National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
Three Texas Executions Scheduled in October as NCADP Conference in Austin Approaches Ronald Ray Howard Showcases Potential of Redemption Ronald Ray Howard, a black man, faces execution on Oct. 6, 2005 for the murder of Department of Public Safety Trooper Bill Davidson, a 43-year-old white man, during a traffic stop on April 11, 1992. Ronald Howard was 18 years old at the time of the crime and driving a stolen car when Davidson stopped him. In an unpremeditated panic Howard shot Davidson. Ronald Ray Howard has continual expressed his deep regret. On appeal, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals denied Howard=92s rehearing request. In a dissenting opinion Texas Court of Criminal Appeals Justice Overstreet held that two of the state-stricken jurors were not challengeable for cause. Perhaps if these two legitimate jurors had been allowed to remain on the jury Howard=92s trial would have ended differently. Thirteen years on death row has changed Ronald Howard. He not only has continued to regret his own crime, but has also joined in the struggle to help other at-risk youth to not follow down his path. Howard's own ghetto upbringing allows him to connect with other at-risk youth. In his 13 years on death row Howard has used this fact to help other young people to not travel the path that he did. Additionally Howard has spent his time on death row becoming a more educated Christian man. Howard has earned the respect of wardens and prison guards, some of whom have come to him for advice or aide. Howard also currently lacks legal representation. Act now by contacting Texas Governor Perry and the Board of Pardons and Paroles and asking that Howard's execution be halted! Read More and Take Action at http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/campaign.jsp? campaign_KEY=3D1300 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- As Ramirez's Execution Date Approaches, the Case Against Him is Getting Increasingly Muddy On Oct. 20, 2005 Luis Ramirez, a Hispanic man, will be executed for hiring Edward Bell to kill 19-year-old Nemicio Nandin, another Hispanic man, on April 8, 1998. Ramirez's conviction is largely based on the testimony of Tim Hoogstra who claims that Bell informed him of the murder and of Ramirez's role in the murder. Ramirez also has been denied the opportunity to confront Edward Bell in person, although Bell's out-of-court statements to Hoogstra, implicating Ramirez in the murder, were admitted in court. This denial violates Ramirez's Sixth Amendment right to confront his accuser. Ramirez's attempts to appeal his conviction and sentence have been halted by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA). Under the AEDPA, Ramirez must obtain a Certificate of Appealability in order to appeal a denial of his habeas petition. Also, a potential alibi witness for Ramirez was not heard at trial. Ramirez holds that he informed his lawyer of the existence of a possible alibi and his failure to act on this information constitutes a failure on the part of his court-appointed counsel. Read an article written by Luis Ramirez about his experiences on death row: What's in the Brown Paper Bag? By Death Row Inmate Luis Ramirez Act now by contacting Texas Governor Perry and the Board of Pardons and Paroles and asking that Ramirez's execution be halted! Read More and Take Action at http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/campaign.jsp? campaign_KEY=3D1305 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------= - See and act on all current Execution Alerts at http://www.ncadp.org/execution_alerts.html October 6: Ronald Ray Howard, TX http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/ campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=3D1300 October 20: Luis Ramirez, TX http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/campaign.jsp? campaign_KEY=3D1305 October 25: William James Williams, Jr., OH http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/campaign.jsp? campaign_KEY=3D1306 October 25: Pedro Sosa, TX http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/campaign.jsp? campaign_KEY=3D1307
