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