Playing of Rap Song Results in New Murder Trial

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071221/NEWS01/712210416

Finally Free

Eric Volz is free again.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22361943/

Free Eric Volz...A Success?

The story of Eric Volz has captured the attention of thousands all over America, if not the world. Recently the Nicaraguan Appeals Court has voted in favor of Eric's innocence, however, he is not yet free. The trial judge must sign the release papers, but has yet to do so. Read more of Eric's story below.


http://www.friendsofericvolz.com/

Interview with Demond Brown

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071214/VIDEO01/71214045&SearchID=73302665951166&GID=va3tVpGmUgI7gml8/bqaoyyB7MLUUcp1hkgUEHSyzDM%3D

WWII Vet Receives Just $725 for 15 Months of Wrongful Imprisonment

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/12/12/soldier.back.pay/index.html

Demond Brown To Be Released

In an earlier post, you were informed of a young Kentucky man, Demond Brown, convicted of killing two people in a traffic accident. On Governor Fletcher's last day, he issued a commutation and Brown will be released from prison.


From the Courier Journal:

The three commutations that Fletcher issued yesterday will result in the release of only one of the inmates: Demond Brown, an African American who was convicted in the fatal Hopkinsville traffic accident.
Brown was convicted by an all-white jury in the deaths of a white woman and her daughter, drawing protests from members of the black community.
In June 2005 the state Supreme Court upheld Brown's 2002 conviction, marking the first time the high court had sustained a wanton-murder conviction of a driver who ran a red light but was not drinking, on drugs or speeding excessively.
Jim Carter, the Hopkinsville attorney who has represented Brown, was floored last night when a Courier-Journal reporter called him to tell him that his client had been pardoned.
"Bingo! That is wonderful!" Carter exclaimed. "I was hoping (Fletcher) would do it, but I had about given up."
Carter said he had talked with associates in Frankfort about the case in hopes that they would talk with the governor, but he had not made a formal request to Fletcher.
"This is correcting a terrible wrong," he said.

Cocaine Sentencing Reduction Applied Retroactively

The reduction in sentencing guidelines for crack cocaine, it has been decided, may be applied retroactively. Some 3,800 inmates could be freed up to a year after the guidelines is enforced in March.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22203648/

Another Freed By DNA

A Georgia man has been cleared in a 1979 rape thanks to DNA testing done on hairs found at the scene.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22208000/

Aaron Hardin

• A young man who shot and killed his younger brother over a video game when he was just 15 and his younger brother was 13 was found guilty of wanton murder and sentenced to 22 years. He was released after serving a short period of time in a juvenile facility. After violating the terms of his parole twice, Aaron Hardin got in trouble again when he was charged with burglary and assault. See below for a detailed following of the story by WLKY news.
  
• http://www.wlky.com/news/8833846/detail.html
  
• March 9, 2006: Prosecutor Wants Aaron Hardin Back Behind Bars
• March 3, 2006: Troubled Hardin Arraigned In Court Friday
• March 2, 2006: Aaron Hardin In Trouble Again
• January 11, 2006: Now A Free Man, Hardin Says He Might Not Be 'Perfect Angel'
• January 3, 2006: Man Who Killed His Brother In 1999 Leaves Prison
• December 27, 2005: Man Who Killed Brother In 1999 Will Be Free On Sunday
• December 16, 2005: Judge To Decide If Hardin To Be Released From Prison
• December 15, 2005: Man Who Killed Brother Seeks Probation ... Again
• September 2, 2003: Hardin Asks For Shock Probation ... Again
• February 5, 2003: Prosecutor: Hardin Smoked Pot After Release, Not In Jail
• February 3, 2003: Hardin Skips Morning Court Appearance
• January 29, 2003: Hardin Admits Smoking Pot In Jail
• October 31, 2002: Hardin Sent Back To Jail For 90 Days
• October 30, 2002: Hardin Awaits Revocation Hearing
• August 26, 2002: Shock Probation Hearing Set For Hardin
• August 21, 2002: Boy Who Killed Brother In Trouble Again
• October 27, 2001: Convicted Teen Denied Shock Probation
• October 23, 2001: Convicted Teen Pleads For Release
• October 22, 2001: Teen Could Be Released Today
• February 16, 2001: Teen Avoids Prison Sentence

