A man who was sentenced to life without parole for a 1993 murder has been granted parole after a court ruling made him eligible for release.

The Massachusetts Parole Board on Oct. 7 unanimously voted to grant parole to Mark Van Winkle, who has been incarcerated for 31 years. Van Winkle was 20 years old when he shot and killed 21-year-old Israel Espino during a fake drug deal set up with the intent to rob him and two other men.

Read more: What we know as 25 inmates with life sentences are granted freedom in Mass.

On Oct. 5, 1993, Van Winkle lured Israel Espino, his 23-year-old brother Frank Espino and 19-year-old Juan Guerra to a remote wooded area under the pretense of selling them marijuana. According to the parole board’s decision, Van Winkle, who was in the back seat with Israel

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