Attendees of the National Congress of American Indians annual convention in San Diego, California, show solidarity with the Fairbanks Four on October 22, 2015. Photo by Indianz.Com

Four Native men who were convicted of a murder they insist they did not commit could be released from prison on Friday.

Marvin Roberts, George Frese, Eugene Vent and Kevin Pease are known as the Fairbanks Four. They were convicted for the October 1997 murder of John Hartman but a large segment of the Native community in Alaska contends the evidence against the four was weak.

Supporters also believe race played a factor in all aspects of the case, from the arrests to the three separate trials for the defendants. Hartman was non-Native -- Roberts, Frese and Vent are Alaska Native and Pease is a member of the Crow Tribe of Montana.

All were under the age of 21 at the time of the incident. Hartman was only 15 years old when he died.

Victor Joseph, the president of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, discusses the Fairbanks Four at the National Congress of American Indians annual convention in San Diego, California, on October 22, 2015. Photo by Indianz.Com

"These four young men have been in jail for 18 years -- 18 years -- pleading their innocence," Victor Joseph, the president of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, said at the National Congress of American Indians annual convention in San Diego, California, in October.

The case was re-examined during an unusual six-week evidentiary hearing that month. Now it's possible that they will be released as the court reconvenes tomorrow.

"Well I am just going to say the fairbanks four are getting out on Friday and charges dismissed completely," Chris Kelly, Hartman's older brother, said on Facebook yesterday. "I don't know how to explain my feelings and disbelief that this is actually real."

Get the Story:
Fairbanks Four attorney: State has contacted victim's family about possible Friday release (The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner 12/10)
Fairbanks Four could be released as soon as Friday (KTOO 12/9)
Hartman family speaks about possible deal for Fairbanks Four (KTVF 12/9)

Related Stories:
Fairbanks Four seek justice after being convicted of 1997 murder (10/27)
Mark Trahant: Alaska's reluctant pursuit of justice for Native men (10/19)
Dermot Cole: Native men still seeking justice after 18 years (08/18)
Alaska Native man finally out on parole in 1997 homicide case (6/30)
Tanana Chiefs Conference increases reward for 1997 case (04/17)
Tanana Chiefs Conference offers reward for 1997 homicide (5/24)