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Post by Maggie on Apr 28, 2005 9:08:43 GMT -5
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Post by Maggie on Apr 28, 2005 9:12:31 GMT -5
I am taking a chance that Karen won't mind me posting this here.
I am so very happy for Kenny--- and Karen!
Kenny update
Wednesday, 27 April 2005
I have just returned from Ohio, after visiting Kenny which coincided with the latest news that the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals had denied the State's request for a rehearing.
When I arrived to visit Kenny on Monday 18th April, neither of us knew there had been a decision made in his case. In fact I was slightly amused to be met by a "greeting commitee" of two prison officials, who obviously knew there had been some development but failed to tell me.
I didnt find out until I came out of our visit, when Alan Johnson from the Columbus Dispatch informed me that we had won in 6th circuit.
Of course this was wonderful news to hear and it was especially wonderful that by chance I was in Ohio when it happened.
There where all sorts of rumours going around that Kenny was to be freed etc, even the guards asked me if I had come to bring Richey home.
Many of them telling me it was time he went home. This was the first concrete evidence we had that even some of the guards know he shouldnt be there.
We would like to thank the 6th Circuit Court for upholding their 25th January decision on Kenny's case. This is the right and just thing to do.
We would also like to thank everyone who has supported Kenny and myself in this struggle for truth and justice.
Kenny was delighted to hear this news. He now knows he is coming home, its just when is the issue.
The visits went well and I met so many wonderful people on and off death row.
The evidence in this case shows that Ohio has kept an innocent man on death row for over 18 years.
It is time that the State of Ohio and Jim Petro the Attorney General stops appealing when he knows he cannot win this. Kenny should be set free as soon as possible.
As Kenny's attorneys have been quoted as saying,
"This is spiteful and vindictive," said Richey's Boston attorney, Ken Parsigian.
"It's not surprising. It's OK to indulge every possible argument, but don't complain when other people do it. They've argued in this case that Richey won't accept finality. Well, right back at ya'."
Another of Richey’s Boston-based lawyers, Daryl Wiesen, admitted he was disappointed but not surprised by the announcement and confirmed he would be filing an opposition to the motion as soon as possible.
“We do not think it’s an appropriate move,” he said.
“There are no issues worthy of review by the US Supreme Court in this case.”<br>
Mr Petro said: "We believe the evidence supports the just conviction of Kenneth Richey. Has Mr Petro PERSONALLY looked at ALL of this case? I find that incredible if he says he has. Which is seriously doubtful. there is nothing JUST about this case at all.
Mr Petro is running for Governor and it seems he does not want to admit defeat before the elections?
"Ohio Courts have reviewed this case and found the evidence supports that Richey set the fire intending to kill his girlfriend but ended up killing two-year old Cynthia Collins." says Petro.
Well he should also note that it was an Ohio court who decided to overturn Kennys conviction. And it is time for Mr Petro to stop fighting what he cannot possibly win. Personally I would think more of the Ohio "justice" system if they admitted that they got it wrong and that they do the right thing. Justice delayed is justiced denied. And justice in this case has been denied for 18 long hard years. Let Kenny go free NOW. Its the very least the State of Ohio can do under these circumstances. They are making themselves look bad and they are making a joke of the word justice.
Richey’s attorney Ken Parsigian, of Boston, wants the court to refuse the state’s motion and move forward with the case. He also wants the clock to start ticking, and the appeal to the Supreme Court to run simultaneously with the 90 days the state has to retry Richey.
“Kenny has waited his time. If it puts a little pressure on the state I think that’s only fair,” Parsigian said.
Parsigian also wants state prosecutors to file the appeal as quickly as possible, which said should be by next week instead of waiting the allowable 90 days since the state plans to repeat the same argument it’s been using.
“They don’t need 90 days, they don’t need nine days. They could file it Monday. That may mean a couple of state prosecutors would have to work the weekend but Kenny has spent enough weekends in prison,” Parsigian said.
Parsigian has filed a motion with the 6th Circuit demanding Richey’s release from death row while objecting to the stay. Parsigian’s argument is based on the premise that with no convic-tion against Richey, he’s an innocent man until proven guilty, and innocent men are not kept on death row.
Kenneth J. Parsigian, Richey’s lead attorney from Boston, blasted the state for delaying tactics.
"If they want to retry this case, I’ll be in Ohio next week. Bring it on. Don’t drag it out forever," he said.
"It’s pretty remarkable, in a state which routinely argues and complains that criminal defendants will never accept finality, that they indulge every long-shot appeal.
"How about a little consistency and a little honesty? They just don’t want to admit they’re wrong on anything."
Parsigian said the state stands no chance of having the U.S. Supreme Court accept the case on appeal. There just isn’t an important legal question.
“That’s a desperation Hail Mary,” he said
And I couldnt have put it better than Ken did.
Ohio it is time to free Kenny Richey, The INNOCENT Scot on death row.
