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Rodney Reeds' Case Returned to the Federal Court
Rodney Reed found guilty of the 1996 murder of 19 year old Stacey Stites is again returned to the federal courts. On December 22nd 2009 lawyers acting on behalf of Mr Reed filed a 158 page document in the federal district court outlining the reasons Reeds conviction may be unjust. Rodney Reed’s conviction stems from the fact that D.N.A. evidence found inside Stites match Reed’s.
His defenders state that this merely suggests that the two were intimate and does not offer any proof otherwise. Reed maintains that he and Stites were in a consensual relationship. It is suggested, however, that a far more likely suspect in the case is the fiancé of Stacey Stites an ex George town police officer who has been reported to have suffered from jealous rage and has been convicted for the kidnapping and sexual assault of a women while on duty and responding to a call for police service. It is alleged that said officer had a history of violence against women and solicited women for sex on a popular social networking site. It is also alleged by a classmate at a police training academy, Stites fiancé had once said that he would strangle his girlfriend to death with a belt should she ever cheat on him.
A judge previously in the Reed case sent his appeal back to the District Court so his lawyers could present evidence never discussed during his trial. This evidence includes a witness statement who says she saw Stacey with her fiancé before the killing and a testimony from a couple stating that they saw Stites with two men shortly before the killing. Also omitted from the original trial, the defense argues , that a D.N.A. testing report that shows that saliva found in a beer can near the victim’s body could have came from Stites or two Bastrop police officers that has been suggested, may have been involved in her killing. The States response to the 158 page document is expected in February 2010.
Please Support Michael Perry
We have added Michael Perry to our Campaigns page. Michael is on Texas death row and has been given an execution date for July 2010. There is a large amount of evidence that points to his innocence and we urge you to get in touch to find out how you can help. Any cards and messages of support sent directly to Michael at this dreadful time would be much appreciated.
Abolition Efforts Underway in Kansas
The Senate Committee in the U.S State of Kansas has voted to send the repeal bill to the floor of the Kansas Senate. If the bill is successful Kansas will be the first State to end executions this year, following Governor Richardson's decision to abolish the death penalty in his State of New Mexico last year.
Delaware to Use One Drug Lethal Injection
Following Ohio, Delaware has become the latest State since the Baze v. Rees Supreme Court decision in 2008 to ratify new execution procedures. This decision will inevitably lead to executions resuming in Delaware.
California May Resume Executions
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation today released its proposed revisions to the lethal injection procedures, a first step toward resuming executions in the state after a four-year halt.
The proposals kick off a new 15-day period for public comment, after which the revised procedures can be adopted and submitted for what is expected to be months of judicial review in state and federal courts to assess the execution method's conformance with state law and the Constitution.
Abolitionuk.org - Images kindly provided by Scott Langley
