Governor Tom Ridge
225 Main Capitol
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
17120  USA
 

Governor Ridge,

I am writing you to tell you of  my  concerns of the case of Pennsylvania Death Row inmate
James (Jimmy) Dennis, who sits on death row in the notorious SCI Greene in Waynesburg, Pennsylvania,  innocent of the crime he was convicted of.

In 1991, Jimmy was sentenced to death for the high profile shooting of young Chedell Williams in Philadelphia
.
He didn't do it.

Due to public pressure, the police were in a hurry to solve the case, and they coerced statements from witness that were used to convict Jimmy that were later recanted, threatened witnesses, suppressed vital evidence, left important witnesses uninterviewed, and more.  Along with the misconduct of the prosecuter, who said  'this is not a case about race, weight, or height,'  instead of explaining why Jimmy is 6-8 inches shorter than the assailant witnesses described,  weighed approximately 60 pounds less, and has a skin shade several shades lighter than everyone  consistently described.

The Director of the Pennsylvania Abolitionists said  that he felt that out of all the cases on PA's death row, Jimmy's is the one where innocence is the most glaringly obvious, and that if he had had the funds for a proper defense(he saw his attorney only once-the day before trial, ) he would never have been convicted.  In the closest vote in years, 3 out of 7 Pennsylvania Supreme Court judges felt that Dennis should be given a new trial.   I  know that anyone taking even a cursory, unbiased look through the case will have serious questions as to the case against Dennis.   I myself,  along with many in the international community, am  convinced that  James Dennis is innocent of this crime, and we call upon you to do your duty as governor, look into the case, refuse to allow the execution of this innocent man, and do anything within your power as Governor to ensure that it will not happen.

I am greatly concerned with the injustice inherently obvious in this case.

Please reply.