Murder verses Innocence; The Englewood Four Are Exonerated

Posted by the Innocence Project;
Jan. 17, 2012

"Today marks the end of a very long ordeal for four Chicago men who were unjustly convicted as teenagers. After 17 years, Michael Saunders, Harold Richardson, Vincent Thames and Terrill Swift—have finally been exonerated of the 1994 murder of Nina Glover. The State’s Attorney’s Office announced at a hearing today that they are dismissing the indictments against the four men. The decision follows a judge’s November 2011 order to vacate the four convictions.
Saunders, Richardson, Thames and Swift have spent most of their adult lives in prison. They were between the ages of 15 and 18 when they arrested. Based on false confessions and without a shred of physical evidence, they were wrongfully convicted and sentenced to 30-40 years in prison. Their cases, and others in Cook County, reveal a dangerous pattern of injustice based on false confessions. The Innocence Project is calling on Cook County to conduct a review of all cases involving juvenile confessions. In the past four months, ten people have been exonerated through DNA testing in Illinois after being unjustly convicted based on confessions they gave as teenagers."

False confessions can occur because of deals offered and coercion; fear for themselves being prosecuted.

Christmas visit with Kerry Lyn Dalton 2011

Kerry and Victoria Christmas Eve.



The final documentary on the West Memphis Three is debuting January 12th, on HBO.

http://paradiselost3themovie.com/

Soon to be released in DVD.

Testimony at Kerry Lyn Dalton Case

The following are excerpts from Sheriff Wilson’s Testimony,
he was at the residence the night of the alleged murder scene, June 26th, 1988,
that Dusek & Cooksey described in the Deadly Women show, in reference to the Dalton case;

(p. 2738 line 12-14)THE CLERK:  PLEASE STATE YOUR FULL NAME FOR THE
RECORD AND SPELL YOUR LAST.
THE WITNESS:     DAVID WILSON, W-I-L-S-O-N.

(p.2741,line 2-4) 
Q.(prosecutor Dusek) OKAY. GOING BACK TO JUNE 2 6TH,
1988, DID YOU RECEIVE A CALL LEADING YOU TO A TRAILER PARK?
A. YES, I DID.
Q. ABOUT WHAT TIME DID YOU GET THE CALL, DEPUTY?
A. I COULD LOOK AT MY LOG AND GIVE YOU THE EXACT
TIME.
Q. ALL RIGHT. ALL RIGHT.
A. I HAVE A COPY OF IT. WELL IT IS A COPY. I CAN'T
EVEN READ IT. I BELIEVE THAT IT IS 2055 IS WHEN I
ACTUALLY RECEIVED THE TELEPHONE CALL AT MY RESIDENCE.
Q. THOSE OF US NOT IN THE MILITARY OR LAW
ENFORCEMENT, WHAT TIME IS THAT?
A. THAT WOULD BE 8:55 IN THE EVENING.

(p.2724 line 7-16)Q. WHERE DID YOU GO?
A. SPACE NUMBER 25,IN THE LIVE OAK SPRINGS TRAILER
PARK.
Q. ALL RIGHT.CAN YOU DESCRIBE THAT AREA FOR US, WHERE
THE TRAILER PARK WAS?
A. THE TRAILER PARK IS — IS IN A — WHAT USED TO BE -
IT WAS AN OLD RETIREMENT AREA, SMALL LIKE A LITTLE
VILLAGE, THEN THEY ADDED THE TRAILER PARK TO IT SO
THERE IS A LOT OF SMALL,  OLDER HOMES THERE WITH A
SMALL TRAILER PARK, APPROXIMATELY — APPROXIMATELY —
PROBABLY ABOUT 30 TRAILERS.

(p. 2745 line 28, 2746 1-10)Q. ALL RIGHT. HOW LONG DID IT TAKE YOU TO GET TO the
TRAILER, APPROXIMATELY?
A. LET'S SEE, I ARRIVED THERE AT 2102 SO IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN 7 MINUTES.
Q. DID YOU GO WITH ANYONE?
A. NO.
Q. WHAT TYPE OF VEHICLE?
A. I BELIEVE AT THAT TIME IT WAS A FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
CHEVY BLAZER. I BELIEVE THAT WE HAD CHEVIES THEN.
Q. MARKED UNIT?
A. YES, IT WAS MARKED.

