Charles Stuart was accused of murdering Carol DiMati Stuart, on Oct. 23, 1989, as they were returning from a birthing class at a Boston hospital. Stuart at first blamed the shooting on a fictional black man, triggering a manhunt in mainly black neighborhoods.
After Stuart's ruse failed, he leapt to his death from the Tobin Bridge.
Michael Stuart's failure to come forward and tell police what he knew about the killing drew criticism at the time. He eventually resigned in September 1998 because of personal reasons.
Now, a bill quietly approved by the state Senate and awaiting Gov. Mitt Romney's signature would allow the city of Revere to rehire Stuart, 43, when the department has an opening early next year.
The legislation, approved at the request of the Revere City Council and Mayor Thomas Ambrosino, is needed because the five-year window for rehiring has expired.
``He was a good firefighter when he was on the job,'' Revere Fire Chief Gene Doherty told the Boston Herald on Monday.
If rehired, Stuart would lose his seniority and be paid about $38,000 a year.
Investigators believe Charles Stuart fatally shot his wife in their car, then shot and wounded himself to make it appear that the couple was attacked by a gunman.
