SAVE Keith Zon Doolin in California
NEWS
11 December 2019
NEW VIDEO LAUNCH:
THE INNOCENCE CASE OF KEITH DOOLIN'S INNOCENCE
This video has been made using some of the footage from the four parts documentary-series made by French journalist Agnès Buthion: '20 years on death row'.
DO YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION REGARDING THIS CASE? IF SO, PLEASE CONTACT US
We are releasing this video with the hope that some members of the public, who may have information regarding this case, will come forward and contact us.
This request comes at a time when Keith Doolin's legal team is separately requesting that the Court direct the District Attorney to provide ALL MATERIALS regarding the case. They say:
In a complex capital case of this size, involving two separate incidents of murder
and four separate attempted murders, there would be logically be significantly more boxes of discovery furnished than what was provided in the caveat hand by the District Attorney. Indeed, a review of the discovery suggests materials were clearly missing. For example, there were no files for some key prosecution witnesses who testified.
Moreover, it is evident that files had been removed from some of the boxes as they were partially empty.
The Prosecution ('The People') has opposed this request.
2019_5-13_-_mot_re_withheld_discovery_ex_a_b.pdf | |
File Size: | 22953 kb |
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2019_10-29_-_da_opp_to_in_camera_inspection_of_discovery.pdf | |
File Size: | 226 kb |
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Who is Keith Zon Doolin?
Keith Doolin, a former long distance truck driver with no criminal record, is on death row at San Quentin Prison, California. He has been fighting fiercely for over two decades to prove his innocence. Keith, represented by Robert R. Bryan and Pamala Sayasane of San Francisco. He says:
Keith Doolin, a former long distance truck driver with no criminal record, is on death row at San Quentin Prison, California. He has been fighting fiercely for over two decades to prove his innocence. Keith, represented by Robert R. Bryan and Pamala Sayasane of San Francisco. He says:
I am innocent and do not want to be executed.
My former trial lawyer, who had a gambling addiction, committed a fraud on me, the jury and the court. He pocketed and gambled away over $50,000 of court money that he promised the judge would go to a needed investigation. Recently Mr. Bryan and Ms. Sayasane, highly successful capital defense attorneys, took over the case. They have uncovered extraordinary evidence of my innocence. We are seeking reversal of the death judgments and convictions. What happened to me was a miscarriage of justice. I want off of death row and to go home.
Case summary
Keith Doolin was convicted of murdering two prostitutes (Inez Cantu Espinoza and Peggy Ann Tucker) during separate shootings and attempting to murder four others during separate shootings. Prosecutors were able to seek the death penalty because the case involved multiple murders.
However, on May 4, 2016 his attorneys filed in the California Supreme Court a new Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus that presents astounding new evidence which exonerates him. More recently they filed a motion seeking the files of the attorney for one of the actual killers, who was convicted in a separate murder case and then committed suicide.
Keith Doolin was convicted of murdering two prostitutes (Inez Cantu Espinoza and Peggy Ann Tucker) during separate shootings and attempting to murder four others during separate shootings. Prosecutors were able to seek the death penalty because the case involved multiple murders.
However, on May 4, 2016 his attorneys filed in the California Supreme Court a new Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus that presents astounding new evidence which exonerates him. More recently they filed a motion seeking the files of the attorney for one of the actual killers, who was convicted in a separate murder case and then committed suicide.
Newly-discovered evidence establishes that Petitioner is actually innocent of murdering
Peggy Tucker and is thus entitled to a new trial.
Petitioner was represented at trial by Rudy Petilla, an attorney who was prejudicially ineffective. (...) Petilla was suspended from the practice of law on November 9, 2001. On November 19, 2004, he resigned from the Bar with charges pending. Had the lawyer conducted a semblance of a reasonable investigation on behalf of Petitioner, it would have been established that his client did not kill Ms. Tucker (...)
Petitioner’s present counsel have recently discovered new evidence that Josefina Sonia Saldana, aka Josefina Sonia Hernandez, a prosecution witness in Petitioner’s trial (RT 1662-1670), murdered Peggy Tucker whom Petitioner was convicted of killing.
