Remembering Daniel Faulkner & A Cop Killer’s 25th Anniversary on DR

Blackerose

Lunachick, thanks for the post. It's amazing how some lawyers will try to twist evidence and testimony to make it fit. I wonder why ihe wasn't executed a long time ago. Gary Heidnik didn't sit on death row long. I actually met him; Heidnik, shortly before he got arrested. I worked at a psych hospital, Heidnik used to visit a woman, she said he was her ex-husband. He used to preach from the Bible the entire visit. They had a grown daughter together. I remember everyone at work freaked when Heidnik got arrested.

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"All that evil requires is for good people to remain silent."

LunaChick

Oh wow, now theres a guy. I read the book about him. Cellar of Horror I think it was called. I know I have it around here on my bookshelf somewhere. So, how did Gary seem to you?

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Ancient Warriors; For gamers by gamers.

Blackerose

Heidnik seemed normal. He quoted Bible verses to the woman when he visited her, her name was Evelyn. He seemed to really care about her. But he had the most penetrating dark eyes, almost made made me uncomfortable when he looked at me.

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"All that evil requires is for good people to remain silent."

MIKAER

Is he good because he is dead or did he do something good in his lifetime?

MIKAER

Why do you refer to items 1-17 as myths?

LunaChick

PHILADELPHIA -- Supporters of convicted cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal staged a march Thursday in Center City coinciding with a court hearing that was getting international attention.


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Video: Prosecutors Hope To Reinstate Mumia Abu-Jamal's Death Sentence
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At issue was whether Abu-Jamal will be put to death for the shooting death of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner.

Abu-Jamal's death sentence was overturned in 2001. Prosecutors are asking the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reinstate it, while Abu-Jamal's attorney are challenging his 1982 conviction.

The former Black Panther, who has became a celebrity inmate during a quarter century on death row, wasn't in federal court Thursday.


For 25 years now, the prosecution has said Abu-Jamal did receive a fair trial and deserves to die.

But Abu-Jamal's attorney argued his client should receive a new trial or re-sentencing hearing.

Most of Thursday's arguments centered around allegations of racial bias during the murder trial.

"At the time of this trial in 1982, the District Attorney's Office of Philadelphia was systematically removing people from the jury who were African-American, not for any other reason but because of the color of their skin," said Abu-Jamal's attorney, Robert Bryan.

Bryan told the three federal judges his client did not have enough black people on his jury.

In 1982, a jury of 10 Caucasians and two black people convicted Abu-Jamal of shooting Faulkner to death.

Former prosecutor Joseph McGill said he had initially selected four black people in what he calls his strongest case ever.

"Jamal struck one. The total number of jurors, I believe, was two because one of those African-Americans jurors was jointly excused," McGill said.

Faulkner was killed by Abu-Jamal in December of 1981. Court records show police had pulled over Abu-Jamal's brother near 13th and Locust streets. Abu-Jamal showed up in his cab. During an exchange of gunfire with police, Faulkner was killed and Abu-Jamal was shot.

Maureen Faulkner, the officer's widow, has attended every legal proceeding for 25 years and maintains Abu-Jamal was treated fairly and deserves death.

"There is absolutely no doubt that Mumia Abu-Jamal murdered Danny and did it with premeditation, and he absolutely received a fair trial," she said.

Both attorneys said the federal judges could take about 90 days to reach a decision.

The judges have a couple of choices. They could order a new trial, order a new sentencing or penalty phase hearing, or they could uphold the death sentence against Abu-Jamal.

Abu-Jamal, 53, has built a global following through his politically charged writings and recorded speeches from prison. Actors, writers, death-penalty opponents and a melange of other activists have staged rallies on his behalf around the world over the years.

Hundreds of protesters on both sides of the case were outside the federal courthouse and then at City Hall Thursday afternoon, blocking lanes of traffic on some surrounding roads. The Associated Press reported there were 500 protestors in all, although the group marching at City Hall appeared smaller.

One of them, Marcus Shell, 35, of Philadelphia, said Abu-Jamal didn't get a fair trial because of who he was -- "a former Black Panther, the voice of the voiceless."

"Mumia represents a lot of blacks locked up in prison today," Shell said.

Protesters were supposed to march again at 5 p.m., but the second event was smaller than the first.



http://www.nbc10.com/news/13337685/d...l?dl=mainclick


Ugh

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Ancient Warriors; For gamers by gamers.

Jolie Rouge

Why don't some of these "celebrities" do something to support Channon Christian and Christopher Newsom ?

Who are they ?

Monsters walk among us.

They deserve it more then this copkiller even if he can spin a lovely yarn...

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Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.** a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT! Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

Jolie Rouge

COP-KILLER'S PALS PLAN PROTEST
December 3, 2007

SUPPORTERS of cop killer Mumia Abu-Jamal are threatening to storm the streets of Rockefeller Center Thursday morning to protest the "Today" show. The New York-based "Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition" is infuriated that Maureen Faulker - the widow of Philadelphia police office Daniel Faulker, whom Abu-Jamal was convicted of murdering 25 years ago - is scheduled to appear on the show Thursday to promote her new book, "Murdered by Mumia: A Life Sentence of Pain, Loss and Injustice" The activists - who claim on their Web site to have demanded "equal time" but "as of yet have gotten no agreement to that" -will protest outside.

Faulkner told Page Six via a statement, "After 26 years of this harrowing experience, the purpose of writing this book is to finally find a peaceful closure to my husband's tragic ending. A jury of 12 convicted Mumia Abu-Jamal of murdering my husband, and for 25 years Abu- Jamal has been on death row acting as if he was a Hollywood superstar or political prisoner . . . He has a voice, and my late husband doesn't."

