone to look at all of it and on Oct. 6, someone finally will,  White said.  The board will see the whole record for the first time and that's all he ever asked for. 

Former Springfield Mayor Michael Albano has also written in support of Rodwell. He told the Herald earlier this year that when he was on the parole board, he dealt with one of the key witnesses in the case, David Nagel.

Albano called Nagel  less than credible.  He said that after Nagel was given leniency for the information he provided about Rodwell and other defendants, he promptly reoffended.

 His testimony against James Rodwell is not to be believed, in my opinion,  Albano wrote in an affidavit that has been presented to the board.

White said the hearing allows her to show that  there's been a miscarriage of justice,  opening the door for Rodwell's sentence to be commuted or even pardoned.

It's possible the seven-person board, appointed by the governor, could take a preliminary vote Tu

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