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DOMINGO
CANTU'S SYNOPSIS
On June, 25th, 1988, I was left in a different part of town in the city of Dallas after being awake all night driving around and getting intoxicated with a couple of friends. I was walking home and came to a small store and stopped to use the Pay Telephone outside the store to call my Brother-in-law, so he could come to pick me up and give me a ride home. It was early in the morning. About 7:30 a.m. After waking him up from bed, he asked me if I would like to go to work with him that day, and being that I could use the money to take out the date I made for that night, I told him I'd like to. He told me to give him about 10 minutes so he could shower and get dressed, and he would come to pick me up. I didn't want to wait around the store so I told him I was going to walk down the street to a small Restaurant that stayed open 24 hours, and once I got there I would call him again to let him know I was there waiting for him to come pick me up. After we agreed to this I hung up the telephone and started walking towards the restaurant. But, unfortunately, I never reached my destination because the Police pulled out of an apartment driveway, where I was headed towards, and without warning one of the policemen jumped out of the Police Car and pulled out his gun on me, and pointed it towards me demanding that I lay on the ground. I was terrified so I help up my hands and asked what was the problem. The officer ignored my question and threatened me by saying if I didn't get on my knees he would shoot me, so being frightened I got on my knees. He then ran up to me and kicked me and forcing me to the ground, and arrested me. I asked "why" was I being arrested and I was told for Public Intoxication.
After arriving at the Police Station I called my Brother-in-law and told him that I was arrested for Public Intoxication, and asked that he notify my mother so she could come get me out of jail. When I ended the telephone call I was removed from the holding cell and was asked to put my T-shirt on so I could be photographed being that this never happened to me before when I was arrested for Public Intoxication, I asked "why" was I being photographed, and was told nothing in return. After the photographs I was stripped from my clothes and given jail-house clothes to wear. After this I was driven to another location across town, to a small building. In this building I was placed inside a small room with a table and chairs. A detective wanted to know where was I going before my arrest and I told him. He then questioned me about a murder I knew nothing about. Once he realized I was getting sleepy and tired he asked me if I wanted anything to drink or smoke, so I told him Coffee and Cigarettes would be nice. He left the small room and didn't return promptly, so I laid my head down on my arms and fell asleep. When he finally returned he had the things he promised, and asked me to sign two pieces of paper, so I could be released. Being that I was practically illiterate at the time, I asked what were the pieces of paper and he told me they were my statements to what we talked about, so I signed them without having him read them to me. I was then driven back to the police station and placed into isolation. I was so tired so I quickly fell asleep. A couple of hours later I was taken back to the same building and questioned again by a different detective about more murders, and again I signed a piece of paper thinking it was what we had talked about. After I was taken back to the county jail, I was told that I was being investigated for Capital Murder, a few hours later.
The crime I stand accused of is Rape/Murder of an elderly woman. I did not commit this horrible crime I'm being held for. I had no reason to commit this crime and I pray that the "truth" will come out some day, so my innocence can be proven. Below are a list of FACTS to my case that needs to be taken into consideration and investigated. The evidence itself is strong and compelling.
1.) At the time of my incarceration
at the County Jail, I filed a complaint with the
State Bar Association about the representation
I was being given to help me with my case. In the grievance I stated that
there is No Evidence that links me to this crime I am charged with. Apart
from this my court appointed attorney was trying to set me up by telling
my mother that he would get me a Life Sentence, if I would cop-out to the
crime. but instead he was in the process of trying to get me
to cop-out to a Life Sentence, which is an admission to guilt, so
he could set me up! I Never told him I would accept a Life Sentence,
but my mother did, so he told the District Attorney and they indicted
me! I was "forced" to accept this inadequate representation who helped
conspired with the prosecutor to condemn me for this crime. My reason for
mentioning this is because 1.) it will show that I was uneducated
and practically illiterate, and 2.) It is solid evidence to show
that I "always" proclaimed my innocence by stating that there was
No Evidence to link me to this crime. This is on
Record and can be looked up to be verified.
2.) I suggested and "requested" to one of my trial attorney's that I wanted to be placed in a "Live Line-up" because I heard there was a witness to this crime, but my attorney refused to grant me my wish and demand to give the witness the opportunity to try identifying me as the "suspect" that he seen on the day this crime was committed. But, I was refused my right to a Live line-up.
3.) I requested to one of my court appointed attorney's that I wanted to use DNA Testing to show the Court, and State that I was "Totally Innocent" of this crime. This was when DNA first started to come out, and I heard it could be used to help prove my innocence. But, instead I was denied this request.
4.) My trial attorney's refused to object to evidence being entered by the Prosecutor i.e. mainly one black cable said to have the victims blood on it. This evidence was not challenged for "fingerprints" to match with mine to show "strong" evidence that I did not commit this crime.
5.) In the State's Brief there is "strong" evidence to show that documents are being "fabricated" to support the state's evidence against me i.e. the "Blood Type" supposably found on my T-shirt; In the Trial Records it says the blood-type of the victim's is "0-Negative" In their appeal brief it is identified as Type "A-Blood!" Also, I was arrested wearing brown shorts, and in their appeal brief they are saying I had on cut off blue-jeans. This will show the Prosecutors are making up evidence as they go along.