Reps for "Today" had no comment.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/12032007...est_270597.htm

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Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.** a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT! Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

Jolie Rouge

12/2/2007 Update - The Today Show scheduled a telephone conference with Pam Africa (of the ICFFMAJ) for this past Friday. Following this conference, Pam Africa reported that she spoke with the show and provided them with our Press Pack of background information on Mumia's case. The Today Show did not make an official decision regarding our request, but said they would look at the information and contact Pam Africa this week with their official response to our desire to have equal representation on The Today Show.

The Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition (NYC) calls on everyone who can join us on Thursday December 6th at 7:15 AM to please come to 48th Street and Rockefeller Plaza. We will be picketing the planned hit job on Mumia by Maureen Faulkner and Michael Smerconish in discussing their new book, MURDERED BY MUMIA, on NBC's TODAY SHOW. We have demanded "equal time" but as yet have gotten no agreement to that by the TODAY SHOW. Stand there with us in solidarity with Mumia!
ONA MOVE! FREE MUMIA AND ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS!

ACTION ALERT: Ensure Fairness For Mumia Abu-Jamal on NBC's The Today Show!

On Dec. 6, NBC's The Today Show intends to air a show about Michael Smerconish and Maureen Faulkner's new book "Murdered By Mumia." According to the announcement on Michael Smerconish's website, the show is planning to feature both Smerconish and Faulkner as guests.

The International Concerned Family and Friends of Mumia Abu-Jamal (FreeMumia.com), Journalists for Mumia (Abu-Jamal-News.com), and Educators for Mumia (EmajOnline.com) have initiated a media-activist campaign urging people to write The Today Show at today@msnbc.com asking them to fairly present both sides of the Mumia Abu-Jamal / Daniel Faulkner case, by also featuring as guests, Linn Washington, Jr. (Philadelphia Tribune columnist and Associate Professor of Journalism at Temple University) and Dr. Suzanne Ross (Clinical Psychologist and Co-Chair of the Free Mumia Abu-Jamal Coalition, NYC).

A sample letter (http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/TodayShow.doc), accompanied by an extensive informational press pack (http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/pr/PressPackNov07.pdf) has been created to use for contacting The Today Show. Please take a minute and contact them to ensure fair media coverage of this controversial and important case.

http://www.freemumia.com/todayshow.html

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Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.** a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT! Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

Jolie Rouge

Court: Mumia deserves new hearing
By KATHY MATHESON, Associated Press Writer
Thu Mar 27, 12:28 PM ET

PHILADELPHIA - A federal appeals court on Thursday said former Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal cannot be executed for murdering a Philadelphia police officer without a new penalty hearing.

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Abu-Jamal's conviction, but said he should get a new sentencing hearing because of flawed jury instructions. If prosecutors don't want to give him a new death penalty hearing, Abu-Jamal would be sentenced automatically to life in prison.

Prosecutors are weighing their options, Assistant District Attorney Hugh Burns Jr. said Thursday.

Abu-Jamal's lead attorney, Robert R. Bryan, said he was glad the court did not uphold the death sentence, and said he wants a new trial. "I've never seen a case as permeated and riddled with racism as this one," Bryan said Thursday. "I want a new trial and I want him free. His conviction was a travesty of justice."

Abu-Jamal, 53, once a radio reporter, has attracted a legion of artists and activists to his cause in a quarter-century on death row. A Philadelphia jury convicted him in 1982 of killing Officer Daniel Faulkner, 25, after the patrolman pulled over Abu-Jamal's brother in an overnight traffic stop.

He had appealed, arguing that racism by the judge and prosecutors corrupted his conviction at the hands of a mostly white jury. Prosecutors, meanwhile, had appealed a federal judge's 2001 decision to grant Abu-Jamal a new sentencing hearing because of the jury instructions.

Hundreds of people protested outside the federal building in Philadelphia where arguments were heard in May and an overflow crowd — including legal scholars, students, lawyers, the policeman's widow and Abu-Jamal's brother — filled the courtroom. Abu-Jamal's writings and taped speeches on the justice system have made him a popular figure among activists who believe he was the victim of racism. Abu-Jamal is black; Faulkner was white.

The flaw in the jury instructions related to whether jurors understood how to weigh mitigating circumstances that might keep Abu-Jamal off death row. Under the law, jurors did not have to unanimously agree on a mitigating circumstance.

"The jury instructions and the verdict form created a reasonable likelihood that the jury believed it was precluded from finding a mitigating circumstance that had not been unanimously agreed upon," the appeals court wrote.

Arguments before the 3rd Circuit focused on several constitutional issues, including whether prosecutors improperly eliminated black jurors.

Ten whites and two blacks served on the jury. Prosecutors struck 10 blacks and five whites from the pool, while accepting four blacks and 20 whites, according to Bryan, who argued that prosecutors of the day fostered "a culture of discrimination."

Burns argued in court that Abu-Jamal was raising issues on appeal that he had not raised during a lengthy 1995 review of the case.

The officer's widow, Maureen Faulkner, has kept her husband's memory alive over the years, and recently co-wrote a book about the case. The book, "Murdered by Mumia: A Life Sentence of Loss, Pain and Injustice," written with radio talk-show host Michael Smerconish, came out in December.

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On the Net:

Free Mumia site: http://www.mumia.org

Daniel Faulkner site: http://www.danielfaulkner.com


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080327/...wRcxKlHIEXIr0F

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Laissez les bon temps rouler! Going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.** a 4 day work week & sex slaves ~ I say Tyt for PRESIDENT! Not to be taken internally, literally or seriously ....Suki ebaynni IS THAT BETTER ?

LunaChick

This man will never be executed. The state shouldn't waste the money for a new sentencing hearing since he is going to get life anyway.

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Ancient Warriors; For gamers by gamers.