As the US Supreme Court refused to reopen the case of Linda Carty, her family has one last chance to save her life - a plea for clemency.
Linda Carty was sentenced to death in February 2002 by a Texan court, for allegedly hiring four men to murder a neighbour. The prosecution claimed she did so because she wanted to kill the heavily pregnant woman and cut out her baby to keep for her own.
Reprieve who are involved in helping Linda tell a different story:
"Linda's court-appointed lawyer was Jerry Guerinot, whose incompetence has already led to twenty of his clients ending up on death row, more than any other defence lawyer in the US. His approach to her case was at best, slapdash, at worst, wilfully inept.
Guerinot's catalogue of serious failings in Linda's case includes: failure to meet Linda until immediately before the trial, failure to inform Linda or her husband of their rights; failure to spot obvious flaws and inconsistencies in the prosecution case; failure to interview witnesses; and failure to investigate key mitigating evidence.
After her conviction, investigators from Reprieve visited St Kitts and learnt that Linda was still remembered as a passionate teacher who frequently held extra classes for children with special needs. She also taught at Sunday school, sang in a national youth choir and led a volunteer social-work group.
This information would have enabled Guerinot to present her to the jurors as a dedicated teacher and community leader – factors that might well have induced them to vote to spare her life. But although Guerinot applied to the court for funds to go to St Kitts before Linda’s trial, neither he nor his staff made the trip."
Linda also has the support of the British government which states that Texas failed to inform the British Consulate of her arrest..
'which prevented them from providing Linda with a competent lawyer'
The British Government also submitted a very strong argument on Linda’s behalf, stating that Texas’ failure to inform the British Consulate of her arrest prevented them from providing Linda with a competent lawyer -- which would likely have saved her life.
“Linda Carty could not afford a decent lawyer"
Linda's daughter, Jovelle recently visited the UK and said:
"It is completely impossible that my mother committed these crimes, but she had no chance to clear her name. Her trial was so unfair. We are trapped in a legal system where if you don't have money, you don't have rights or justice."
As Texas gets closer to its 460th execution in nearly 30 years, we ask "how does the US have the moral right to condemn the Human Rights records of other countries, while at the same time allowing a potential gross miscarriage of justice to result in the death of women like Linda Carthy?"
For further information, please contact Katherine O’Shea at Reprieve’s Press Office katherine.oshea@reprieve.org.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 020 7427 1099 or go to:
www.reprieve.org.uk/savelindacarty
To obtain a high-quality copy of Bianca Jagga's video appeal, please email katherine.oshea@reprieve.org.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Reprieve, a legal action charity, uses the law to enforce the human rights of prisoners, from death row to Guantánamo Bay.
Reprieve investigates, litigates and educates, working on the frontline, to provide legal support to prisoners unable to pay for it themselves.
Reprieve promotes the rule of law around the world, securing each person’s right to a fair trial and saving lives.
Reprieve’s current casework involves representing 33 prisoners in the US prison at Guantánamo Bay, working on behalf of prisoners facing the death penalty, and conducting ongoing investigations into the rendition and the secret detention of ‘ghost prisoners’ in the so-called ‘war on terror.’
Reprieve PO Box 52742 London EC4P 4WS
Tel: 020 7353 4640 Fax: 020 7353 4641
Email: info@reprieve.org.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Website: www.reprieve.org.uk
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