Tuesday, April 7, 2009

The Faulkner case

Maybe now Danny Faulkner can rest in peace.

And his widow and family members, many of whom live in Delaware County, can find some closure.

Mumia Abu-Jamal, despite the protestations of an array of Hollywood protesters and others who apparently never took the time to read the transcript of his trial, is not going anywhere.

He will remain in jail for the cold-blooded execution of the Philadelphia police officer almost 30 years ago.

The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday rejected a plea to grant Abu-Jamal a new trial. The former Black Panther and radio reporter has been on death row since 1982, all while proclaiming his innocence and filing any number of appeals. Abu-Jamal maintained the prosecution wrongly excluded blacks from his jury.

The key color in this case was never black or white; it was blue, the color of the uniform Faulkner proudly wore. The trial testimony showed Abu-Jamal shot Faulkner when he came upon the officer in the midst of a traffic stop involving Abu-Jamal’s brother. Shots were exchanged. Both men were wounded. But witnesses indicated Abu-Jamal stood over a wounded Faulkner and fired another shot into his body.

Abu-Jamal’s lawyer has called the trial “a mockery of justice” and is vowing seek a rehearing by the high court.

The ruling does not affect the question of the death penalty for Abu-Jamal. That had been set aside, and the state has gone to court to get it reinstituted.

But there is now little chance that Abu-Jamal will get a new trial.

They say the wheels of justice turn slowly. No kidding. Faulkner was gunned down in 1981. Abu-Jamal was convicted in 1982.

Rest in peace, Danny.

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