Mary Winkler Regains Supervised Visitation Rights with her 3 Children

Mary Winkler, who was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in the death of her husband, will be allowed to have supervised visitation with her 3 young children. A judge had granted her this right in September, but all visits were put on hold while her husband's parents appealed the ruling. An appellate court determined that the supervised visitation could proceed as ordered in September. Ms. Winkler is trying to regain custody of her daughters from their grandparents.

http://www.wsmv.com/news/14705705/detail.html

Off-Duty Cop ONLY Charged with DUI for Crash that Killed Two and Injured One

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1123/dwi_ap.html

Woman Gets 15 days in Jail for Name of Teddy Bear

A British teacher in Sudan was sentenced to 15 days in jail for allowing her class of 7 year old students name a teddy bear Muhammad. The teacher, Gillian Gibbons, could have received 40 lashes or up to 6 months in prison. Mrs. Gibbons will also be deported as part of her sentence.

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1129/bear_blasphemy_ap.html

Dan Porter

A Missouri man, already serving a 38 year prison term for kidnapping his two young children, was charged in their murder after their remains were found in a shallow grave. The murder occurred over three years earlier, but the bodies were only recently found after the father notified authorities of where to find the remains. Mr. Porter has said he took his kids to terrorize his now ex-wife. He had no explanation for killing his children.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/11/20/dad.charged.ap/index.html

Polish Man Dies at Canadian Airport

A Polish man was tasered by Canadian police after acting erratically when he could not find his mom. The man spoke only Russian and had never flown before. He died shortly after being tasered. Video shot by another traveler in the airport shows most of the incident before the man's death. A coroner's inquest has been ordered and police are investigating the event as well.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/wn_report/2007/11/15/2007-11-15_questions_arise_after_polish_man_tasered.html

A Stapler Used in a Robbery . . .Only in Kentucky!

A man wearing a ski mask successfully used a stapler to rob a convenience store in Ashland, Kentucky. The defendant was able to get away with $175 for a short period of time before being arrested by police.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21833856/

Another Execution Halted

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/11/15/florida.execution.ap/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Thousands Could be Set Free

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21763002/

Khiel Coppin

An 18 year old boy was killed by New York officers this weekend after he approached them with what they thought was a gun. The object the boy had in his hand was actually a hairbrush, but the teen had a history of mental illness. Police were called to the scene after the boy and his mother got into an argument. In the 911 call made by his mother, you can hear the boy shouting that he had a gun.

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1113/hairbrush_ap.html
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/13/ny.shooting/index.html

Update: Carol Anne Gotbaum Accidentally Strangled Herself While in Police Custody

http://www.abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=3843488&page=1

Drew Peterson

An Illinois police officer was officially named a suspect for a potential homicide investigation in the disappearance of his young wife. Drew Peterson's former wife's body will also be exhumed so the cause of her untimely death can be investigated further. Kathleen Savio's body was found in 2004 in her bathtub. The coroner ruled her death an accident at the time, theorizing that she hit her head and then drown. When her body was found there was no water in the bathtub, but investigators thought by the time her body was found the water had drained out. Peterson did not comment on the ongoing investigation.

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1109/police_officer_wives_ap.html

Michael Peterson

The conviction and life sentence of novelist Michael Peterson were upheld yesterday by the North Carolina Supreme Court. Peterson was convicted in 2003 of killing his wife after she was found dead at the bottom of the staircase in their shared home in 2001. He had argued that evidence obtained from his computer during the course of the investigation was improper and should not have been used to aid in his conviction. The court disagreed and determined that other evidence used to convict was sufficient apart from the tainted computer records.

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1109/novelist_murder_ap.html

Last of the "Jena 6" to be arrainged - Set for trial in March

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1107/jena_six_ap.html

New York's Oldest Prisoner to be Set Free

Charles Friedgood, 89, is set to be released from prison in December after he served over 30 years for killing his wife in 1975. The ex-surgeon has terminal cancer and was denied parole several times before this latest development. He was sentenced to serve 25 years to life for injecting his wife with a lethal dose of a painkiller.