6.) Witness testimony in "Open Court" described the person he saw. The individual was wearing Brown long legged pants, Blue shirt, Sandals, and a hair net. His testimony did not match with the clothing I had on at the time/day of my arrest. I was arrested wearing Brown cut-off shorts, white knee high tube socks, white sneakers, and my gray T-shirt was in my back pocket. When the Trial Judge asked the Witness was he sure I was the person he seen, and asked the witness to "Swear To God" that I was the person who committed this crime the witness stated that he could not swear to god I was the same person. This evidence was "denied" serious objection from my trail attorneys.
7.) The State's Witness was unable to pick me out of a "Photo Array Line-up" with Convincing Certainty that I was the actual person he seen who committed this crime. Still his testimony was accepted by the court.
8.) The Prosecutor claimed there was "evidence" found on the Chain-Link Fence where the crime took place, but NEVER stated "what" type of evidence e.g. Fingerprints, Blood, etc.. which could have been challenged by the trial attorney's to show that the evidence did not connect me to this crime, if indeed there was any "fingerprints" found on the fence!
9.) The prosecutor NEVER introduced a "Rape Kite," nor did they ever take any blood from me, or saliva to test along with the contents of the "Rape Kite."
10.) The Black Utility Cable introduced into evidence by the state, who claims it was used to "assault" the victim, and supposably had the victim's blood on it was 'Inn challenged for "fingerprints" and this NEEDS to be tested as well as challenged'.!!
ii.) There was a note given to me by my ex-wife the day before my arrest that stated she would not return to me because of my growing drug problem, and this note was never produced during trial, nor introduced into evidence, so I assume there has been some "evidence tampering" done by the Prosecutors.
12.) A few years after my arrival here on Death row, one of the "Assistant Prosecutors" was "fired" from the Dallas District Attorney's Office. I was told it was because of "Evidence Tampering" as well as "Witness Tampering." I'm not too sure about this "but" it needs to be looked into.
13.) At the begging of my Trial one of my court appointed attorney's asked me for my ex-wife's address, so he could contact her. Instead he gave this information to the Prosecutors who rushed over to her house and tried to "bribe" her into testifying against me, by saying bad things about me to make me look bad during trial. They promised to help her get "Alimony (which doesn't exist here in Texas), Child Support. etc..." for her testimony. She didn't want to be "forced" into this so she went to go live with my mother, and took my daughter with her.
14.) My Brother-in-law (at the time) was subpoenaed to testify on my behalf, but was NEVER" called to testify. He was supposed to give testimony that I called him before my arrest, and that he was supposed to come to pick me up a couple of blocks from where I was called him. and I was supposed to go to work with him on the day of my arrest, because he offered when I called him. Which I originally called him to ask him to come to pick me up and give me a ride home. His testimony could have helped give a time frame for when my call was made, and from the time I was arrested.
15.) The day before my arrest, I had made a date with a girl from my neighborhood named "Josie Reyes" (or Ramirez, it's been so long I forgot her last name), and was supposed to take her out on a date that day I was arrested. She was NEVER called to testify for my defense to show that I did not have any reason to rape and kill the old lady who's murder I stand accused of committing.
16.) There is NO Tape recording of any "Confessions" to support the Detective's story that I confessed by giving him a statement. I do admit to signing papers, but this was done during a time when I was intoxicated and practically illiterate. Plus, Cigarettes and Coffee were used as bargaining chips so I was taken advantage of!
17.) The Prosecutor claimed the victim's pubic hair was found on my zipper, which I know it wasn't. but when I took the stand during the Punishment Phase of my trial I did not see any such existing evidence. so this evidence was "Fabricated" just like the blood testimony supposably found on my T-shirt.
18.) The way the Prosecutor's introduced their evidence regarding the victim's blood being found on my T-shirt, they used a targe photo of me (about 5 inch by 20 inch), which was taken soon after my arrest. They kept it on a tripod about 5 feet away from the Jury Box, and kept pointing at it saying "took at all that blood!" The only argument made by my Court Appointed Trial attorney is, he looked at the picture and told the jurors "I don't see any blood!"
19.) The Prosecutor's NEVER removed my clothes from the brown paper sack they were in to show the juror's the so-call blood found all over my clothes!
Well, these are all factual evidence to my case. This very same evidence they claim to have against me, is what I want to use to prove my innocence. I know within my heart and soul that I am innocent of this crime. But, I need help in proving this because I can't do this alone. I will close with a "quote" by slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. "OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER."
Sincerely
"In Struggle!"
Domingo Cantu Jr.
P.S. If anybody would like to contact Domingo Cantu, you can write to the following address below for correspondences or to send your words of support and encouragement to give me inspiration to continue with my struggle. I will respond to all incoming letters and cards.
Thank You for your time in reading my synopsis.
Mr. Domingo Cantu #000924
Terrell Unit 12-F-D-49
12002 F.M. 350 South
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