New hearing for ex-Black Panther Abu-Jamal on death row

[dipsydoodle]

Source: BBC News

A US federal court has ordered a new sentencing hearing for an ex-Black Panther activist on death row for the 1981 killing of a white policeman.

A Philadelphia appeals court said Mumia Abu-Jamal, 57, must have a hearing within six months.

He has been on death row since 1983 after his conviction in the killing of Philadelphia Officer Daniel Faulkner.

He has maintained his innocence, and death penalty opponents across the world have rallied around his case.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13200859

[leveymg]

1. Phenomenal! This appeal has been ongoing for more than a decade.

Let's see what new evidence bearing on the merits they now allow his defense to introduce. Hopefully, this won't just be restricted to consideration of procedural issues.

[naaman fletcher]

2. It's just a new sentencing hearing,

he won't have the opportunity to fight his conviction.

[Taverner]

3. Having studied the case completely, I think he's guilty

Granted, I don't think he should face the death penalty, and many of his audio logs have been excellent, and he hits the nail right on the head

But I still think he did it

There may have been extenuating circumstances, but he probably did it

[RamboLiberal]

4. +1 - I've also read extensively on the case & am convinced he did it

[Taverner]

6. Granted I'm not convinved its CAPITAL murder

But he did fire the bullet that killed that officer, that I am sure of

[wicket]

5. Me too, and he's never denied it

I don't think he should be on death row though.

[Taverner]

7. No - life in prison at most

I like life in prison because if the convicted was innocent, there will be a chance for them to be exonerated

Post death penalty, however, not so much

[Ken Burch]

8. New hearing for ex-Black Panther Abu-Jamal on death row

Source: BBC News

A US federal court has ordered a new sentencing hearing for an ex-Black Panther activist on death row for the 1981 killing of a white policeman.

An appeals court in Philadelphia said Mumia Abu-Jamal, 57, must have a hearing within six months.

He has been on death row since 1983 after his conviction in the killing of Philadelphia Officer Daniel Faulkner.

He has maintained his innocence, and death penalty opponents across the world have rallied around his case.

On Tuesday, the Third US Circuit Court of Appeals upheld its 2008 ruling that the death penalty instructions given to the jury at Abu-Jamal's 1982 trial were unclear, but it declined to overturn Abu-Jamal's conviction.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13200859

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Or, they COULD just admit that the guy was innocent the whole time and free him. Not holding my breath on that one though. Mumia basically has a death sentence for being an activist.

[EFerrari]

9. This country can be a sad dark little place.

[Ken Burch]

10. True dat.

That's why we need to keep bringin' the light.

[brooklynite]

11. This is a sentencing hearing, not a retrial

I'm happy to cash in the death penalty for life in prison, but I haven't seen any evidence to warrant an aquittal, and neither have the appeals courts.

[Ken Burch]

12. Getting him off of Death Row for a murder he didn't commit is a start

The whole original case was presided over by an openly racist judge.

[RamboLiberal]

13. Doesn't change Mumia was guilty or covering up for his brother

Why have neither of them ever offered a defense or told their side of the story? And Mumia was a jackass in court who sure didn't help his lawyers get him off.

[defendandprotect]

16. Wasn't his lawyer drunk or asleep most of the time?

Guess I'd better pull up the info and refamiliarize myself with this case --

it's been a long time since I've reviewed it -- !!

[defendandprotect]

15. +1000% --

[EFerrari]

17. Listening to Amy's report this morning, I learned that the judge said

"I'm going to fry the n****r". The court reporter heard it and after years of debating, finally reported it.

His instructions to the jury were wrong, for another thing, in framing how they should consider a verdict.

Anyway, this is the report:

http://www.democracynow.org/2011/4/27/court_rules_mumia_abu_jamals_death

[defendandprotect]

14. Mumia Abu-Jamal is innocent of this crime -- it's about time -- !!

It's also another situation where police set out to threaten witnesses

into saying what they want said!!

And, Drug War helps them do that --

Abu-Jamal was found injured at the scene, shot with Officer Faulkner's gun. Officer Faulkner was dead, shot several times. A revolver registered to Abu-Jamal was found at the scene, along with five spent shell casings

NOTE: Mumia Abu-Jamal held a LICENSE for the gun he was carrying ---

He was a journalist who also worked as a cab driver --

More than 10 years or so ago a ton of stuff came out on this case --

Witnesses forced to change the truth of what they actually saw --

The original Judge was hugely racist --

on and on --