The defense team for Dontae Sharpe has filed a Motion for Appropriate Relief based on additional new evidence in the convicted man’s case.

Sharpe is serving a life sentence for the murder of Gregory Radcliff in February of 1994.

Sharpe has maintained his innocence since he was arrested at 19 years of age.

On Friday, Sharpe’s defense team, the Pitt County branch of the NAACP, and family members gathered for a news conference where they filed the motion.

The defense team said original testimony from a doctor in the 1994 trial saying Sharpe medically could not have committed the crime was not included in the state’s summary of the case.

“She says if I would have known what th state was alleging happened I would have told them then it was impossible; it did not happen that way,” said Theresa Newman, Dontae Sharpe’s attorney.

The motion of appropriate of relief allows them to open the case back up to introduce that testimony as evidence.

Dontae Sharpe himself called into the news conference from the Johnston Correctional Facility. 

“She says if I would have known what th state was alleging happened I would have told them then it was impossible; it did not happen that way,” said Theresa Newman, Dontae Sharpe’s attorney.

“I’m innocent,” said Sharp. “They know I’m innocent, I’ve been here all these years to claim my innocence. The evidence cleared me and, for me, it’s ridiculous that I’m still sitting in here.”

Sharpe was offered a plea deal from D.A. Kimberly Robb, but he denied the deal stating he couldn’t in good conscience admit to something he did not do.

Stay with WNCT Friday for updates on the case.