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1105/hate_ap.html

Update on Vicious Attack in West Virigina

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1105/hate_ap.html

Darren Mack

Darren Mack who was on trial for the murder of his estranged wife and the shooting of their divorce attorney, pled guilty today to the charge of murder. His defense was to begin presenting their case today. He will be eligible for parole after serving 20 years of the life sentence he received under the terms of the plea agreement. Mack also acknowledged his part in the shooting of the judge under the terms of the agreement. He will be sentenced on January 17.

http://www.courttv.com/trials/mack/110507_plea_ctv.html

Amanda Smith

A mother who claimed a man carjacked her vehicle in August and smothered her son was charged with her son's murder. Authorities knew the mother was lying and her relatives are not surprised by her arrest. Amanda Smith is being held at the county detention center without bond. http://www.wyff4.com/news/14515260/detail.html

Hard to believe . . .

Do millionaires really rob banks? Robert Christie, aka the Waddling Bandit, is accused of robbing over 20 banks over the course of two years in both Oregon and Washington. Mr. Christie has property valued at over 4 million dollars. He is considered a flight risk due to his sizeable assets and was ordered to remain jailed until his next court date.

http://www.kptv.com/news/14479231/detail.html

Another Execution Stopped at the Last Minute

http://www.wapt.com/news/14447473/detail.html

Paige Grable

A young girl who killed a classmate while driving drunk last fall is set to be released from prison this Friday. Paige Grable has been serving her sentence since May of this year. Her original release date was August of 2008.

http://www.wlky.com/news/14462271/detail.html

Justin Smith

A young man from Radcliff, Kentucky was arrested last week on charges of murder, providing false information to obtain a operator's permit, and failing to properly use a car seat following an accident in late June where his daughter was killed. Justin Smith's 5 month old daughter was thrown from the car during the accident and died as a result. At the time of the accident, officers determined that speed and wet conditions on the road were likely the contributors to the accident. Officers also allege that Mr. Smith improperly put his daughter in her car seat by allowing the seat to face forward in the car. Many in the small community are upset by these charges and feel Mr. Smith has suffered enough by losing his young daughter in this tragedy. He is scheduled to appear in court again on November 13.

http://www.newsenterpriseonline.com/articles/2007/10/28/news/news01.txt

Genarlow Wilson - Finally Free!!!

After spending more than two years in prison for having oral sex with a 15 year old girl when he was 17, Genarlow Wilson was finally released from prison today when the Georgia Supreme Court ruled that his sentence of 10 years amounted to cruel and unusual punishment.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/26/wilson.freed/index.html

Willie "Pete" Williams

After serving 22 years (half his life) in a Georgia prison for a crime he did not commit, Willie "Pete" Williams was finally exonerated. Mr. Williams was convicted of rape, kidnapping, and aggravated sodomy of a woman at the age of 23 in 1985. The testimony of three eyewitnesses who claimed to recognize Williams as the attacker was the key reason for his conviction. Mr. Williams is 1 of 208 people to be successfully freed through the tireless efforts of the Innocence Project.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/25/innocence.project/index.html

Back to Prison

A fugitive was arrested 28 years after he escaped from a New Jersey prison at his home in Philadelphia. The man is now 75 years old. At the time of his escape, he had served 4 months of a 4-10 year sentence on drug charges.

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1024/fugitive_found_ap.html

New Charges Added in OJ Simpson Case

http://www.courttv.com/trials/oj-simpson/102407_ap.html

Scott Speer

An Ohio man was found guilty of aggravated vehicular homicide and involuntary manslaughter in the death of his friend. Scott Speer had been charged with aggravated murder and murder, but the jury was able to find him guily of the lesser charges. Speer's friend went overboard while the two were out on Lake Erie back in 2002. Prosecutors alleged that Speer either pushed his friend off the boat or drove too fast while his friend was on the boat to cause him to fall off. The victim's family believed that he was getting ready to testify against Speer in his divorce trial. Speer was allowed to remain free on bond until his sentencing on October 31st where he could receive a sentence of probation.

http://www.courttv.com/trials/speer/102407_ctv.html

Megan Williams

The 20 year old black woman who was held captive for at least a week in West Virginia by six white men and women spoke extensively about her experience today. Megan Williams was forced to eat rat feces and was raped numerous times while being tortured by the group. Due to pending litigation, all the horrific details of the victim's experience have not been revealed. Currently, all six could face life in prison on charges of rape and kidnapping. The victim and her family hope the crime is prosecuted as a hate crime.
http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1023/woman_tortured_ap.html

Not a Morning Person . . .

