Slideshow Transcript

1. Slide 1: Sean Seigel English 10 February 1 - February 16
2. Slide 2: Early Life • Abu-Jamal grew up in Philadelphia, where a police beating led him to join the Black Panther Party.
3. Slide 3: Background • Mumia Abu-Jamal was born on April, 24 1954 • Before his conviction Mumia was a journalist who covered many political and controversial topics
4. Slide 4: Background • He was information minister of the Philadelphia branch of the Black Panther party • Although not a member he was a supporter of MOVE, a Philadelphia- based black power group known for its demonstrations against police and the city government.
5. Slide 5: Early Life • Mumia was 17 when he became a father, then changed his name from Wesley Mumia Cook to Mumia Abu-Jamal which in Swahili means father of Jamal.
6. Slide 6: Elements in an Unfair Trial • Albert Sabo, the judge during the first trial sentenced more people to death than any other judge in the history of Pennsylvania before retiring in 1992.
7. Slide 7: Elements in an Unfair Trial • The prosecutor removed 11 qualified African Americans from the jury. Philadelphia is a 40% African-American city while the jury consisted of only two African-Americans out of 12 jurors.
8. Slide 8: • The police never The Gun tested Mumia’s gun to see if it had been fired or tested his hands to see if he had recently fired a gun
9. Slide 9: The Gun • A police pathologist reported that Officer Faulkner was killed with a 44 caliber gun. • Mumia’s gun which he was licensed to carry was a 38 caliber which he had with him.
10. Slide 10: Trial • Abu-Jamal was charged with the first degree murder of a police officer, Daniel Faulkner. • The case went to trial in June 1982
11. Slide 11: Trial • According to the prosecution there were four eyewitnesses who all said they were at the scene at the time of the shooting and all identified Mumia as the shooter.
12. Slide 12: Trial • William Singletary an eyewitness who was not called by either party testified that Abu-Jamal was not the shooter. • He also testified that police forced him to tear up his initial statement and made him sign one which they dictated.
13. Slide 13: Confession • Judge Albert Sabo did not • In Officer Wakshul’s allow the jury to hear Gary official report Mumia Wakshul’s original report. made no comments the entire time that he was being treated. • Then 3 months later he changed his story saying that Mumia yelled out in his hospital bed that he had killed the cop. He said that he didn’t write it in his original report because he didn’t think it was important at the time.
14. Slide 14: Trial • Mumia Abu-Jamal did not testify because he says that he was denied his right to represent himself and had no confidence in his court appointed attorney and he would not be used to make it look like he had a fair trial.
15. Slide 15: Trial • The jury deliberated for two days before finding Mumia guilty, he was then sentenced to death.
16. Slide 16: 2001 Appeal • Judge William Yohn overturned Mumia Abu-Jamal’s death sentence citing irregularities in the original sentencing process on December 18, 2001.
17. Slide 17: 2001 Appeal • Both sides were unhappy with the ruling, and have filed appeals, the defense because it means that Abu-Jamal cannot have a new trial and the prosecution because they want the death penalty reinstated.
18. Slide 18: International Support • Terry Bisson in his book The Story of Mumia Abu-Jamal wrote “Mumia is not dead today only because his case has attracted world- wide attention and support.” • “Some support him because he is innocent.” • “Others believe that innocence is not the issue; that any conflict between a well-known black journalist and a police force as famously racist and violence Philadelphia’s is more self- defense than murder.
19. Slide 19: International Support • “Others because of the demonstrated racial bias of the death penalty; and still others because they oppose the death penalty on principle.”
20. Slide 20: International Support • “Some support him because they see him as a martyr.” • “Some because they have been moved by his words and in support of others.” • “But all agree that the central and overriding injustice is the so-called trial”