Life Sentence for Mumia Abu-Jamal
NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office announced that it will not seek another death sentence for Mumia Abu-Jamal. Pennsylvania law now requires Mr. Abu-Jamal to be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for his controversial 1982 murder conviction in the shooting death of a police officer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), along with Widener Law Professor Judith Ritter, represents Mr. Abu-Jamal in his appeals of the murder conviction and death sentence. John Payton, Director-Counsel of LDF stated, "The District Attorney did the right thing. After three long decades, it was time to bring the quest for a death sentence for Mr. Abu-Jamal to an end." Prof. Ritter added, "There is no question that justice is served when a death sentence from a misinformed jury is overturned. Thirty years later, the District Attorney' s decision not to seek a new death sentence also furthers the interests of justice."
Mr. Abu-Jamal will be formally resentenced to life without parole in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. The final sentencing hearing has not been scheduled.
ABOUT LDF
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF) is America's premier legal organization fighting for racial justice. Through litigation, advocacy, and public education, LDF seeks structural changes to expand democracy, eliminate disparities, and achieve racial justice in a society that fulfills the promise of equality for all Americans. LDF also defends the gains and protections won over the past 70 years of civil rights struggle and works to improve the quality and diversity of judicial and executive appointments.
Media Contact: Mel Gagarin
(212) 965-2783, [email protected]
SOURCE NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund
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