(p. 2747 21-27,p. 2748 16)Q. DID YOU SPEAK WITH MISS FEDOR?
A. YES, I DID.
Q. DESCRIBE HER CONDITION?
A. SHE APPEARED TO BE ON METHAMPHETAMINE. SHE WAS
VERY EXCITED, VERY — SHE WOULDN'T COMPLETE HER
SENTENCES. SHE WOULD START HER SENTENCE THEN RESTART
ANOTHER ONE. SHE WAS VERY PARANOID ACTING.
A. I HAVE ARRESTED OTHER PEOPLE FOR BEING UNDER THE
INFLUENCE OF METHAMPHETAMINE AND OTHER DRUGS.    
I HAD ALSO INTERVIEWED HER IN THE PAST.
I HAVE HAD CONTACT WITH HER.

(p.2751 line 22-28, 2752 1-23, Q. WHAT WAS THE ORIGIN OF THE CALL, DO YOU RECALL?
A. IT WAS TO TAKE A REPORT OF A BURGLARY.
Q. WHILE YOU WERE THERE, DID SHE REFER TO ANY OTHER
ITEMS OF EVIDENCE OR INTERESTS THAT YOU RECALL?
A. YES,SHE SAID THAT — WHEN I ASKED HER WHAT HAD
BEEN TAKEN FROM THE HOUSE,  SHE SAID A TRASH CAN HAD
BEEN TAKEN,  YELLOW TRASH CAN AND
A SLIPCOVER FOR A CHAIR.
Q. DID SHE TALK ABOUT ANY OTHER PIECES OF EVIDENCE
THERE THAT SHE WAS CONCERNED WITH?
A. YES, SHE DID.SHE SAID THAT THERE — SHE HAD
FOUND A BLOOD SOAKED PILLOW CASE ON HER BED.
Q. DID YOU TRY TO FIND THAT?
A. YES, I DID.
Q. WHAT WAS THE RESULT, WHAT HAPPENED?
A. I WAS UNABLE TO FIND IT.
Q. WHAT DID YOU DO, WHERE DID YOU LOOK?
A. I LOOKED — SHE SAID THAT IT HAD BEEN ON HER BED.
I LOOKED ON HER BED, IT WASN'T THERE. THEN SHE SAID
THAT THEY PUT IT IN A BOX, IT WAS UNDER THE TRAILER.
I LOOKED UNDERNEATH THE TRAILER. THERE WAS NO BOXES OR
PILLOW CASE.
Q. DID YOU ACTUALLY GO UNDER THE TRAILER?
A. I KNELT DOWN AT THE TRAILER, WAS ABLE TO LOOK
UNDERNEATH ASSISTED BY MY FLASHLIGHT.
Q. HOW LONG WAS THIS TRAILER?
A.I BELIEVE THAT IT IS 60 FEET, I BELIEVE.
Q. AND WHAT LOCATION DID YOU POSITION YOURSELF WHEN YOU
LOOKED UNDER THE TRAILER?
A. ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT POSITIONS.
Q. YOU COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING THERE?
A. NO.

(2753 11-16)Q. YOU WROTE HER OFF AS A CRAZY DOPER?
A.YES,I DID.
Q.HOW LONG DID YOU REMAIN AT MISS FEDOR'S RESIDENCE?
A.I BELIEVE THAT I WAS THERE FOR ABOUT 18 MINUTES.
Q. DO YOU HAVE A LOG THAT SHOWS THAT?
A. YES, I DO. I ARRIVED AT 2102 AND I LEFT AT 2120

