MIAMI GOVERNOR 'SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING' MORRISON PARDON

[Scott F.]

: A Florida governor is "seriously considering" pardoning dead rock
star JIM MORRISON of his indecent exposure conviction. Fans of the
late singer's band THE DOORS and the group's Doors Collectors Magazine
(DCM) have requested Morrison's record be cleared of the 1969 charges,
following his premature death in 1971 from heart failure. Miami
governor Charlie Crist was challenged with a petition by the DCM last
month (Mar07), and has now questioned the legality of the charges for
himself - accusations fans have branded "bogus". He says, "He died
when he was 27. That's really a kid, when you think about it, and
obviously he was having some challenges. There's some dispute about
how solid the case was." The Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek yesterday
(17Apr07) expressed his delight at the news and reiterated Morrison's
innocence, saying he only pretended to expose himself at the 1969
concert. He adds, "(Morrison) taunted the audience. 'I'm going to show
you! I'm going to show it to you!' Then he took his shirt off, held it
in front of him like a bullfighter's cape, (and) wiggled it around as
if there was something going on behind it. "Florida is Jim's home
state. He's a Florida boy. Wouldn't it be great if Florida could
finally say, 'Hey, native son, Your name is cleared. We recognise you
as a young American poet." Crist's legal team is currently reviewing
the case and will determine whether to clear the rocker's name in the
next few weeks.