High court ruling means execution unlikely in 1981 cop-killing (Mumia Abu-Jamal)

[struggle4progress]

Source: CNN

By Sarah Hoye, CNN
updated 1:33 PM EST, Tue October 11, 2011

Philadelphia (CNN) -- The Supreme Court on Tuesday cleared the way for death-row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal to get a new sentencing hearing for the killing of a Philadelphia police officer 30 years ago.

The high court rejected a request from the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office to overturn the federal appeals court decision declaring the death sentence unconstitutional for Abu-Jamal, a former Black Panther who was convicted in 1982 of gunning down a Philadelphia police officer.

Abu-Jamal will be automatically sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole unless Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams seeks another death sentence from a new jury. Williams had no comment Tuesday.

His attorneys, who have repeatedly argued that confusing jury instructions and the verdict form given to the jury favored a death sentence instead of life in prison, applauded the court's ruling ...


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/11/justice/scotus-officer-killing/

[msanthrope]

1. Seth Williams could go either way.

He's going to get tremendous pressure from the cops. And of course, the Move freaks will probably be out in force tomorrow.

Then again, one could argue that taking Mumia to gen pop is quite dangerous.

[alp227]

2. the CNN comments section is full of arrogant, clueless, closed-minded types

who've never gave a THOUGHT that Abu Jamal's trial might've been unfair/kangaroo court. I've heard about a "running man" who shot officer Faulkner and about someone who confessed in 1999 to the crime. Regardless, I think the US should just execute the death penalty.