SAVE James Anderson in California
"I haven't lived here, I've been here. I've existed. Survived.
There's only three or four guys who have been here longer than I have."
February 2018
New publication with the art of James Anderson in a new "Propter Nos" edition from www.trueleappress.com
New publication with the art of James Anderson in a new "Propter Nos" edition from www.trueleappress.com
Who is James Anderson
James Anderson is an artist, finding freedom in art, which has been exhibited in numerous art galleries, including the San Francisco main public library. He says:
James Anderson is an artist, finding freedom in art, which has been exhibited in numerous art galleries, including the San Francisco main public library. He says:
As to how my incarceration impacts my paintings,
I think that my efforts to draw the viewers into my work are intensified,
and as there is much that I am not in a position to actually do, I try to inspire the viewers to think a little deeper than they usually would, as there is much more to reality than most people would normally think or believe.” Read more
See the presentation of his work presentation and display locations in document below
| presentation_of_j_anderson_artistic_work_.pdf |
Case summary
On March 4, 1979, Fred A., his sister, Sheila A., and her boyfriend, petitioner James Phillip Anderson, were traveling to Las Vegas, Nevada, when they stopped along the 10 freeway to assist Louise Flanagan and her granddaughter, Donna Coselman, whose car had become disabled. Later that day, Fred spoke with a police officer and told him that Anderson may have harmed Flanagan and Coselman in an orange grove not far from where their car had broken down. A later search of that orange grove revealed the bodies of Flanagan and Coselman. Both had been strangled.
The same day Fred reported the crimes, the police found Anderson and Sheila walking along a highway near the orange grove; they were promptly arrested. At the police station, Anderson and Sheila made separate statements. While their accounts of what happened on March 4 differed, both told the police that Anderson never harmed the women, but Fred did.
James Philip Anderson was sentenced to death for the 1979 robbery murders of Donna Coselman and Louise Flanagan. He has been on death row for over 35 years. He has always maintained his innocence.
The same day Fred reported the crimes, the police found Anderson and Sheila walking along a highway near the orange grove; they were promptly arrested. At the police station, Anderson and Sheila made separate statements. While their accounts of what happened on March 4 differed, both told the police that Anderson never harmed the women, but Fred did.
James Philip Anderson was sentenced to death for the 1979 robbery murders of Donna Coselman and Louise Flanagan. He has been on death row for over 35 years. He has always maintained his innocence.
Destiny, James Anderson
What his defense says
In relation to key witness Fred A.
"At James Philip Anderson's trial, Fred A. was the prosecution's main witness. His testimony was central to Anderson's convictions. (...)
Fred’s testimony was riddled with inconsistencies. (Tr1 RT 79-307; 958-71.) On the stand, Fred also contradicted many of his prior statements, adding or changing various details. (See, e.g., Tr1 RT 159, 164-76, 180-87, 192-95, 230-32, 273-75, 278-79, 287-88, 619-29, 818-27.) There was also significant circumstantial evidence linking Fred to the murders, such as the piece of rope found in his jacket."
[Note: Whist a Criminal Supervising Judge remembered many aspects of the Anderson case very well in 1997, he mentioned having no recollection of any polygraph examination administered to Fred A. The District Attorney involved in the case had, likewise, no such recollection].
In relation to key witness Fred A.
"At James Philip Anderson's trial, Fred A. was the prosecution's main witness. His testimony was central to Anderson's convictions. (...)
Fred’s testimony was riddled with inconsistencies. (Tr1 RT 79-307; 958-71.) On the stand, Fred also contradicted many of his prior statements, adding or changing various details. (See, e.g., Tr1 RT 159, 164-76, 180-87, 192-95, 230-32, 273-75, 278-79, 287-88, 619-29, 818-27.) There was also significant circumstantial evidence linking Fred to the murders, such as the piece of rope found in his jacket."
[Note: Whist a Criminal Supervising Judge remembered many aspects of the Anderson case very well in 1997, he mentioned having no recollection of any polygraph examination administered to Fred A. The District Attorney involved in the case had, likewise, no such recollection].
In relation to co-defendant Sheila A.
Even the court acknowledged that Fred "may be the one" who killed the victims (Tr1 RT 49). Despite saying this, the court allowed Fred - the State's main witness - to speak with Sheila - Anderson's co-defendant - in a clandestine, unsupervised meeting (Tr1 RT 99). Fred and Sheila's attorneys were there; Anderson was not. (Tr1 RT 99). Following this meeting, Fred and Sheila's stories became aligned, which effectively resulted in the prosecution and Anderson's co-defendant teaming up together to convict him. (...) Habeas relief vacating Anderson's convictions is warranted.
(Case: 2:03 - cv - 07948 - JST, filed 08/06/2013)
Even the court acknowledged that Fred "may be the one" who killed the victims (Tr1 RT 49). Despite saying this, the court allowed Fred - the State's main witness - to speak with Sheila - Anderson's co-defendant - in a clandestine, unsupervised meeting (Tr1 RT 99). Fred and Sheila's attorneys were there; Anderson was not. (Tr1 RT 99). Following this meeting, Fred and Sheila's stories became aligned, which effectively resulted in the prosecution and Anderson's co-defendant teaming up together to convict him. (...) Habeas relief vacating Anderson's convictions is warranted.
(Case: 2:03 - cv - 07948 - JST, filed 08/06/2013)
"Axxception", James Anderson
What James Anderson says
[About Sheila and Fred A.]