A man beat his girlfriend's 2 year old son because he was not "a morning person." The child suffered several bruises on his face and body and was diagnosed with bleeding around the brain. As a result, the judge ordered the Defendant to undergo psychological and psychiatric treatment. He will be sentenced sometime in December and could face up to 20 years.

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1022/morning_ap.html

Executions Halted

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1022/executions_ap.html

Federal Authorities Will Review Tragic Boot Camp Death

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/13/bootcamp.death.ap/index.html

This is just awful

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5idyLoqqS9X9NPwBW4nRtunEfJ0MgD8S82I400

Cursing at Toliet = Jail Time

A Scranton, Pennsylvania woman was cited for disorderly conduct when she cursed at her overflowing toliet. Her profanities could be heard through an open window by a city police officer. As a result of the charge the lady could face up to 90 days in jail!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21334238/

Execution Stopped With Minutes to Spare

Nevada halted an execution today 90 minutes before it was to take place. In light of the Supreme Court's decision to evaluate the method of execution by lethal injection, several states have halted their impending executions. The condemned inmnate did not desire to have his case appealed and was supposedly "ready to die," but the ACLU filed a petition to have the execution stopped.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/16/nevada.execution.ap/index.html

Never serve drinks to underage kids . . .

A homemaker with no prior criminal record was sentenced to two years for serving alcohol to underage drinkers at her home in Virigina.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19187758/

OJ Simpson Co-D to Testify

Today it was announced that a Defendant in the OJ Simpson armed robbery saga will testify against OJ as well as the other defendnats in the case. Charles Cashmore has agreed to plead guilty to a felony charge and will likely receive a lighter sentence in exchange for his cooperation with authorities.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/15/o.j.simpson.ap/index.html

Acquitted

The former guards at a Florida boot camp were acquitted today on charges of manslaughter in the death of 14 year old Martin Lee Anderson. Guards denied any wrongdoing throughout the trial despite the fact that they were caught on camera dragging, kicking, and beating the young boy after he was unable to finish a mandatory run.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/12/bootcamp.death.ap/index.html

Mychal Bell To Spend 18 Months in Juvenile Facility

Mychal Bell, one of the members of the "Jena 6," was ordered back to a juvenile facility after being released on $45,000 bail on September 27th. After a two day closed juvenile court proceeding, the judge found that Bell had violated his probation for earlier juvenile offenses. He is now to serve 18 months in a juvenile facility. The decision will appealed.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/11/bell.jail/index.html

Jail time for feeding the homeless?

A trial was held this week in Florida to determine if a man willfully violated a municipal ordinance which forbids the public from feeding the homeless. The ordinance was enacted to prevent the congestion of homeless people in public parks. The man was found not guilty.

http://www.wesh.com/news/14300798/detail.html

Another Wrongful Imprisonment

After serving 12 years in a Texas prison for a crime he did not commit, a man was released yesterday. Ronald Taylor is the third man to be released because of problems with the Houston Police Department's Crime Lab. Mr. Taylor intends to try to fix the justice system that put him away. His first stop after being released was City Hall to speak to the city council concerning the wrongful imprisonment of others.

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1010/released_ap.html

But they will give 7 months to a lady who shoots her husband in the back . . .

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21191119/

Floyd Lee Brown

A developmentally disabled individual was held for 14 years after he was found incompetent to stand trial for murder and robbery. A judge finally ordered him to be released, following years of family, friends, and lawyers fighting for his release. Evidence that prosecutors say supports his guilt has now disappeared and his lawyers claim the confession they obtained from him was bogus. Floyd Lee Brown was held at a mental health hospital during his ordeal.

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1009/released_ap.html

Tragedy Unfolds

Over a week after Taylor Bradford was shot, three people were arrested in connection with his murder. The University of Memphis football player tried to drive after being shot and eventually crashed his car into a tree. More arrests are expected in the case.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/08/memphis.university.shooting/index.html

This is why you check social security numbers . . .

