Dear Friend:

Please accept my apology for any inconvenience that I may cause you by writing this letter,but I am in need of your assistance.

My name is Joseph Burns. I am 31 years old with three beautiful daughters whom I love very much.

In a Mississippi court room in 1996,1 was wrongfully convicted of a capital murder of a 56 year old man in which I did not commit.

Reason being,like so many other defendants in Mississippi,I was unable to afford a private attorney to assist in my defense -so,a state appointed attorney was assigned to my case. Also, necessary experts that would have been vital in providing their expertise were not at my disposal. Additionally,my appointed attorney relied completely on the prosecution and the police department to provide testimony from only their expert witnesses during the trial leaving the prosecution's theory/case unchallenged resulting in the trial being presented as a one-sided sham.

Because I was unable to provide a proper defense to prove my innocence,I am now on Mississippi's Death Row where I have been place on a 5 year waiting list to be assigned another court appointed attorney to handle my case.

It has been 4 years that I have been incarcerated for a crime in which I did not commit. I am intent on proving my innocence and obtaining my freedom. This I cannot do sitting here on Death Row doing nothing for 5 more years waiting for another incompetent court appointed attorney to appeal my case. An experienced Death Row Appeals Attorney and a private investigator,experts to expose the real facts about my case are needed but these cost money. If I wait another 5 more years witnesses that need to be contacted may no longer be accessible and other exculpatory evidence that I need to prove my innocence may no longer be available.

I am appealing to you. I am not asking for thousands or hundreds of dollars from you,I am only asking for 'TWENTY DOLLARS' of your time - or whatever amount you may be willing to give in order to help in my endeavor for my freedom,which has been wrongfully taken.

Please help me to obtain the JUSTICE that I have been denied
and bring forth the 'TRUTH' THANK YOU!

Truly yours,   Jessica Burns

By helping please send to:               Jessica Burns
                                             P.O. Box 626
                                          Saltillo,Ms. 38866

Or Write Joseph Directly at:                Jo Jo Burns #42963
                                           Unit 32-C Bldg.
                                     Parchman, MS.  38738
 

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