In short, Sheila A. had informed EVERYONE (police detectives, county jail inmates etc. that I DID NOT commit any crime (as the Habeas Corpus page states), but immediately AFTER this arranged "meeting" I became the guilty person. This was arranged in the "middle of the trial" (they knew their case was very weak) and there was not a court reporter or stenographer present-nor was the judge present (in his own court room at the time of the meeting that he arranged. From what I understand, Fred and Sheila were seated at the prosecution table in the courtroom while their attorneys sat back in the courtroom gallery (out of hearing distance from Fred and Sheila), which means that only Fred and Sheila know what was said.
[About another key witness, Deborah B.]
The court "REFUSED" to allow "The Jury" to be informed of [the Prosecution key witness] mental state (this includes her having given birth to four different imaginary children (...). Ironically, while [she] invented or dreamed the four children described on the prosecution's cassette taped interviews, she actually had given birth to two children, but they were taken away from her by the State of New Hampshire in 1987 or 1988 as a result of her sexual abuse. Again, the jury was NOT informed of these facts. (These documents are accessible through the state of New Hampshire Child Protection Services.)
Guarneri, James Anderson
What the media say
Anderson maintains that he was framed-up by the actual killer who he says is Fred A. Anderson says Fred A., a white man, was angered by the interracial relationship between Fred A.' sister, Sheila and James P. Anderson. In addition Anderson states that Fred A. had the additional motive to frame him because Anderson had just found out about Fred A.'s sexual assault of a 9-year old girl. (...)
A crucial piece of police evidence does back up Anderson's claim that it was Fred Anders who committed the crime, a piece of the murder weapon was found in Fred A.'s jacket pocket. That section of the murder weapon was a 3 to 4-foot piece of rope that forensically attached to the rope used to hang Louise Flanagan. Also found in Fred A.'s pocket was a knife. The prosecution never answered what this was doing in Fred A.'s pocket.
Read more:
Death Row Artist James P. Anderson -
A Case Of Reasonable Doubt By STEVE ARGUE
A crucial piece of police evidence does back up Anderson's claim that it was Fred Anders who committed the crime, a piece of the murder weapon was found in Fred A.'s jacket pocket. That section of the murder weapon was a 3 to 4-foot piece of rope that forensically attached to the rope used to hang Louise Flanagan. Also found in Fred A.'s pocket was a knife. The prosecution never answered what this was doing in Fred A.'s pocket.
Read more:
Death Row Artist James P. Anderson -
A Case Of Reasonable Doubt By STEVE ARGUE
Dimensions
What his friend Louis says
James has been a resident on Death Row at San Quentin State Prison in California since 1979. He was charged with the strangling murders of two women, a crime he did not commit. I know this not only because he says he is innocent, but also because I have studied the case backwards and forwards for years. His attorney during the trial phase proudly stated that he believed in the death penalty. How then could he professionally or responsibly defend James in a capital case? He also refused to interview persons at the time who stated he was innocent. Nor did he demand that the police keep the forensic evidence intact.
James and I have been in direct contact by mail, phone, and personal visit for probably about 12+ years. I visit him almost annually, and am planning to do so again this Spring with a colleague.
James is a very progressive and hip individual who reads everything, listens daily to Pacifica and other news radio, and is equivalent to a 'jailhouse lawyer'. I sort of compare him to Mumia Abu-Jamal, not only based on their shared innocence, but also based on his sharp analysis and understanding of mass incarceration, and a myriad of both national and international issues.
James is also an accomplished artist, painter, and he designs and creates etched dominoe pendants, some of which are personalised with dates of birth, lucky numbers, birth numbers etc.
Etched dominoes pendants by James Anderson
(From left to right: Palestinian Flag; Funk; Scales of Injustice; Amnesty International; New World, Old World)
(From left to right: Palestinian Flag; Funk; Scales of Injustice; Amnesty International; New World, Old World)
James Anderson's work and case is part of the Book Tears from Heaven, Voices from Hell, on Amazon.com
(Chapter 9, "Innocents on Death row")
(Chapter 9, "Innocents on Death row")
Find out more
The Art of James Anderson, www.jamespanderson.com
The execution of Troy Anthony Davis, by Louis Wolf, 3 October 2011
Death row inmate and artist James Anderson, blog
Visit to San Quentin by Peter Rashkin
A Case of Reasonable Doubt by Steve Argue (April 2002)
SUPREME INJUSTICE by James Anderson
26 years...and counting! by James Anderson (Aug '05)
People v Anderson, 2001 (Court Opinion)
Limit on Death Penalty is overruled in California, NY Times, 1987, by AP
Find out more about his art here
INTERVIEWS with JAMES ANDERSON, The dagger (text and Real Audio)
The Art of James Anderson, www.jamespanderson.com
The execution of Troy Anthony Davis, by Louis Wolf, 3 October 2011
Death row inmate and artist James Anderson, blog
Visit to San Quentin by Peter Rashkin
A Case of Reasonable Doubt by Steve Argue (April 2002)
SUPREME INJUSTICE by James Anderson
26 years...and counting! by James Anderson (Aug '05)
People v Anderson, 2001 (Court Opinion)
Limit on Death Penalty is overruled in California, NY Times, 1987, by AP
Find out more about his art here
INTERVIEWS with JAMES ANDERSON, The dagger (text and Real Audio)
With his grand daughter
James P. Anderson
P.O. Box C-11400 . 4EB51
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin CA 94974
USA
P.O. Box C-11400 . 4EB51
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin CA 94974
USA