Marvin Lopez went to the Orange County Courthouse to pay traffic tickets and ended up in jail on outstanding warrants. Mr. Lopez spent 37 days in jail for crimes he did not commit. Another man who went by the alias of Marvin Lopez was the actual culprit and the mistake was finally noted after 37 days. Mr. Lopez is now threatening to sue Orange County unless they pay a substantial amount of money for this injustice.
http://www.wftv.com/news/14279010/detail.html

Sen. Larry Craig

A judge denied Sen. Larry Craig's motion to set aside his plea of guilty yesterday. His guilty plea stemmed from charges filed after an exchange between the senator and a police officer in a Minneapolis airport bathroom. Pressure is mounting in his homestate of Idaho for the senator to give up his seat.
http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1004/craig_ap.html

Who would steal the newlywed's wedding gifts?

A minister stands accused of stealing giftcards from a couple on their wedding day. Kitty and Shawn Sonnenschein had requested gift cards from their friends as wedding gifts, but when all the guests left their wedding, they only had three gift cards. Circumstances eventually led them to believe the minister they found online stole the gift cards. Surveillance video showed the minister purchasing items at Home Depot with gift cards that were meant for the couple. Police arrested the minister on a charge of second-degree theft.

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/1003/wedding_theft_ap.html

OJ Simpson

OJ Simpson was ordered by a judge to hand over a Rolex watch and other assets in order to satisfy the civil judgment where OJ was found liable in the death of Ron Goldman and Nicole Simpson. The items will be auctioned off and the proceeds will be given to Fred Goldman.

http://www.courttv.com/trials/oj-simpson/100207_rolex_ap.html

A 10 year old killer?

In a small Ohio town, a young 10 year old boy stands accused of setting a fatal house fire that killed his mother, sister, and three young children. Yesterday, the young boy was released to the custody of his grandmother. The boy has denied that he is responsible for the deaths.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/10/01/arson.child/index.html

Carol Ann Gotbaum

A 45-year-old mother of three died in police custody at Phoenix's Sky Harbor International Airport on Friday. Carol Ann Gotbaum was arrested allegedly acting disorderly in the airport. Authorities belive she may have accidentally strangled herself while trying to free herself from the handcuffs. An autopsy is scheduled for today.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/10/01/phoenix.airport.death/index.html

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/10/01/2007-10-01_gotbaum_kins_plea_before_dying_im_not_a_.html

Finally Free!!!!!!!!

Mychal Bell was finally released yesterday from custody. Thousands had begged and pleaded for his release and their prayers were finally answered when the juvenile court judge decided to lower his bond to $45,000. Earlier in the day, Mr. Bell was transferred to a juvenile facility since his case was rightfully transferred to juvenile court. Authorities in the town of Jena, Louisiana have been criticized for their handling of this case. Mychal and five other teens were all charged with attempted murder following a fight with a white student. Those charges were eventually lowered, but the three white students who hung nooses from a tree at their high school were never charged criminally. All three white students were only suspended from school.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/27/jena.six/index.html
http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/0928/jena_ap.html

A man from Guatemala worked for 11 years in the United States - living frugally to save up money to take back to his home country. As a dishwasher, Pedro Zapeta, made around $5.50 an hour. He was able to save up $59,000, but when he tried to return to his country, US customs officials seized his money. Now, nearly 2 years later, Pedro is still fighting to get his money back.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/27/immigrant.money/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

Mistrial

The jury in the murder trial of Phil Spector announced they were hopelessly deadlocked and could not reach a verdict. Judge Larry Fidler declared a mistrial. The jurors were in their 12th day of deliberation, and this is the second time in 8 days that the jurors announced they could not reach a verdict. The two sides will meet in court again on October 3rd. The prosecutor indicated he would seek to retry Mr. Spector.
http://www.courttv.com/trials/spector/092607_ctv.html

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/26/spector.verdict/index.html

Death Penalty

Today the United States Supreme Court agreed to hear the case of two Kentucky prisoners currently on death row. In 2004, two prisoners filed suit alleging that the death penalty method of lethal injection is unconstitutional. Both Ralph Baze and Thomas Clyde Bowling, Jr. claim that it is cruel and unusual punishment.