(p.2766 line 18-28, 2767 1-6)Q.(cross examination defense attorney Landon) AND WHEN
YOU CAME INTO THE KITCHEN, DID YOU SEE ANY BLOOD?
A. NO, I DIDN’T.
Q. WHEN YOU WENT INTO THE LIVING ROOM, DID YOU SEE ANY
BLOOD?
A. NO,I DID NOT.
Q. AND WHEN YOU CAME INTO THE MASTER BEDROOM, DID YOU
SEE ANY BLOOD?
A. NO, I DID NOT.
Q. DID JOANNE FEDOR, THIS INDIVIDUAL YOU HAD CONTACT
WITH, POINT OUT TO YOU ANY BLOOD IN THE TRAILER?
A. NO, SHE DID NOT.
Q. IF YOU HAD SEEN BLOOD IN THE TRAILER,WOULD YOU
HAVE MADE A NOTE OF THAT?
A. YES, I WOULD HAVE.
Q. WOULD THAT HAVE CONCERNED YOU?
A. YES,IT WOULD HAVE.

(p. 2768 line 9-27)Q. DID YOU — YOU HAD SOME COMMENT MADE BY JOANNE
FEDOR ABOUT HER FINDING A BLOOD-SOAKED PILLOWCASE;
IS THAT CORRECT?
A. YES.
Q. AND SHE INDICATED THAT SHE HAD — HAD FOUND IT ON
HER BED?
A. THAT'S CORRECT.
Q. AND DID YOU GO TO THE BED TO TAKE A LOOK TO SEE
WHETHER OR NOT YOU COULD FIND A BLOOD-SOAKED PILLOWCASE?
A. YES, I DID.
Q. AND DID YOU FIND ONE?
A. NO.
Q. AND DID YOU FIND ANY TRACE OF ANY BLOOD ON THE BED?
A. NO, I DIDN'T.
Q. DID YOU LOOK?
A. YES.
Q. ONCE AGAIN USING YOUR FLASHLIGHT TO INSURE YOU HAD
ENOUGH LIGHT TO LOOK;IS THAT CORRECT?
A. THAT'S CORRECT.

(p. 2770 line 10-19)Q. YOU INDICATED THAT YOU HAD HAD CONTACT WITH
MISS FEDOR' IN THE PAST; IS THAT RIGHT?
A. YES,I HAD.
Q. AND IN YOUR CONTACT WITH HER IN THE PAST, HAD YOU
NOTICED HER TO BE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS?
A. YES, I HAD.
Q. AND TO YOU, THEN, SHE WAS A KNOWN METH USER;
IS THAT CORRECT?
A. YES, SHE WAS.
Q. DID YOU FIND ANY EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTED A
BURGLARY COMPLAINT WHEN YOU WENT TO JOANNE FEDOR'S
TRAILER THAT NIGHT ON JUNE 26TH, 1988?
A. NO,I DID NOT.

Kerry Lyn Dalton was wrongfully convicted: based on the testimony of a co-defendant & disreputable hearsay, there is no physical evidence and no common sense evidence. Please look further at this blog for more information.

There is no justice or closure in false convictions.

Deputy Wilson’s testimony covers 42 pages,
if you are interested in his entire testimony
please leave me your email and I will send it
to you, I will not publish your email.

This case ended with NO BODY - NO WEAPON - NO BLOOD; the evidence table was empty- There were NO FORENSICS evidence to support the drug induced stories even though
the elite task force conducted 3 searches.

Please ask me questions you may have about the case- I will answer them all,
I want everyone to know the truth.

http://www.safecalifornia.org/home


**Refer to the Nov 21, 2011, article (No Victim Established Day 6 of the Trial), to locate
case #, Judge and attorney names.
Looking through older posts will give you much more background and information. Please keep asking me questions.

No Victim Established in Day 6 of the Trial

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
      IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO
DEPARTMENT 21               HON.  THOMAS J.  WHELAN, JUDGE

                  CR NO. 135002 TRIAL

                  FEBRUARY  14, 1995

PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA,

VS

KERRY LYN DALTON,DEFENDANT.

