Prison Issues

National News
September 24, 2008
Exclusive PCJH News Story

Jurors Never Saw Earliest Photos at Abu-Jamal’s 1982 Trial

A new press release from Educators for Mumia Abu-Jamal, titled German linguist, Michael Schiffmann (University of Heidelberg), has disclosed his discovery of 26 photographs of the Dec. 9, 1981 Mumia Abu-Jamal / Daniel Faulkner crime scene, taken by press photographer Pedro P. Polakoff, which suggest even more evidence that basic investigative protocol was violated by police from the earliest moments of the killing, and most importantly, that Abu-Jamal did not receive a fair trial, as Amnesty International and others have documented. (View 4 of the photos at www.Abu-Jamal-News.com )

These photos were discovered at a critical time for this controversial death-row prisoner and journalist, whose case is currently before the US Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Oral arguments were held on May 17, 2007 concerning four different issues regarding the fairness of Abu-Jamal's original trial. The Court's decision is now expected any week.

In May, Dr. Schiffmann unveiled the new photos at a well-attended evening event in Philadelphia , and issued a press-release with quotes from Abu-Jamal’s lead attorney Robert R. Bryan, as well as journalists Dave Lindorff, and Linn Washington, Jr, available at this link:

http://www.abu-jamal-news.com/temp/press%20release.html

In response, Polakoff's photos have received coverage from several activist-oriented websites and radio shows. However, not even one of the really big media outlets has reported on these photos yet, which makes it a fresh and timely story.

These new photos were not considered at the May 17 hearing because of the limited "four-issue scope," however it is the media's responsibility to bring these photos and present the facts to the US public so that they can consider this new evidence for themselves.