Court orders new look at parole in 1992 slaying

CASEVILLE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) -- The Michigan Supreme Court is getting involved in the parole of a man convicted of killing an 18-year-old in the Thumb in 1992. A Huron County judge has blocked Phil Paquette's release from prison, and the state appeals court turned down his case. But the Supreme Court stepped in last week and ordered the appeals court to take a look. Paquette has spent about 20 years in prison for the fatal stabbing of Michael Gravelle at a cottage in Caseville Township, 50 miles northeast of Bay City. The Michigan parole board determines if inmates will be freed after their minimum sentence, but prosecutors sometimes go to court to persuade a judge to stop their release. Published: Thu, Jul 21, 2011