DETROIT — A Detroit hit man in prison for eight murders says another man was wrongly convicted for a fatal shooting in 2004.

Vincent Smothers took an extraordinary step Monday. He testified in Wayne County court on behalf of Thelonious Searcy, who is trying to overturn his conviction and life sentence.

Speaking in great detail, Smothers explained how he shot a drug dealer during a robbery on Detroit’s east side. He says it’s not fair that an innocent man is in prison. Prosecutors have rejected Smothers’ story.

Smothers is serving a 52-year sentence for killing eight people, mostly drug dealers. He also told police that he killed four more people, although he’s never been charged.

Davontae Sanford was sent to prison for the four Runyon Street homicides but was released in 2016.