Prisoners
Henry (Hank) Skinner
For every 79 people charged with murder the death penalty irrevocably claims, one of those executed is an innocent person. Is such a price too high? Would you volunteer yourself as that person? It happens with all too depressing frequency in America, particularly so in the death dispensing state of Texas. For once again an innocent person's life is under severe threat from political imposition of the death penalty. Henry (Hank) Skinner, on death row since 1993, has friends on the outside so utterly convinced of his innocence that they spent thousands of dollars of their own money in trying to get the case re-opened. There is growing international concern too as the pressure in Texas mounts to 'legally' snuff out Hank'existence. A great deal of new evidence has been unearthed which proves that he could not have done that which he is accused and falsely convicted of, including a sworn affidavit from a key prosecution witness who confesses to having made "inaccurate and untruthful" statements, both to the police and to the jury trial. Compelling forensic evidence is also available to add weight to Hank's testimony. But nothing of this may stand to be taken into account as Hank Skinner fights desperately for his life. Texas District Attorney John Mann, in order to see Hank killed quickly is saying publicly: " It may be 12 to 18 months before we get a final decree in the case. That's not unduly lengthy by today's standards...if the death penalty is going to work as a deterrent, it's going to have to be handed down and imposed in short order.". American politicians thrive on this heartless rhetoric and believe it makes them look tough in the voters' eyes. It doesn't matter that the votes are bought with blood. For Hank, it's simply a race against time now to raise sufficient funds to demonstrate against his conviction.
effective legal representations in complex US murder cases are measured in dollars and vast sums are needed in order to hire legal and forensic expertise necessary to achieve this aim. furthermore, according to recent Texas legislation, all available proof must be gathered and submitted now, before the first State habeas writ is filed, otherwise that evidence will be procedurally barred from consideration by any court in a subsequent writ and no amount of money will help matters- Hank Skinner will simply be executed. As a matter of utmost urgency, because Hank is forced to rely on public charity to help him establish the real facts of his case, many thousands of dollars are needed if he is to have even the slimmest chance of avoiding execution. Those who know Hank to be innocent have exhausted their own finances trying to save his life. there is nothing more financially they can do except to appeal to as wide a public as possible on behalf of an innocent man's life. If anyone can help in any way contact
Pastor Albert Maggard PO Box 1451, Pampa, Tx 79066-1451USA and Henry Skinner 999143, Ellis One Unit, Death Row, Huntsville TX 77343 USA. For information via the Internet: www.cyberspace-inmates.com/skinner.htm and www.cdinet.demon.co.uk. Email: Alandmary@netjava.com