Protest Court of Criminal Appeals ruling against new trial for Rodney Reed! -- Monday December 22nd
4 views
Skip to first unread message
Stefanie Collins
Dec 19, 2008, 7:40:46 PM12/19/08
to rodney-reed-...@googlegroups.com
Justice For Rodney Reed! Protest Monday.
Dear Friends,
For anyone following the case of Rodney Reed, I'm sure you were as outraged
as we were by the CCA's complete disregard for any of the important evidence
provided by the defense that could prove Rodney's innocence in a new trial.
Their opinion released Wednesday denies him a new trial. The Austin CEDP
will be protesting this Monday December the 22nd for Rodney and to express ourselves about the
ruling. Below is a press release from us, with protest details at the top.
Please spread the news and join us if you can!
For anyone following the case of Rodney Reed, I'm sure you were as outraged
as we were by the CCA's complete disregard for any of the important evidence
provided by the defense that could prove Rodney's innocence in a new trial.
Their opinion released Wednesday denies him a new trial. The Austin CEDP
will be protesting this Monday December the 22nd for Rodney and to express ourselves about the
ruling. Below is a press release from us, with protest details at the top.
Please spread the news and join us if you can!
The CEDP will be meeting on Saturday December 20 at 1pm at Epoch Coffee at 221 W North Loop Blvd to discuss this and further action for Rodney as his case moves forward. Please join us so we can help mount the best movement possible to free this innocent man.
Contact Lily Hughes, (512) 417-2241
cedpaustin@gmail. com
------------ --- For Immediate Release December 18, 2008 ------------ ---
"A Great Injustice" in the Rodney Reed Case
Court of Criminal Appeals Denies Relief;
Reed's Supporters Plan Protest for Monday, December 22, 2008. At 5:30 pm
at the Capitol, 11th and Congress.
THE TEXAS Court of Criminal Appeals yesterday denied relief in the case of
Texas death row prisoner Rodney Reed, as his family members and supporters
decried the ruling.
Sandra Reed, Reed¹s mother, responded to the court's decision by
saying, "A great injustice has been done today. I looked to the Court to
consider all the new developments. And with all these developments how
could they deny my son?"
Reed was accused of raping and murdering of Stacey Stites in 1996, and
was convicted and sentenced to death on 1998. Reed is an African-American
man, Stites a white woman. A number of witnesses have corroborated Reed's
claim that he and Stites were having a consensual sexual relationship,
although these witnesses were not called to the stand during his trial.
Much of the evidence presented by the defense, both new and old, points
toward another suspect: former Georgetown police officer Jimmy Fennell.
Fennell's recent conviction on sexual assault and kidnapping charges further
substantiates the defense's theory.
Fennell was engaged to Stites at the time of her death. He failed two
lie detector tests when asked "Did you strangle Stacey Stites?" Fennell's
truck, which Stites was driving at the time, contained only her and
Fennell's fingerprints.
This and a vast array of other forensic evidence, eyewitness testimony,
alibi witnesses, etc. is outlined in the court's decision. However the Court
deemed the evidence presented by the defense as unreliable, while
considering most of the evidence presented by the prosecution as wholly
reliable.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA), recently the subject of much
public criticism, acted on the recommendation of Judge Reva Towslee-Corbett,
who presided over 2006 hearings in Bastrop on the case and is the daughter
of the judge in Reed's original trial. Many observers of the hearings,
which were mandated by the CCA, noted a bias towards the State and the
original conviction.
"This is one-sided justice at its worst," said Lily Hughes of the
Campaign to End the Death Penalty. "Rodney deserves a new trial."
The Campaign to End the Death Penalty and the family of Rodney Reed
plans to continue our grassroots campaign for justice for Rodney Reed,
including protests, petitions and more. We will continue to pressure any
and all courts and public officials involved in this case to grant a new
trial where evidence of Reed¹s innocence can be presented.
###
Contact Lily Hughes, (512) 417-2241
cedpaustin@gmail. com
------------ --- For Immediate Release December 18, 2008 ------------ ---
"A Great Injustice" in the Rodney Reed Case
Court of Criminal Appeals Denies Relief;
Reed's Supporters Plan Protest for Monday, December 22, 2008. At 5:30 pm
at the Capitol, 11th and Congress.
THE TEXAS Court of Criminal Appeals yesterday denied relief in the case of
Texas death row prisoner Rodney Reed, as his family members and supporters
decried the ruling.
Sandra Reed, Reed¹s mother, responded to the court's decision by
saying, "A great injustice has been done today. I looked to the Court to
consider all the new developments. And with all these developments how
could they deny my son?"
Reed was accused of raping and murdering of Stacey Stites in 1996, and
was convicted and sentenced to death on 1998. Reed is an African-American
man, Stites a white woman. A number of witnesses have corroborated Reed's
claim that he and Stites were having a consensual sexual relationship,
although these witnesses were not called to the stand during his trial.
Much of the evidence presented by the defense, both new and old, points
toward another suspect: former Georgetown police officer Jimmy Fennell.
Fennell's recent conviction on sexual assault and kidnapping charges further
substantiates the defense's theory.
Fennell was engaged to Stites at the time of her death. He failed two
lie detector tests when asked "Did you strangle Stacey Stites?" Fennell's
truck, which Stites was driving at the time, contained only her and
Fennell's fingerprints.
This and a vast array of other forensic evidence, eyewitness testimony,
alibi witnesses, etc. is outlined in the court's decision. However the Court
deemed the evidence presented by the defense as unreliable, while
considering most of the evidence presented by the prosecution as wholly
reliable.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (CCA), recently the subject of much
public criticism, acted on the recommendation of Judge Reva Towslee-Corbett,
who presided over 2006 hearings in Bastrop on the case and is the daughter
of the judge in Reed's original trial. Many observers of the hearings,
which were mandated by the CCA, noted a bias towards the State and the
original conviction.
"This is one-sided justice at its worst," said Lily Hughes of the
Campaign to End the Death Penalty. "Rodney deserves a new trial."
The Campaign to End the Death Penalty and the family of Rodney Reed
plans to continue our grassroots campaign for justice for Rodney Reed,
including protests, petitions and more. We will continue to pressure any
and all courts and public officials involved in this case to grant a new
trial where evidence of Reed¹s innocence can be presented.
###
www.freerodneyreed.org
Reply all
Reply to author
Forward
0 new messages