Once again, Juan Melendez and I have been traveling around the state, raising awareness and motivating activists. We are excited this year because several of FADP's legislative priorities are actually getting good attention at the legislature. One of those is a bill that will make law enforcement and prosecutors who "fabricate or deceptively manipulate evidence" personally liable. This alone, if it passes, might make it less possible for the wrong person to be railroaded to death row or prison at the whim of the police. As we have traveled around, we've spoken in many schools, including four Florida law schools on this trip. Johnny always makes them cry, and laugh, as he tells his story. He also never forgets YOU, the men he left behind when he walked off of death row on January 3, 2002. He always talks about the good in the people who are on death row and the conditions and the pain he feels every time there is another execution - the execution of a friend of his. So know that you are not forgotten!
Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty is pleased to celebrate with FDRAG the 5th anniversary of that organization. Stay strong, and keep at it!
Abe
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Former death row inmate advocates bill for lawsuits
3 years after walking off death row a free man, Juan Melendez is pushing to make police and prosecutors liable for wrongful convictions based on "fabricated or deceptively manipulated" evidence.
Bills have been filed in both the state House and Senate to make police agencies or prosecutors liable for civil damages in wrongful convictions based on tampered evidence. The annual 2-month legislative session begins March 8.
Abe Bonowitz, director of Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, said Wednesday the legislation (HB 247/SB 1004) is an important start toward accountability - especially in Florida, where 2 dozen people have
been released from death row after having their convictions overturned.
Melendez, 53, lived on death row for nearly 18 years. He was released in January 2002 after his murder conviction was overturned and prosecutors said they would not try him again.
Melendez and Bonowitz said prosecutors have conclusive evidence before Melendez went to trial that another man was the killer.
"They knew I was an innocent man a month before I went to trial," Melendez told reporters.
Hardy Pickard, a Bartow prosecutor who worked on Melendez's case, said
Wednesday he would not comment.
"I've got nothing to say about that case at all," Pickard said.
(Source: Associated Press)
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Vienna Sausage Sandwich or Cracker Spread
Take two fish steaks- hot sauce - two hot V’ soups – two hot corn chips - two hot+ spicy pork skins - one Pickle - two jalapeño cheese - six mayo’s and six mustards.
Add two packs of saltine crackers and you are good to go.
