QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Johnson told KMOV affiliate KCTV that he expects to remain in jail through another holiday season, despite the confessions of others for the crime. “I have to believe god has another plan for me … he’s got to have a different purpose than for me to die here,” Johnson said. “And I believe eventually the right thing will be done. I have to believe that.”
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PASSAGE OF THE DAY: "In late August of this year, a St. Louis judge denied Johnson’s legal team’s request for a new trial. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Hogan ruled that the court had no authority to grant a new trial because the motion was "filed approximately twenty-four years" after the mandated deadline of 15 days after the verdict. Gardner attempted to appeal the decision to the Appellate court, but Schmitt’s office says she does not have legal standing in the case, saying, her “efforts to represent the State of Missouri in this appeal are contrary to long-standing Missouri law."
STORY: "Advocates collect 25,000 signatures calling for Missouri AG to free Lamar Johnson." by KMOV on December 10, 2019.
PHOTO CAPTION: Lamar Johnson has spent almost 25 years behind bars for a murder he swears he didn’t do.
GIST: "A St. Louis
man who has spent 25 years in prison for a murder he said he didn’t
commit – a murder St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner says he didn’t
commit - still has a tough road ahead. A new court filing by Missouri
Attorney General Eric Schmitt aims to legally block efforts to free
Lamar Johnson. Earlier this summer Gardner’s office requested a new
trial for Johnson. According to a report from Gardner's office, police
pressured the only eyewitness to identify Johnson in a lineup, even
though the two shooters wore masks that covered most of their faces. The
witness took back his identification in a 2003 letter to a pastor. In
late August of this year, a St. Louis judge denied Johnson’s legal
team’s request for a new trial. Circuit Judge Elizabeth Hogan ruled that
the court had no authority to grant a new trial because the motion was
"filed approximately twenty-four years" after the mandated deadline of
15 days after the verdict. Gardner attempted to appeal the
decision to the Appellate court, but Schmitt’s office says she does not
have legal standing in the case, saying, her “efforts to represent the
State of Missouri in this appeal are contrary to long-standing Missouri
law… By statue, the AG is the designated representative of the State of
Missouri in cases pending in this court.” Johnson was convicted in 1995 and sentenced to life in
prison without possibility of parole for the death of Marcus Boyd.
Police and St. Louis prosecutors at the time alleged that he and
co-defendant Phillip Campbell fatally shot Boyd over a fight about drug
dealing. Campbell and another man who confessed to his role in the
slaying, James Howard, have since signed sworn affidavits stating that
Johnson was not involved. Johnson told KMOV affiliate KCTV that he
expects to remain in jail through another holiday season, despite the
confessions of others for the crime. “I have to believe god has
another plan for me … he’s got to have a different purpose than for me
to die here,” Johnson said. “And I believe eventually the right thing
will be done. I have to believe that.” In response to the Attorney
General, advocates delivered a petition with 25,000 signatures calling
for Johnson's release."
The entire story can be read at:
https://www.kmov.com/news/advocates-collect-signatures-calling-for-missouri-ag-to-free-lamar/article_4415f548-fcda-11e9-ae03-eb6740ac7c20.html
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THE PETITION: "Delivered to Attoney General Schmitt's office on December 10, 2019: We are taking action and delivering over 25,000 petition signatures in front of Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt's office to demand Lamar Johnson's freedom. In 1995, Lamar Johnson was falsely accused, wrongly convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. More than two decades later, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner discovered multiple instances of prosecutorial misconduct in Lamar’s case including the bribing of the prosecution’s key eyewitness, who later recanted his testimony.2 Now as part of an effort to right the wrongs of tough-on-crimes policies, Kim Gardner has petitioned the courts to hear the evidence of innocence and grant Lamar a new trial. But Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is BLOCKING Lamar's new trial and release. Schmitt claims that Gardner has no authority as a prosecutor to correct a miscarriage of justice and that the state technically cannot request a new trial for a defendant. Join us in demanding AG Schmitt to defend Lamar Johnson's freedom!"
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PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
The entire story can be read at:
https://www.kmov.com/news/advocates-collect-signatures-calling-for-missouri-ag-to-free-lamar/article_4415f548-fcda-11e9-ae03-eb6740ac7c20.html
----------------------------------------
THE PETITION: "Delivered to Attoney General Schmitt's office on December 10, 2019: We are taking action and delivering over 25,000 petition signatures in front of Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt's office to demand Lamar Johnson's freedom. In 1995, Lamar Johnson was falsely accused, wrongly convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. More than two decades later, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner discovered multiple instances of prosecutorial misconduct in Lamar’s case including the bribing of the prosecution’s key eyewitness, who later recanted his testimony.2 Now as part of an effort to right the wrongs of tough-on-crimes policies, Kim Gardner has petitioned the courts to hear the evidence of innocence and grant Lamar a new trial. But Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt is BLOCKING Lamar's new trial and release. Schmitt claims that Gardner has no authority as a prosecutor to correct a miscarriage of justice and that the state technically cannot request a new trial for a defendant. Join us in demanding AG Schmitt to defend Lamar Johnson's freedom!"
--------------------------------------------
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at: http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith. Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at: http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog;
