Association Struggle For Justice
c/o Colette Berthes
216 Chemin de Figarol
82170 Pompignan
FRANCE
tel:33 5 58 51 75 62
email: Lutte Pour la Justice

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SAVING ODELL BARNES JR.


December 1999

Dear Sir or Madam,
ODELL BARNES JR., a young Afro-American of 31 years of age, has now spent more than 9 years on death row in Huntsville prison Texas. He has always claimed his innocence and has always maintained that he played no role whatsoever in the murder for which he is accused.

His execution date HAS BEEN FIXED FOR MARCH 1^ST 2000.

On several occasions , his appeals have been rejected, for lack of sufficient funds with which to defend himself. However, not only was Odell sentenced after a hasty trial (inquiry completed without interviews with key witnesses, without reference to scientific expertise, a lawyer summarily appointed who admitted his own incompetence in the affair, a hand-picked jury, a judge and procurer elected by a population who support the death penalty), things which should already have justified the overturning of the sentence and a new trial, a in truth his guilt has not been proven at all.

The association Struggle for Justice was formed specially with the aim of allowing Odell to properly defend himself and to be granted justice. Without the help and support of generous individuals HE WOULD BE DEAD ALREADY! The funds collected have allowed him to have competent and determined lawyers and a private investigator who now have in their possession enough evidence to prove his innocence.

In effect, recent tests have shown that the bloodstains found on Odell’s clothes after the murder, contain an anti-clogging agent used in police laboratories. IT WAS THE POLICE THEREFORE WHO PLACED THE BLOODSTAINS ON ODELLS' CLOTHES! On top of this a crucial witness has admitted having made a DEAL WITH THE PROCURER and this without the jury being made aware as they deliberated, CONSISTING IN FALSLY ACCUSING ODELL In exchange for a reduction in their own sentences.


On Monday 20^th December at 11 o'clock, Mr. Jack Lang, MP and Mayor, along with Mr. Francis Perrin, Vice-President of Amnesty International, will give a PRESS CONFERENCE on the death penalty at the National Assembly in partnership with Struggle For Justice.

YOU TOO help Odell Barnes by signing the petition which is currently in circulation, and by speaking about his case around you, and by sending your donations to Struggle for Justice which will help us to FINANCE A NEW TRIAL that his lawyers count on gaining through media pressure and the support of us all.

Odell Barnes Jr. #998

Ellis I Unit

Huntsville

Texas 77343 - USA

Lawyers : Gary Taylor, Phil Wischkaemper, Michael Charlton. e-mail : gtlaw@earthlink.net