My name is William (Dave) Scott. I am the father of two loving children whom I've done my best to teach right from wrong. I have worked very hard to build a future for my children. I've taught them that to tell the truth is always the best course of action in every situation. I am also a construction contractor and have worked very hard to build a future for my children. I love my country but I never had any significant legal knowledge; therefore I naturally assumed, as we all were taught, that if you are innocent you have nothing to fear. Well my lack of legal knowledge and my assumption that we are considered innocent until proven guilty has launched me right into the worse nightmare a person could possibly imagine.
I now reside on Alabama's Death-Row for a murder I had no involvement in. I have neither the resources nor the funds to obtain proper legal representation to remedy this gross injustice. That is the object of this plea for assistance. We need some justice conscience folks to come to my aid and help me get home to my children and loved ones.
Since being convicted and being forced to face the reality of what justice in our country truly consists of I have devoted every ounce of energy I possess to familiarize myself with the law and the actual facts of this case in particular. I have been very fortunate in that I already had the unfaltering support of those from home that know me. I've also found support in the area where this crime was committed, folks who have taken the initiative to investigate the facts for themselves and can see that I was set up, plain and simple. I write thiis only to introduce myself and pray upon the consciences of the just to help myself and my family. Follows is a brief summarization of the relevant facts to help show that I deserve a thorough investigation into my allegations and then a fair trial in which tlx'jury is provided ALL the facts to deliberate. I cannot imagine anyone who takes the time to reflect impartially on all the ThUE and CREDIBLE evidence, coming to any conclusion other than that the trial in which I was convicted had absolutely nothing to do with the truth.
We have uncovered many exculpatory facts that the jury never had the advantage of knowing during deliberating my fate. With the proper funds to finance an impartial investigation and to obtain competent representation, a whole different light will be cast when compared to the theories the prosecution presented at the trial.
The reason I now beg for financial assistance when I've always worked to make my own way; and beg for the attention of avenues that can offer legal/investigative resources and means of exposing the truth and gaining support, is this: Many people in recent years, not to mention throughout history, have been exonerated of crimes only after losing years and years of their lives trying to prove their innocence. Death cases are by far the most difficult as death cases provide great political agenda, and convictions in these cases provide career enhancements for nearly anyone connected. They will try to maintain these convictions at any price. Yes, even the lives of the innocent. This is made possible by the stranglehold crime has on our country in as well as the need for retribution and the need for vengeance felt by the victims and their families. I have a family that I love more than life and I believe I completely understand that they have suffered great loss. But are we as a society willing to seek retribution at the price of allowing our elected bodies to use our pain to inflame us to the point that we can convict a man and take his life where there is no evidence against him and the only legitimate link between him and the crime comes ftom tainted testimony? Well, that's exactly what happened to me and I challenge anyone to study the particulars and be able to honestly state otherwise. The average time for a person, who ultimately proved their innocence is7 years. 23 people died at the hand of the state 6nly to be found beyond doubt to be innocent between 1900-1985.350 Innocent people were convicted of potentially capital crimes in that same period, 139 of which received death sentences. Keep in mind these statistics are more than 10 years old and illustrate only capital cases. The number of murders that are tried as capital offenses are in the single diglt percentile. So the statistics above realistically reflect only a small portion of proven innocence cases and this only represents the cases where Innocence is actually proven. So in all fairness, one must adddt that although we can't possibly know for sure, there are far too many potentially innocent people imprisoned as well as executed. Currently there are cases in wibelievable numbers where the convicted's guilt is highly questionable In 1995 alone, 5 innocent people were released from Death Row in the United states. They were convicted primarily on testimony pejured for various reasons. Usually because the testimony in question was obtained from people with personal interest in the conviction of the accused. There's deals, inducements, and all manners of coercion. It's not unreasonable to assume that a person that stands to gain from their testimony will lie, and the higher the stakes the more likely the probability of perjured testimony.
In my case, the only two people who remotely connect me to the crime both faced the electric chair. Even a minimal investigation into the validity of their testimony will show their stories don't hold water.
I ve alreaaly lost many years of my life to this injustice and I'm pleading for your help so that I don't have to give even one more. A defense project is being organized and details are on the website. Those knowledgeable in this area of law are encouraged to reply also. I've been advised not to go public but I really have nothing to hide so I choose to lay my cards on the table and I invite the State of Alabama to do likewise. The only way I see to overcome the political advantages to upholding my convictions is th expose the TRUE FACTS to the public and hopefully force the courts to do the right thing in at least giving me a new and fair trial, where I'll have the advantage of an investigation into my side of the story and a diligent defense.
If you are unable to offer direct financial support, write, or otherwise contact the proper avenues to show that you support my right to a fair trial. In reality there is not enough credible evidence to justify wasting tax dollars on another trial.
Please allow me to first thank you for taking time to read my plea. I personally thank you in advance for any help you can render on my behalf. My children, family, and my friends thank you also.
May God Bless You,
DAVE SCOTT
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