REPORTERS' TRANSCRIPT OF PROCEEDINGS VOLUME  35

PAGES  3361 THROUGH  3517

APPEARANCES:

FOR THE PLAINTIFF:

JEFF DUSEK

DEPUTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

22 0 WEST BROADWAY

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92101

FOR DEFENDANT DALTON

ALEX LANDON AND

ELIZABETH MISSAKIAN

2442 FOURTH AVENUE

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA 92101

MARY E.   ROSS,  CSR NO. 4100 GLORIA J.  STERNER,  CSR NO. 3876 SAN DIEGO SUPERIOR COURT OFFICIAL REPORTERS

3507

(Judge Thomas Whelan speaking) …FIRST, BY WAY OF FACTUAL BACKGROUND, I THINK THE RECORD IS CLEAR THAT NO BODY HAS EVER BEEN FOUND IN THIS CASE. THE RECORD IS EQUALLY CLEAR THAT THERE IS CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT THERE WAS A HOMICIDE. THERE'S ALSO CONFLICTING CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE THAT IT MAY NOT BE A HOMICIDE;  IN FACT,  SHE MAY STILL BE ALIVE,… 

MY REASON FOR MAKING THESE STATEMENTS IS TO ESTABLISH FOR THE RECORD THAT IN MY MIND THE CORPUS IS A LEGITIMATE ISSUE IN THIS CASE. IT'S NOT A RUSE THAT — THERE IS A LEGITIMATE ISSUE BEFORE THE JURY AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THERE'S — A CORPUS OF A HOMICIDE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED.

(Whelan was addressing, in his own words, the need to establish)… MELANIE MAY, IS A VICTIM OF A HOMICIDE, AS VERSUS HAVING DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES OR SELF-INFLICTED WOUNDS OR ALIVE BUT OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY OR ALIVE BUT HIDING WITHIN THE COUNTRY.(Whelan referred to the missing person by her street name, not her legal name Irene Louise May.)

Six days into a capital case and it had not been established there was ever a murder – the "victim" had not even been declared deceased .

Can you find the trial transcripts and read them yourselves?

Start at the Top

The Occupy movement represents the key to significant change; start at the top and work from there. Reforming the justice system would be one of the effects that would naturally develop out of reforming our current campaign, legislative, and lobbying ways.
Equal campaign spending for equal representation and opportunity.
Term limits and restructure.
No money involved in lobbying.
That equals a start to getting our voices heard again.
Human Rights is a continual evolution/revolution; please take peaceful active part in your world.

Seattle activist Dorli Rainey, 84, reacts after being hit with pepper spray during an Occupy Seattle protest on Nov. 15 at Westlake Park in Seattle. (Joshua Trujillo - AP)

                                     Students at UC Davis are pepper sprayed for a “sit-in”.

                                                  James Alex

                                                                  http://jockohomo.tumblr.com/

   

OWS News: Insidious proposal by the “Status Quo”

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/45366471#45366471

 Check out this clip of Up with Chris and decide for yourself what Occupy Wall Street is all about.

Mario Savio (December 8, 1942 – November 6, 1996)

“...There's a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious—makes you so sick at heart—that you can't take part. You can't even passively take part. And you've got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus and you've got to make it stop. And you've got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you're free, the machine will be prevented from working at all." Sproul Hall Steps, December 2, 1964

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mariosaviosproulhallsitin.htm

Remember your first amendment rights

Kerry Lyn Dalton was convicted by the disreputable words of criminal informants; No forensics to suport, and so now there are No forensics to disprove.

Blog letter October 6, 2011

This work takes me into difficult places, it takes up my energy, it drains my emotions,  I’d say it does all the things a good job should do.

This is a particularly isolating work though; the subject does not exactly make me the life of the party. Like the evening at my friend’s Pirate theme party at their boat club, when the handsome young man, whose dancing we’d been admiring, came over to introduce himself and compliment our dancing. The initial easy chatting was quickly extinguished when he asked, “What do you do for a living?”
 Though I left room for escape, “Oh, I’m a writer these days,” he pursued the subject.
 “Oh yea, what are you writing about?”
 I tried again to allow him a graceful exit, “I prefer fiction, but currently it’s a biography.”  His brown eyes looked interested beneath peaked brows, “about who, if I may ask?” He hadn’t stopped swaying to the band that continued to play classic rock loudly.
 I had to speak up and leaned in closer to answer, “It’s about a woman living on death row,” I pulled back to catch his expression.
“Wow, do you know her?”

