In 1983 a married couple was beaten to death in the   wilderness of North-Central Idaho. Mark Lankford and his brother, Bryan, were arrested for the murders. In fact Bryan  Lankford committed the crime, whereas Mark wasn't even at  the scene of the crime when it took place. However the  prosecutors wanted to have both brothers sentenced and  made a secret deal with Bryan: If he testified against his  brother, he would receive a life sentence instead of a death  penalty sentence - and so he did.

Although Bryan Lankford has recanted the testimony against his brother twice and claimed that was the sole killer of the  man and wife in Idaho, the legal system of Idaho has for   more than 10 years denied Mark a new trial. It seems that   they rather kill an innocent man than admit that they made a   mistake in 1984 by declaring both brothers guilty of murder.
 

                                    MARK'S TESTIMONY

    I, Mark Henry Lankford, was arrested on October 2, 1983, in Texas, for the alleged murders of a
    couple, robert and Cheryl Bravence, that were killed on or about June 21, 1983 in the wilderness
    of North-Central Idaho. My brother, Bryan, was arrested with me at the time.

    As the evidence pointed to Bryan, he immediately began to blame me for the murders, giving
    many different statements to authorities. I remained silent, as is my Constitutional right in this
    allegedly free country. When Bryan went to trial, he blamed me, but the jury must not have
    believed him, as he was found guilty of two counts of first degree murder.

    In April 1984, my trial began and the State had nothing putting me at the scene of the crime or
    any evidence to show that I had ever seen the victims alive. So, they embarked upon a plan to
    get Bryan to testify against me. The prosecution entered into an agreement with Bryan, offering
    him all sorts of leniency, to secure his testimony. This conspiracy was a success, as I was
    convicted in May, 1984. We were both sentenced to death on October 16, 1984. This, even
    though the prosecution had recommended Life with Parole for Bryan. The sentencing judge
    called Bryan "The Prince of Deceit", but later said he believed Bryan, when sentencing me to
    death.

    Bryan recanted his testimony twice, stating that he alone was responsible for the murders and
    that I was not even at the scene of the crime (which happens to be the truth.) He recanted his
    first recantation under pressure from his attorney, friends and the prosecutor, but he made his
    second recantation in court of law, under oath, submitting to cross-examination and he stood
    by his account that I was innocent. The corrupt judge rejected my motion for a new trial! (Keep
    in mind that a jury has never heard the recantations and the judge/prosecution will not allow it.
    We know why!)

    My case has been through the Idaho Supreme Court and denied, as this court is so afraid of
    the publicity if they were to set an innocent man free. Why? Because they may be voted out of
    their bench seats! They should all be voted out, as such cowards should not be in a position to
    judge other human beings, especially someone subject to State Murder.

    I have been on Death Row since October, 1984 and fighting this travesty of justice the entire
    time. My brother has had his death sentence thrown out and received Life without Parole. The
    same Idaho Supreme Court I mentioned above has overturned the sentence and ordered the
    prosecutors to recommend that Bryan receive an indeterminate Life sentence (with parole), in
    conformance with the original prosecutor's bargain for Bryan's testimony against me! keep in
    focus the assertion of the prosecutors, from my trial until now, that they did not make a deal
    with Bryan. By not telling my jury of this "deal" I was denied a fair trial, which is guaranteed to all
    Americans by the U.S. Constitution.

    The media in Idaho must be afraid to cover such an explosive case as this, for their silence is
    deafening.
                               Boise, Idaho - May 2, 1996
                                 Mark Henry Lankford

Both Mark H. Lankford and his brother Bryan were sentenced to death for the two murders in 1983. However - as is is described in Mark's testimony - the prosecution "made a deal" with Bryan promising him life with parole instead of death penalty, if he claimed that Mark had been involved. Afterwards Bryan has recanted his testimony twice. This is a written statement made on Christmas Day 1997...

    December 25, 1997
    To whom it may concern,

My name is Bryan S. Lankford, and I am the younger brother of Mark H. Lankford, and I have
known Mark for over 37 years, and whereas I spent almost 9 years with him on deathrow in Boise, Idaho, I believe it's fair to say that I know him better than any other person, and I know him to be a fair, compassionate, honest and sincere person as well as a friend and loving brother.    And I can assure you that Mark H. Lankford should not be death row, nor should he be  imprisoned, for there is only one person on God's green earth that knows the truth about what caused Mark to be on deathrow, and I am that man, not Mark H. Lankford.  And I believe that the same judge that was found by the United States Supreme Court to have acted in secret im violation of the law, throughout my sentencing and trial, in which he sentenced myself to two death penalties, but because of his illegal acts I was taken off deathrow by the U.S. Supreme Court. And that same judge did his death-work illegally in secret  is the same judge that I vehemently believe acted in secret, and he is still acting in secret and manipulating in Mark's case.     And because I am the only one that truly knows the truth, and the truth is, Mark is innocent! And thus I beseech everyone that reads this document to help Mark as much as your hearts lead you.   Thank you.
 Sincerely Yours - Bryan S. Lankford, #20488, I.C.I.O. Unit B-2 Hospital N. DR. #23 Orofino, ID 83544

                           Mark Henry Lankford
                                      B-20489
                                   P.O. Box 51
                                   Boise, Idaho
                               83707-0051  USA

        Or through his supporters, a group of people, mainly in the US and Europe,
        who want to support Mark's demand for a fair trial to prove his innocence.
            You can get in touch with us and with Mark at:  lankfordmh@aol.com