Mumia Abu-Jamal, author of Live From Death Row, is a political prisoner on Pennsylvania's death row. At age 15, he co-founded the Phila. chapter of the Black Panther Party, and later, as a journalist, reported on the notorious brutality and corruption of the Phila. Police Department.

On Dec. 9, 1981, Police Officer Daniel Faulkner (who according to witnesses was beating Mumia's brother William Cook) was fatally shot on a Phila. street. Mumia Abu-Jamal, who had arrived on the scene, was also shot, critically wounded and beaten.

Mumia was tried before Judge Albert Sabo in 1982. Key points of why Mumia Abu-Jamal should receive a new and fair trial are:

Judge Sabo has sent more people to death row than any other seated judge in the country and has a documented bias against black defendants. The prosecution claimed that Mumia had confessed to killing Faulkner, although initial police reports state that Mumia made no comments and the police only "remembered" the alleged confession 2 months later. The writer of the words "the negro male made no comment" on a Dec. 9th police report, Officer Gary Wakshul, was conveniently "on vacation" during the '82 trial, and Sabo wouldn't wait for his return.

Mumia was denied his right to self-representation and was even sent out of the courtroom during key portions of the trial.

During sentencing, Sabo allowed the prosecution to question Mumia about his political beliefs and introduce statements he made as a member of the Black Panther Party. The overwhelmingly white jury recommended the death penalty on July 3, 1982.

The Medical Examiner judged the bullet that killed Faulkner to be a .44 caliber. Mumia's gun, a legally registered .38, was not tested to see if it was recently fired, and Mumia's hands were never checked for gunpowder residue.

The prosecution's star witnesses changed their stories repeatedly -- Cynthia white had 3 pending charges for prostitution, and Robert Chobert was on probation for throwing a molotov cocktail into a playground for pay. Although they were clearly susceptible to police pressure to testify for the prosecution, the jury was never allowed to hear about Chobert's firebomb conviction, nor that Cynthia white was given a deal by the cops to continue to work the streets with impunity in exchange for her fabricated testimony.

With the help of supporters, Mumia was able to hire Atty. Leonard Weinglass in 1992 and reopen the investigation. In June 1995, a post-conviction relief appeal (PCRA) was filed. Gov. Tom Ridge signed Mumia's death warrant just before this. Judge Sabo denied his bias and refused to take himself off the case, presiding over a hastily-ordered evidentiary hearing while an August execution date loomed. Sabo denied the motion for discovery, refused to hear witnesses and rejected every issue raised by the defense. Sabo "flaunted his bias, oozing partiality toward the prosecution." (American Lawyer, Dec. 1995)

Mumia Abu-Jamal Legal Update

Mumia's PCRA, his final state appeal, was denied by the PA Supreme Court on Oct. 26th. We expect a death warrant imminently. PA law mandates the Death Warrant be signed within 90 days of the Supreme Court ruling. Mumia would only have 30 days (or, the length of the execution warrant) to file his only federal habeas corpus petition, which may get him a TEMPORARY stay of execution from a federal judge.

Needless to say, time is running out. Funds are urgently needed to help keep Mumia alive, and to get him a new trial. Please Make Tax-Deductible Contributions to Mumia Abu-Jamal's Legal Defense Fund. Send a check or money order payable to Black United Fund of PA/Mumia Abu-Jamal, earmarked Legal Defense, and send to:

Black United Fund
2227 N. Broad St.
Philadelphia, Pa 19132-4502