NC Appellate Loss

The conviction and death sentence of North Carolina death row inmate Davy Stephens has been upheld by the Fourth Circuit.  Apparently they didn’t think there was anything fishy about Stephens’ lawyer not telling him that he also happened to represent the law enforcement agency which investigated the case.  The lawyer also neglected to mention that through that representation, he knew that a member of the Sheriff’s Office had destroyed files related to Stephens’ case.  Not a conflict of interest at all, no sir.

Britt Trial to Start Monday

In Robeson County, the capital trial of Myron Britt is set to begin next week. A pretrial hearing was held yesterday to determine whether jurors would hear evidence that a bullet fired from a gun owned by Britt matched the bullet that killed his wife.  One expert asserts that the bullets did come from the same gun, while another says it’s not possible to know for sure.

Sojourners Come Home

The Sojourners for Abolition and Reconciliation have completed their 300-mile trek across North Carolina.  Congratulations to Scott Bass and everyone else who took to the streets to raise awareness about the death penalty.

Racial Justice Act Moves Forward

The Judiciary I committee of the North Carolina House of Representatives has approved the Racial Justice Act, bringing the state one step closer to addressing the problem of racial bias in the administration of the death penalty.  Media reports are here and here.

The Racial Justice Act is expected to be heard by the full House next week.  You can follow the bill via the Twitter page of the North Carolina Coalition for a Moratorium.

Executions – July 2009

1 – Matthew Eric Wrinkles (IN)

9 – Michael DeLozier (OK)

14 -  John Fautenberry (OH)

14 – Paul Warner Powell (VA)

16 – Kenneth Mosley (TX)

21 – Marvallous Keene (OH)

23 – Roderick Newtown (TX)

28 – Clifton Lamar Williams (TX – stayed)

28 – Junious Diggs (PA – stay likely)

30 -  Ralph Trent Stokes (PA – stay likely)

Sojourners Return Tuesday

On Tuesday, the Sojourners for Abolition and Reconciliation will complete their 300-mile trek across North Carolina.  The walkers will arrive in Raleigh on the same day that the House Judiciary Committee is considering the Racial Justice Act, which would allow defendants and inmates to challenge death sentences sought or obtained on the basis of racism.

Pilgrimage, Headed Home

The Sojourners for Abolition and Reconciliation have entered the final week of their march across North Carolina.  The first stop on the long walk home will be in Kinston, where St. Augustus AME Church (318 E. North Street) will be hosting Linda White for the screening of the documentary Meeting with a Killer.  White’s daughter was raped and murdered in 1986.  The film tells the story of White’s healing process, which included speaking with one of the men responsible.

A listing of media accounts of the march is here.  Members of SofAR are walking 300 miles across North Carolina to call for abolition of the death penalty and to raise awareness of the needs of family members on both sides of the debate.

Pilgrimage, Day Nine

Today the Sojourners for Abolition and Reconciliation are making their way from Grifton to Kinston, then catching a ride to Jacksonville and walking from there to Swansboro.  You can follow their journey on the SofAR blog.

Over the weekend, the marchers traveled from Bethel to Greenville to Grifton, catching the media’s eye along the way.  Video, including an interview with co-founder Scott Bass, is here.  The Greenville Daily Reflector has two articles here and here (the latter being more informative).  SofAR also made the cover of today’s Raleigh News and Observer (article and photos here).

Tomorrow the Sojourners will reach the ocean.  They are planning an event at Emerald Isle Baptist Church at 6:30 PM.  Linda White, a member of Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation, will speak.

Pilgrimage, with Weekend

Yesterday the Sojourners for Abolition and Reconciliation journeyed from Rocky Mount to Princeville.  This piece about the march appeared in today’s Rocky Mount Telegram.

Today they are en route to Williamston, and Saturday they’ll arrive in Greenville.  You can meet up with the marchers at the Tipsy Teapot (409 Evans Street) at 4 PM.  On Sunday, they’re off to Grifton and the 100-mile mark.

Pilgrimage, Day Four

The Soujourners for Abolition and Reconciliation have made their way to Rocky Mount – and an internet connection!  They have updated their blog here and here with tales of their travels so far.

Today they will march from Rocky Mount to Tarboro- Princeville.