There it was.
“Yes, it’s my sister.”

He lost any remnants of the charming smile he’d begun with. “Wow…wow…” His eyes dropped, he rubbed his face and hands went into his pockets, “That’s, wow, I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t make you uncomfortable…” He rubbed his face again, and darted his eyes to look in mine then looked toward the band.
 I assured him it was all right, I’m used to the subject, but he clearly wasn’t. We had an awkward moment or two of silence as we watched the band finish another Led Zeppelin tune. Then he excused himself to catch up with his friends, he looked in my eyes once before he left and trailed back to the carefree party a few tables over.
I felt the burden of my work and my message, I felt bad I rained on his party. I was sorry it ended our conversation; we never did dance. Mostly I was sorry to be the bearer of sorrow into his world. Even that slight insinuation to another’s pain gave him pain. He must have been a sensitive man. I never saw him again.

Maybe that nice young man will think about Capital Punishment a little differently next time it’s on the news?

The Christmas I was visiting Kerry and our memories sparked her heartache, one of the Deputies pulling visitation duty was suddenly unlocking the door to our little cinder block room. She hadn’t  loosed her key from the bolt in the metal door so was fidgeting with its chain connected to her belt as she blurted, “What did you say to upset her? Is she going to be okay?” And handed me a fistful of tissues. Kerry didn’t speak from behind her tears and looked away. I accepted the tissues and assured the guard my sister was all right.
After bolting us back inside, the deputy returned to her duties.
“They never seen me cry,” Kerry whispered, “I do that back in my cell.” She blew her nose and collected her emotions.

I looked out the window of our room across the packed auditorium of visitors moving about this strange Christmas day and caught the deputy glancing over again. She still looked concerned.
 It was the first Christmas in 18 years that Kerry had family with her. It was a good Christmas for both of us, there was even the smell of a real pine tree filling the usually rank dirty room. Someone had donated trees to the prison and one was decorating the large room where regular visitors mingled.
The prison guard went home with her husband and family after the shift to spend the rest of Christmas with them, but was compassionate to a Death Row inmate before joining her family festivities. By proxy, some unknown donor had sprinkled fresh pine smells from real Christmas trees onto family visits at the CCWF.
As a result of a wrongful conviction for Kerry, I sometimes meet the nicest people.

Because of my lessons through Kerry’s trial, I work to educate about the Death Penalty and towards abolishing it. Recently working on Juan Melendez’s  visit was a big focus. Meeting Juan, hearing his story, learning of his path and choices, and feeling his compassion for those he left behind (but does not forget and continues to fight for) was such a benefit on its own, but I also got the opportunity to meet a friend of Juan’s. A long time human rights activist came to Spokane to speak at the race conference at Gonzaga. He brought two young men to the conference. I was blessed to share a meal and some conversation with them one evening. I heard about a 17 year old being held on a drive by shooting in Kent, without any cause other than race and location, and their plans on what they personally will do to save this boy from a possible train wreck. I listened as four men discussed Troy Davis’ tragic killing by the state of Georgia, Juan sharing his personal friendship with the family. These activists asked about Kerry’s case and listened intently while encouraging me not to give up.

I meet the nicest people on this journey.

Today I had the opportunity to visit with another law student, seems I’ve started collecting them recently. She’s active in her developing career already, in many areas, one of which was arranging for Juan Melendez recent visit to Spokane. The young law student has a full scheduled life and it wasn’t easy for her to squeeze in the hour at the coffee shop for us to meet up so she could pass on a copy of Juan’s speech to me. After the greeting niceties I moved onto my thoughts since I knew she was anxious to get into her afternoon study session.

I looked across the uneven circular wooden table between us at her kind dark eyes and dove in. I figured spill the story quickly, not only was her time limited but she’s a law student: she’ll appreciate just the facts, right?  I expected questions to interrupt my repertoire, that was usual, but when I’d pause she was speechless, never taking her eyes off me. I tried to read her thoughts; bored or stunned? I worried she was bored, because I assumed this sort of story was old news for her, so I rushed on into more details while I still had her attention. I finally stopped for another breath, she blinked from behind her glasses and asked calmly, “what would you like done?”

