Summary
‘Alibi witnesses’. The alleged alibi witnesses have been a thorn in my side. I have always maintained to my court appointed trial attorney(s), as well as to my appellate attorneys that THE ALIBI WITNESSES HAVE TO BE THE KILLERS.
There are important facts my trial attorney failed to bring
out while questioning these witnesses. One being the fact that
they told the Public Defender's investigator that when they
picked me up hitch-hiking that I wore a long sleeve red flannel
shirt and my hair was in a pony tail. Also that I put the black
T-shirt on at home only after I cleaned the blood from my face
and hands. Why my attorney failed to bring out these facts I do
not know. But do know it is one reason why I tried unsuccessfully
to dismiss him during the trial.
Another thing I wanted my trial attorney to learn about, but he
didn't, was what Detective Fire meant in the
deposition when he said he knew the female witness
from another murder case in which she was a witness. I felt good
that it came out that both witnesses initially denied any
knowledge of the murder. But I still needed more to question
their integrity and truthfulness. I never asked them for
an alibi. I didn't even know Butch was dead. I didn't
like them and didn't want them around. I even tried to make them
leave when I found out Butch was allowing them to stay with him.
But I was out voted and they were allowed to remain. When
Detective Fire told me that they said I told them I killed Butch
and asked them for an alibi, I knew he wasn't telling me the
truth - but, the fact is they did tell Detective Fire that. And
since detective Fire had already determined I was guilty, they
got away with murder.
Things became a total nightmare for me from the time I was awoken
and told I was under arrest for murder. I initially thought Butch
had killed the guy he had fought with earlier that night and
because I was with him the police wanted to know what I knew. I
had nothing to hide and no reason to lie. After being told Butch
was dead and all the evidence pointed to me as the killer, I went
into shock. I could not explain the evidence. Nothing seemed to
make sense to me and I now believe I suffered a nervous
breakdown. No one was helping me. The Public Defenders were
telling me the evidence was overwhelming as to guilt and unless I
came up with answers I would die in the electric chair. I didn't
know what happened to Butch except for what I was being told and
no one seemed to believe me.
Then Barbara, the victim's mother, came to visit
me at the Jail. Barbara told me she knew I didn't kill her son,
and a giant weight was lifted off my shoulders. She then helped
me to put the pieces together. Last year (1995) Fate would smile
on me! I would have my cell location changed and meet another man
here on death row from Pinellas County, Florida. As we talked
about our cases I learned he was from the same general area as I.
So, I asked him if he knew the alleged alibi witnesses in my
case. To my surprise he said yes and that one of them even gave a
deposition in his case. I asked to read it and once more to my
surprise I was reading how the female witness in
my case was telling how she had made a deal with state's
attorney Bruce Young to testify against me. That he
agreed to reduce a felony possession of
marijuana to a misdemeanor. This information was not turned over
on demand for discovery. This deposition shows that this couple
have a good perception of how the legal system works and that
they know how to use it. This also shows that Bruce Young is not
above reproach. That he personally did not reveal evidence that
would of been used to show incentive and reason for the alleged alibi witnesses to testify as Bruce Young wanted them to testify.
I am innocent and for nearly sixteen years I have fought hard to prove my innocence. If not for a quirk of fate I may have never found the evidence that taints the alibi witnesses testimony. The Jury never heard any defense testimony, because all the exculpatory evidence that would have allowed me to put on a defense was withheld from the defense. I deserve an evidentiary hearing and immediate release....