Supplement to Petition for Writ of Habeas Corpus, February 2016
by Robert R. Bryan and Pamala Sayasane
Keith Doolin's legal teams have historically and repeatedly pointed to the issue of his representation at trial:
[Keith Doolin's trial lawyer] was a compulsive gambler at the time
he was representing Keith Zon Doolin". (...)
His urgent personal need for funds adversely affected his performance, in that he chose to spend on gambling the case funding which an unconflicted and competent defense attorney in a capital homicide case would unquestionably have spent on investigation and experts.
Here are the figures communicated by Keith Doolin in respect to his legal representation at trial
Original provision Final accounting
. Total Case compensation: $ 80 000 $ 80 000
(for the legal representation)
including:
. Lawyer fee: $ 20 000 $ 71 323,85
. Investigations, experts, in-lab testing, in-courts experts: $ 60 000 $ 8 676,15
(Source: Claim and order for compensation, 1996)
As a result of his gambling addiction, Keith Doolins' trial lawyer refused to make basic and necessary expenditures, in this complex case involving many victims and witnesses.
What a former prosecutor has said
Charles Dreiling, a former prosecutor and then head of the Fresno Public Defender's Office considered Keith Doolin's trial lawyer as a "charlatan, all show and no substance" who was "not qualified to handle a complex case" like Doolin's.
Charles Dreiling, a former prosecutor and then head of the Fresno Public Defender's Office considered Keith Doolin's trial lawyer as a "charlatan, all show and no substance" who was "not qualified to handle a complex case" like Doolin's.
What his mother says
Donna Doolin-Larsen, Keith’s mother, since the outset has been the driving force in saving him. She recently said:
Donna Doolin-Larsen, Keith’s mother, since the outset has been the driving force in saving him. She recently said:
- I am very proud of Keith as he remains strong after all of these years on death row.
- He is optimistic that his new lawyers will prove his innocence and he will be freed.
What his supporters say
Sally, former para legal, Californian citizen, has said:
Sally, former para legal, Californian citizen, has said:
When you spend 2 1/2 hours a week in a cage with another human being as I do with Keith,
and there is nothing to do but communicate, it is amazing what you can learn about that person. After visiting Keith weekly for over four years, (...) I have watched Keith get one disappointment from the courts after another and have heard him go on about the "bonus" in his favor through that disappointment. He always sees the good side of everything through it all. I don't think I could do it. After all he's been through, he is positive, uplifting, giving, supportive, kind, accepting, funny, open... For me, that makes Keith extraordinary!
Keith's friend, Joyce, has added:
In the four years I have known Keith, I have come to respect and admire him tremendously.
After 20 years on Death Row, facing legal misconduct and many other hurdles, his humanity is still completely intact. He has educated himself on the law and focuses on the positive in all matters. After delving into his case, it is clear to me that he is wrongfully convicted. Keith is a strong, kind and intelligent man who does not belong in prison.
Find out more
Determined mother went back to law school to try to save her son from death row and prove his innocence', Rosie Hopegood, The Mirror, 08 April 2018
California death row inmate's story of innocence will be shown in an unlikely place, by Pablo Lopez, Fresno Bee, 18 February 2018
Donna Doolin-Larsen: le combat d'une mère pour sortir son fils du couloir de la mort, by Sylvia De Habreu, Telestar (France) 13 February 2018
Fresno lawyer’s secret could lead to new trial for death row inmate, by Pablo Lopez, Fresno Bee, March 25, 2016
Convicted Killer seeks DNA testing, The Fresno Bee, Yahoo group, May 2003
California death row inmate's story of innocence will be shown in an unlikely place, by Pablo Lopez, Fresno Bee, 18 February 2018
Donna Doolin-Larsen: le combat d'une mère pour sortir son fils du couloir de la mort, by Sylvia De Habreu, Telestar (France) 13 February 2018
Fresno lawyer’s secret could lead to new trial for death row inmate, by Pablo Lopez, Fresno Bee, March 25, 2016
Convicted Killer seeks DNA testing, The Fresno Bee, Yahoo group, May 2003
Keith Zon Doolin from ages 13-14 through 19-20
Keith Doolin #K13400
CSP -- San Quentin
4 EY -- 25
San Quentin, CA 94974
CSP -- San Quentin
4 EY -- 25
San Quentin, CA 94974