SAVE Innocent prisoners
RE-SENTENCED TO LIFE
8300 prisoners have been sentenced to death in the USA between 1973 and 2011. Nearly half of them (47.5%) have been removed from death row, for example because their sentence may have been overturned or commuted. One example: John Curtis Dewberry, re-sentenced to life as he was a juvenile at the time of the crime. He maintains his innocence. Read more
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YOUTH AT RISK
Most offenders will turn away from crime after the age of 25 - Should they be at all sentenced to death or be given a 2nd chance?
Most offenders will turn away from crime after the age of 25 - Should they be at all sentenced to death or be given a 2nd chance?
ISSUE: YOUTH OFFENDING
Clinton Lee Young (TX) - Although he has done mistakes in his life as a juvenile, he maintains he was wrongfully convicted in the murder that led him to death row. He was 18 years 4 months old at the time of the crime. He'd like to have a chance to rebuild his life. He is supported by S.A.I.L., a French association. Read more |
FALSE ACCUSATION
Perjury, false accusation is present in nearly 60% of wrongful convictions
EXECUTION STAYED (2015)
William Kuenzel (AL) maintains his COMPLETE INNOCENCE. Three (3) former district attorneys "who collectively possess over 100 years of experience prosecuting criminal matters" say: Kuenzel’s new evidence decimates the prosecution’s case - William is supported by his British wife, Jane and his friends. Read more David Lynn Carpenter (TX) was convicted on the basis of an anonymous phone call six years after a murder happened. He has always maintained his innocence. He says: I just want to get out of here and see and support my children and do what a father should do. I miss them terribly. - Read more |
SELF DEFENCE
Self-defence is a form of "justifiable homicide" by the law
EXECUTION STAYED (FEBRUARY 2016)
Michael Lambrix (FL) has been denied clemency despite the hope from his friends and family that he would be granted a full clemency review. He maintains he acted in self defence. He is supported by Dr J. Arriens, founder of the oldest pen pal organisation in Europe. Read more |
DNA TESTING
DNA testing can only prove innocence in 5 - 10 % of criminal cases - Read more
Tony Egbuna Ford (TX)' s lawyer came to his case through the Innocence Project, and has worked tirelessly to persuade the appeals court to grant Tony the testing that could save his life. Tony needs funds to prove his innocence. - Read more |
Darlie Lynn Routier (TX) is a mother in Texas who was sentenced to death for the murder of her 5-year-old son, Damon. Her second son was also killed. Her third (living) son is today fighting leukemia. Her family and supporters are convinced of her complete innocence. Read more |
6TH EXECUTION DATE STAYED (2015) Thomas Douglas Arthur (AL) has been on death row for 32 years. He has always maintained his complete innocence. He is now 73. After 3 trials, 6 execution dates, he keeps fighting to prove his innocence. - Read more APPEAL FOR FULL EXONERATION, NOT JUST SENTENCE COMMUTED (2016)
Kenneth Clair has been fighting for his innocence from death row for over 30 years. His sentence was recently commuted to Life Without Option of Parole. However, the investigator of Kenneth who has been working on his case for years wants to ensure that Kenneth gets exonerated. He has the support of the international community. Read more |
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Over 40% of people on death row are black; nearly 60% (57%) are not white. Read more
CLEMENCY PETITION FILED (FEBRUARY 2016) Kevin Cooper (CAL) Since his imprisonment, he has become active in writing letters from prison protesting his innocence. He is also a death penalty activist. His case has been recently heard at the IACHR - Read more |
EXECUTION STAYED (MARCH 2015)
Rodney Reed (TX) was convicted of the rape and murder of white victim Stacey Stites in 1998. Reed’s lawyers argue that he is completely innocent and that S. Stites was murdered by somebody else, most likely her (white) fiance at the time. R. Reed is represented by the Innocence Project - Read more |
FORENSIC ISSUES
Unreliable or Improper Forensic science has been used in nearly 10% of wrongful convictions. Learn more here and here
EXONERATED IN ONE CASE OUT OF 2 (APRIL 2015)
ISSUE: FLAWED HAIR FORENSICS Willie Jerome Manning (MS) has been convicted of two double murders. The charges have just been dropped (April 2015) in one of the two cases (for a double homicide in 1993) - The remaining case relies on proven flawed hair forensics. W. Manning is supported by the Innocence Project - Read more |
ISSUE: BALLISTIC EVIDENCE
Charles Mamou (TX) Charles Mamou is the father of 5 daughters. At age 21, feeling the weight of responsibilities, he engaged in drug dealing activities. He has always maintained his innocence in the kidnapping and murder of Mary Carmouche, in the context of drug deal gone bad. Read more |
ISSUE: EXPERT DIAGNOSIS OF TIME OF CRIME
Willie Minor has been convicted of the murder of his baby. He maintains his innocence,and despite a recently diagnosed cancer, keeps fighting for his life. Was there a rush to judgment? His lawyers contend that new scientific evidence shows he could not have committed the murder. His family and friends believes in his innocence. Read more |
SHAKEN BABY SYNDROME (SBS)
Numerous judges have concluded that SBS cannot sustain a criminal conviction.
Jeffrey Havard (MS) is the loved son of an American family, with no prior criminal conviction. he was sentenced to death for the murder of his girlfriend’s baby. Today, national experts, a retired judge, supporters, his lawyer support the view: Chloe’s death was a tragic accident, not a murder. Read more |
JURY ISSUE
Rogers LaCaze (Louisiana) was sentenced to death along a police officer for the triple murder in a restaurant in Louisiana. He got a new trial because of a serious jury issue at trial. However, that order for a new trial has now been reversed. Read more |
CIRCUMSTANCIAL EVIDENCE
Rob Will (TX) was sentenced to death for the murder of a Deputy Officer. He has always maintained his innocence. According to his lawyers, forensic and physical evidence show that his co-defendant may be the real culprit. Today, Rob is supported by citizens in Texas and around the world. Read more |
EYE WITNESS IDENTIFICATION
Eye witness misidentification is present in 45% of cases of wrongful convictions - Read more
James McWilliams (AL) has spent 26 years on death row for a crime in which he has always maintained his innocence. He is the son of a US army officer who served on a US air base in Germany - he has spent many years of his childhood in Europe. He is supported by Lutte Pour la Justice - Read more
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CONVICTION QUASHED (2013) Jimmy Dennis (PEN) was a 21 years old aspiring singer when he was arrested and sentenced to death His conviction and death sentence was quashed on August 2013. Yet he remains to this date in prison. His supporters in Canada and around the world are calling for his immediate release. Read more
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ISSUE: PRO SE REPRESENTATION
MORATORIUM ON THE DEATH PENALTY (2015)
Larry Rush's Innocence Project (PEN) Larry Rush is a jailhouse lawyer fighting to prove his innocence and help the legal representation of other prisoners. He would like to make it possible for Pennsylvania Capital Case Prisoners to obtain the legal material and publications that will help them stay up-to-date with the law - Read more |