FreeJonny1
For
Justice
To deny people their human rights is to challenge
their very humanity. Nelson Mandela
their very humanity. Nelson Mandela
No physical evidence, an alibi, a lead detective doubting the tales told by a young man who has remained in a mental institution since his arrival in the Colorado Department of Corrections, civil rights and judicial procedures trampled upon throughout my entire case, yet here I sit. These are the haunting thoughts that cross my mind daily. Perhaps the most disturbing thing for me was the destruction of the only evidence that could exonerate me. Two of the victims in this triple homicide were elderly and were on a regular medication regiment. If these medications were found in their stomachs, it would show they were killed 5 hours earlier than my "friend" Issac claimed, when I was hours away in the company of my family. But fate would not be so kind. For six months the stomach fluids were "lost" and when they were found in another counties morgue, the specimens were in such a deteriorated state they could not be tested. How convenient. My faith in the integrity of the justice system was waining but this incident would be nothing like October 16, 2002. When a nervous 19 year old kid would confront the court and learn the lawyer he trusted had betrayed him in the worst way. The District Attorney has 180 days, after a plea is entered in a case, to bring a case to trial. It's called the defendants Right To a Speedy Trial. A law which cannot be broken without a verbal (court recorded) or written waiver from the accused. On Oct. 16 they were over a month past their deadline, my hopes were soaring. Freedom was finally at hand. I could taste the sweet nectar and its intoxicating effects. Restless nights, hours of study, all the bases were covered. I had their %$#* finally! As I made my case, butterflies taking flight in my stomach, I noticed the smirks on the D.A.'s faces, the feigned interest of the judge, as if they anticipated my move and were privy to a hidden trump card. As I completed my statement, the judge asked if that was all? "Yes", I replied. He denied my motion on the grounds that my spineless lawyer waived my right to speedy trial months before, against my will and behind my back in a private hearing, over the phone with the judge, DA and himself. Panic struck me. My heart raced as my mind tried to wrap itself around what I had just heard. Next week was my trial date. Would I be forced to represent myself? I can't do it! I try to scramble, find something! Confused, fear grips my heart. I must postpone! I must have a lawyer! Thankfully the judge rescued me from my despair and scheduled a hearing the next day, where lawyers from the Public Defenders Office could hear my complaints, help me fight! If only that were the case! These underpaid, overworked, civil servants would grill me and tell me I had no hope. Even though their office represented two men who were witnesses against me. Another kick to an already injured soul, my will to fight diminishes. Jonny
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Follow this link to Jonny's Etsy Art Shop
Author
|
copyright 2012 FreeJonny
|
Take Action Our Blog
|