I ran on about justice, freedom, life, truth, “I want someone, anyone, everyone, to take an interest - whatever time they have, and help get attention on Kerry’s case.”

By the time I was finished the eager young law student blinked again, her eyes were wet, she licked her lips before she spoke, “ I’m sorry you’re going through this…”  We talked some more, quite somberly. She reached for her laptop, after placing it on the table and typing in Kerry’s name she wished us both luck and said she’d think about the case. She told me they don’t have much exposure to actual trial transcripts in schooling, usually doing research for professors on projects, like she was currently wrapped up in.

I had taken her by surprise. I’m sorry, this time I hadn’t been prepared for that. I was surprised too, surprised she didn’t know how many bad cases there were out there, surprised she hadn’t already worked on old cases, surprised this case would elicit personal conflict and pain. I felt I’d invaded enough of her day and her thoughts, so excused myself, with apologies for having laid that on her so abruptly - it’s just that I saw a possible opportunity and know I have to reach out to all of them – just hoping one day one time it will stick - and stick good ,on someone who catches fire for this case and spreads the enthusiasm until we become a statistic like Juan, like Anthony Graves, like  the other 136 exonerated ; and not a statistic like Troy or Cameron, or Jessie…

I meet the nicest people while delving into the harshest, brutal, ugly side of human nature. While digging for truth and searching for people to listen, I meet the nicest people. Like this sweet young law student who has hopes of helping the world and maybe even changing it. This law student who has a love for the law and for people – People first. This work has given me the chance to meet the nicest people.

The young woman swallowed before she shook my hand, wished me luck, and said we’d keep in touch. I cut off her uncomfortable feeling, “I’m gonna take off so you can get in a good afternoon of study in.”

“I doubt it now,” she puffed a small laugh, but her eyes were serious. I left her gentle eyes saddened by my story.  Sorry I had brought gloom to another’s day my steps hurried me through the café to give her space. Just as I reached for the door handle I heard, “Excuse me, miss?” from a woman on her cell phone.

As I stepped outside I checked if I’d dropped something or left something behind, since the woman addressing me didn’t appear to be someone wanting to bum some money.

She put her phone in her purse, “I’m sorry, but I was sorta eavesdropping on your conversation, I just wanted to say something-“  she looked me steady in the eyes and with compassion, my anxiety about the other option; confrontation,  lowered.

This stranger quickly, but eloquently, expressed genuine sympathy with my sister’s  situation and encouragement for my continued fight for her. This person I’d never seen before offered her prayers and advice for my family. She took a chance, she put herself out, and she gave me what I needed: hope in the eyes of a stranger. I gave her Kerry’s and my names, my contact info. She gave me kind words and an honest heart that cared about to strangers’ lives.

I may never see this person again, I hope I do though, but my day was blessed by her willingness to reach out to me. She shared that she has a youth ministry of some sort, and she’s made a CD with encouraging music for them. She said she was going to name it “Sink or Swim,” but decided there wasn’t an option: she calls it “Swim,” and offered to send me a copy.  Before she said good bye she hugged me and said, “Swim. You have to,” and  keep fighting for your sister and what you know is right.

 I meet the nicest people because of this work.
She said my sister was blessed to have me on her side; I am blessed to have Kerry and this life we share, because of her I meet the nicest people - and sometimes she does too. Because of this tragedy I have had to learn and grow and change - I would never wish for this and can’t wait for this nightmare to be over!!  Don’t get me wrong, but because of this travesty in our lives, I have been blessed with the nicest people.

I love and support you Kerry. Many people, some you've never met and some who you don’t even know, love and support you too.


http://www.voicesunited4justice.com/juan.htm

http://camerontoddwillingham.com/?p=675

http://www.fadp.org/fl_wrongfulconvictions.html

http://www.anthonygraves.org/

http://troyanthonydavis.org/