1.) A brief overview:

On September 18, 1992, Joseph Donovan started a fight he is paying for to this day. Donovan and two other teenagers got into an altercation with a pair of Norwegian students, leaving Yngve Raustein dead. — Donovan threw the first punch, but was not the one who stabbed Raustein. — Yet today, it is Joseph Donovan who sits in prison, the only one of three teens convicted as an adult of felony murder.

2.) A few excerpts:

“I was very touched by Joe Donovan’s letter to me. It is good to learn that he regrets his actions on September 18th 1992, which led to lifelong sorrow for our family and his. —I fully agree with my son, Dan-Jarle, that he now should be given a new chance.”   ~  Inghild Raustein, mother of victim, Yngve Raustein.

“There were several statements made at our trials that were not true. The two most important are that Joey did not know I was carrying a knife and there was never any plan to rob anyone.”   ~  Shon McHugh, convicted and released murderer of Yngve Raustein.

“If he [Joe] didn’t know that knife was available to be used, the law is quite clear, he could not be convicted of participation in a felony murder.”   ~  Ret. Judge Robert Barton, presided over Joe Donovan’s trial.

“It was awful, it would catch me at night, it would wake me up because, I was thinking about the horrible situation for Joseph Donovan to be in. I mean yes, there was a murder committed; but, he literally did not commit the murder himself. It was one of his cohorts that did and he ended up taking the lion’s share of the blame for it.”   ~  Ron Marchetti, Donovan trial juror.

“It disturbed me for years… you know, and it still disturbs me.”  "Whether we thought he [Joe] did it or didn’t do it… it didn’t matter… what mattered was that if someone died during an armed robbery, it was murder one. —It didn’t feel right… it just wasn’t right."   ~  Carolyn Butterworth, Donovan trial juror

“I was the guy who made the first bad decision. —Maybe Shon would’ve killed someone else… maybe he wouldn’t have… regardless, I’ll always feel responsibility for the choice I made.”   ~  Joseph Donovan, currently serving a life sentence (without the possibility of parole) for the 1992, “joint venture” murder of Yngve Raustein.

3.) The goal:

Over the past two decades, Joe has received support from his family, friends, and an ever-growing population of advocates committed to his well-merited release. – However, despite the best of efforts, Joe’s plight continues, and will persist, until further legal action is taken – and therein rests the very purpose of this campaign: Raise $10,000 and put EVERY cent towards Joe’s legal defense and appellate team.

Together, Joe’s voice can and will be heard.

Thank you for considering a donation and/or spreading the word – Facebook, Twitter et al.

4.) Supplemental resources:

• Watch the documentary

• Visit the website

• Read The Boston Phoenix

• Read The Boston Globe