Black Panther leader, convicted of killing cop, released from prison
Source: Baltimore Sun
Former Black Panther leader Marshall "Eddie" Conway walked free Tuesday after spending four decades behind bars for killing a Baltimore police officer making his one of the highest-profile cases affected by a high court decision that has cut short prison sentences for dozens of felons in recent years.
Conway, now 67, always said that he was innocent, alleging political motives in the prosecution of a 1970 shooting that killed Officer Donald Sager, 35, and injured another officer. Over the years many supporters, including prominent Baltimore politicians, have joined his cause.
Police union officials and Sager's family said they still believe Conway was guilty. But prosecutors faced with the prospect of retrying a more than 40-year-old case built on the testimony of a fellow police officer and a jailhouse interview said they could not have convicted him again.
Conway sought a new trial under a 2012 decision by the Maryland Court of Appeals, which said verdicts before 1980 were invalid because of faulty jury instructions. Under a deal with prosecutors, Conway agreed to abandon his court fight in exchange for his release on time served.
Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/crime/blog/bs-md-ci-eddie-conway-black-panther-released-20140304,0,5807797,full.story
freshwest
(53,661 posts)juxtaposed
(2,778 posts)SoapBox
(18,791 posts)walks freely.
mountain grammy
(26,595 posts)marble falls
(56,974 posts)seveneyes
(4,631 posts)I don't know if that is the case here, but if someone harms an innocent person intentionally, they should never see freedom again.
reddread
(6,896 posts)reddread
(6,896 posts)because you know they execute you for shooting a cop these days.
not that they dont kill you for a lot less, like brandishing a cell phone,
but actually shoot one? just a flesh wound?
circus of death.
reddread
(6,896 posts)into a "free" world full of interventionist, celebrity worshiping, propaganda zombies.
shudder.
bigdarryl
(13,190 posts)Unless he knows somebody he probably isn't going to be able to get a job.He can't even apply for Social Security because he's been in prison and hasn't put anything into it.He's FUCKED!!!!
reddread
(6,896 posts)but I think his prospects as a writer and speaker are probably as good as anyone's.
Movie rights? It wont be much, Im sure, and his social security, pension and retirement is
worth worrying about.
He got had, bigtime.
Like all the rest of the Panther Party.
Like Judi Bari.
Like dozens, scores, hundreds of others.
He is lucky he wasnt simply killed.