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Post by Maggie on Apr 28, 2005 9:26:39 GMT -5
Another article: Richey on brink of freedom as prosecutor's plea rejected KAREN MCVEIGH A REQUEST to overturn a United States appeal court’s decision to free death-row Scot Kenny Richey has been unanimously refused. Richey, who has been under a death sentence in an Ohio prison for 18 years, must now be set free by the state unless it mounts a retrial within 90 days. Ken Parsigian, Richey’s lawyer, was unavailable for comment yesterday, but he has said he believes a retrial is unlikely. Since the 1987 trial, one key witness has changed her statement, another is too ill to testify and scientific evidence has been called into question. Richey, 40, originally from Edinburgh, won an appeal against his conviction in January this year. One of the reasons given was the "incompetent" work by his lawyer at the original trial. He was convicted of the murder of Cynthia Collins, the two-year-old daughter of a friend, in an arson attack in 1986. His successful appeal was challenged in February by the Ohio attorney general, Jim Petro. He filed a request for a "rehearing en banc" - which means for all 12 judges of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, not just the three original panel members who overturned Richey’s conviction, to rehear the case. Mr Petro claimed the panel of three failed to follow adequate standards of review. Yesterday, Richey’s fiancé, Karen Torley, from Glasgow, said she was delighted with the decision. "I am pleased that the court has denied Ohio’s request to have another hearing," she said. "This injustice has gone on long enough. It’s time to set Kenny free and let him live with his family." Amnesty International UK and pressure group, Reprieve, also welcomed the news. Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, said: "Kenny has endured 18 years on death row fighting to clear his name after a flawed trial. It is surely time for Ohio to accept the view of its senior court and set about releasing this man immediately." Clive Stafford-Smith, the founder of Reprieve, said he was "confident" that if the prosecutors took time to review all the evidence "they will come to the conclusion that Kenny is innocent and end the case". Richey’s case has attracted numerous high-profile supporters over the years. Those who have spoken out on his behalf include the late pope, John Paul II, a former Archbishop of Canterbury and US actress and anti-death penalty campaigner Susan Sarandon. At least one of the 12 appeal judges abstained from the process, due to previous involvement in the case. This article: news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=4142 12005 Kenny Richey: news.scotsman.com/topics.cfm?tid=409 |
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Turid
New Arrival
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Post by Turid on May 4, 2005 6:38:50 GMT -5
GOOD NEWS FOR A CHANGE!!!  It happens so rarely, that when it happens, I get confused! HA HA!!! If you read this, Karen: GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND KENNY BOTH!! I sure doubt this would have been possible if it weren't for you Karen! ;D Your efforts have been a brilliant example of what people can actually do once they set their minds to it. This is just awesome!  Love, Turid |
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Post by Maggie on May 4, 2005 7:17:17 GMT -5
Hi Turid, There is an article posted in the news section about Karen and Kenny.... they are both going to write books... which will tell their stories. Karen was in Scottland and wrote to Kenny as a pen-pal..... eventually they fell in love and she has fought with him and stuck by his side. One time Kenny was an hour next to death before he got a stay..... they almost KILLED an INNOCENT man  Thank God he has been exonerated and NO THANKS to the State of Ohio! I wrote to the AG Jim Petri who has tried to STOP Kenny's release.... because it is an "election year".... I wrote that as a registered voter in the State of Ohio I would make it my business to vote AGAINST him EVERY time I see his name, I said the reason why is two words. Kenny Richey. |
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Post by Maggie on May 4, 2005 7:18:49 GMT -5
PS- Turid...
Two movies are being made about Kenny's case as well!
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Turid
New Arrival
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Post by Turid on May 4, 2005 9:22:45 GMT -5
Hi! It sure is great that they're both going to write books about what they've been going through! This insanity needs to be exposed every time it happens. Also: I didn't know there was going to be a film! That is promising news for every one of us trying to work against the death penalty. Also: I usually hear that every time a prisoner has been released from death row due to the fact that they were innocent is a result of a system that is working the way it is supposed to. Karen and Kenny's story shows that is not always the fact. Makes me think of Anthony Porter (I believe that was him), who was freed from death row because of a group of college students were able to prove his innocence. These people have nothing to do with the system at all. Neither Kenny, nor Anthony Porter saved their lives because of a system that is working, but because ordinary people cared enough to act. It's time now. It's time Kenny is taken back to Scotland and Karen, and let's hope the state of Ohio does not put any more obstacles in the way for them. Thanks for letting me know!  Love, Turid |
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Post by mikebook on May 19, 2005 18:52:33 GMT -5
If he gets out via this, good. I do not mind it when a person gets a break...
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Post by angelang38 on May 20, 2005 5:48:46 GMT -5
:)KAREN YOUR AN INSPIRATION AND IM PROUD TO CALL YOU MY FRIEND  ANGELA XXX |
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Post by Maggie on May 20, 2005 6:46:21 GMT -5
Angela please tell Karen Richey I have admired her from afar! She has done a great job, and I wish her and Kenny the best.
Now when is Kenny going to be on that plane home? ;D
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Post by angelang38 on May 20, 2005 9:35:43 GMT -5
:)THANKS MAGGIE IVE PASSED ON YOUR MESSAGE TO KAREN
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Post by moghirl on May 21, 2005 5:20:34 GMT -5
Aye, as a fellow Scot i've been following this case closely. Surely it's long past the time when Ohio should've let this man go free. I admire Karen so much for all her hard work and wish the pair of them a long and happy life together.
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Post by oztash on May 21, 2005 8:14:25 GMT -5
It great to hear that a inocent man will soon be free, and I pray for Kenny and Karen....
I pray that we never stop trying to end the death penalty and that, we will be able to stop other inocent men/women from execution.......
Tasha
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Post by Maggie on May 21, 2005 8:17:35 GMT -5
It great to hear that a inocent man will soon be free, and I pray for Kenny and Karen.... I pray that we never stop trying to end the death penalty and that, we will be able to stop other inocent men/women from execution....... Tasha Hi Tasha, From what I hear, they are both planning to write books, and two movies are being made about Kenny's case. One time Kenny was an hour away from execution. I hope this case will get a lot of recognition. Kenny is innocent, and he was an hour away from execution. Very scary. I agree Jim Petri of Ohio is scum |
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Post by lene on May 21, 2005 9:12:56 GMT -5
I can't wait to hear stories from when he's out. I'm sure there will be tough times adjusting to the free world for both Karen and Kenny - but I am sure they will have a BLAST most of the time. Both Karen and Kenny have such a great sense of humor, and I think that will get them through the hard times.
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ANGELA XXX