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/0925/lethal_ap.html

Martin Lee Anderson

Jury selection began today in the Martin Lee Anderson boot camp death case. Seven guards and a nurse who were employed by the boot camp are charged with manslaughter as a result of his death.

http://www.courttv.com/trials/anderson/092407_jury_selection_ap.html
http://justiceformartin.tripod.com/

Jail Overcrowding

A federal judge ruled that inmates could not be forced to sleep on the ground in county jails, stating that such action is unconstitutional. What will this mean for all the county jails that currently force inmates to sleep on the ground?

http://www.courttv.com/news/2007/0924/floor_ap.html

Phil Spector

The jurors in the Phil Spector murder trial have deliberated now for 33 hours over a nine day period. This, following 5 months of testimony and a change in the jury instructions following a deadlock among the jurors. The defense has maintained all along that the victim in this case, Lana Clarkson, committed suicide. However, the prosecutor argued that Phil Spector pointed a gun at her and shot her.

http://www.courttv.com/trials/spector

Eric Volz

Eric Volz was convicted of murder in February of 2007. He was sentenced to 30 years to be served in a Nicaraguan prison. Friends of Eric's in both Nicaragua and the United States insist on his innocence. During the trial, key evidence that proved Eric's innocence was thrown out by the judge. His family and friends have set-up an informative website on his behalf to raise awareness of his case.

www.friendsofericvolz.com

Another Taser Incident . . .

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/09/21/ohio.taser/index.html

More Updates - Jena 6

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-jena22sep22,1,1496003.story

http://www.nysun.com/related_results.php?term=Mychal+Bell

The Innocence Project

http://www.innocenceproject.org

Troy Davis

http://www.troyanthonydavis.org/

http://www.amnestyusa.org/Death_Penalty/Troy_Davis_Finality_Over_Fairness/page.do?id=1011343&n1=3&n2=28&n3=1412

“In the end antiblack, antifemale, and all forms of discrimination are equivalent to the same thing - antihumanism.” Shirley Chisholm

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/NEWS01/709200403&SearchID=73294034639757

http://www.whas11.com/topstories/stories/091707whasmjdTopBristolSued.e37ce70b.html

Clarence Elkins

RELEASED BY THE TRUTH: CLARENCE ELKINS

http://www.independent.org/newsroom/article.asp?id=1795

http://www.truthinjustice.org/elkins2.htm

Demond Brown

In January 2002, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Demond Brown attempted to run a red light and as a result collided with another vehicle, killing both occupants of that vehicle. Demond was then charged with two counts of wanton murder and two counts of wanton endangerment for the injuries sustained by the passengers in his vehicle. He was found guilty of all charges by an all white jury (despite the fact that Christian County has the third highest minority population in Kentucky) and ordered to serve a total of 20 years. He will be eligible for parole after serving 85% of that sentence. His conviction and sentence were subsequently upheld by the Kentucky Supreme Court in June of 2005. It was the first time in Kentucky's history where a wanton murder conviction was upheld with no evidence of drinking or drug use. Mr. Brown essentially ran a red light and was branded a murderer. Mr. Brown was sentenced the same as an individual that intends to kill another person. In Kentucky, the sentence for an intentional and unintentional murder are the same - 20-50 years or life. Additionally, if an individual recieves a sentence of 50 years or life, they will still be eligible for parole after 20 years. EVERYONE GOES BEFORE THE PAROLE BOARD IN KENTUCKY AFTER 20 YEARS!!! The result is that a person who intends to kill another person may serve the same amount of time as an individual who did not intend to kill another person.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051106/NEWS01/511060411/1008

Genarlow Wilson

Genarlow Wilson is a young man currently serving a ten year prison sentence for consensual oral sex with a fellow teenager. He was an honor student and star athlete at his Georgia high school. He is still in prison despite the fact that his sentence was reduced to time served earlier this summer because the decision was appealed by the Georgia Attorney General, Thurbert Baker. He still awaits a decision from the Georgia Supreme Court. He began serving his sentence over 2 1/2 years ago.

http://www.wilsonappeal.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilson_v._State_of_Georgia

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/eticket/story?page=Wilson

Mary Winkler

Mary Winkler who served less than a year for the murder of her preacher husband was granted visitation rights with her children yesterday. The custody battle with her in-laws still continues.



http://www.courttv.com/trials/winkler/092007_custody_ap.html

http://www.jacksonsun.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/NEWS08/709200315

http://www.myeyewitnessnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=33e977c3-89c5-4477-9b1e-2623e9d8b912

Jena 6

Please see below for a devastating and heartbreaking case in Jena, Louisiana that has finally drawn national attention. More updates to follow . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jena_Six

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/law/09/20/roland.martin.jena6/index.html

http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20070919/cm_huffpost/065010

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-jena_wittjun26,1,3186370.story