[FADPUpdate] Angel Diaz Execution Updates

Mon Dec 11 17:06:03 EST 2006

 Friends,

Friday, December 8, The Florida Supreme Court unanimously rejected appeals by Angel Nieves Diaz.  His attorney, Suzanne Myers Keffer has filed appeals with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court.  His execution is scheduled for Wednesday, December 13 at 6:00 P.M.

News article on latest court actions: (see also FADP.org "DP News")
http://www.news4jax.com/news/10509995/detail.html 

Vigils/Protests will be held at the Florida State Prison at Starke, Tallahassee and other cities in Florida.  For Vigil info see FADP.org   http://www.fadp.org/localprotests.html.

Shine the Light,

Mark

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Please contact the Governor's office and demand that Diaz's sentence be commuted:

E-mail: 
Governor Jeb Bush
jeb.bush at myflorida.com

Write:
PL 05 The Capitol
400 South Monroe Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

Telephone:
850/488-4441
Fax: 850/487-0801

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PRESS RELEASES

Press Release from Catholic Bishops of Florida:
http://www.flacathconf.org/pressreleases/Prsrel06/Diaz12-5-06.htm

Press Release from Amnesty International USA:
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=77228

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PRESS RELEASE FROM
FLORIDIANS FOR ALTERNATIVES TO THE DEATH PENALTY (FADP.org)

December 8, 2006

FADP CONTACTS:
Mark Elliott:  727-215-9646

NO HOLIDAY FOR DEATH

FLORIDA EXECUTION OF ANGEL NIEVES DIAZ SET FOR DECEMBER 13 AMID GROWING PLEAS FOR CLEMENCY.

The list of those beseeching Governor Bush to halt the execution of Puerto Rican native Angel Diaz continues to grow.  Governor Anibal Acevedo Vila of Puerto Rico is requesting Gov. Bush use his power of Executive Clemency.  (See the letter as attached pdf file).  There are concerns about: (1) the fairness of the trial – Diaz, who spoke almost no English and whose competency was in question, represented himself at trial, (2) the recanted testimony of the key prosecution witness – a jailhouse snitch who now says he lied at trial (ala John Grisham’s “The Innocent Man”) and (3) the disproportionate sentence – the other robber got a jail sentence, not death.

“As many Floridians prepare to celebrate the joyous birth of a famous executed prisoner, our governor is giving us this ghoulishly inappropriate gift of yet another state killing,” said Mark Elliott, Spokesman for Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty.  “6 of the last 7 years, Governor Bush signed Death Warrants during the holiday season, sometimes several at a time.” 

“It’s creepy that during the Christmas Season the governor calls for these sadistic displays of the almighty power of the state to kill captive prisoners,” said Elliott, “Is ‘Off with their heads!’ replacing ‘Merry Christmas!’?”

For further comment contact Mark Elliott at 727-215-9646

For more on Puerto Rico’s efforts to halt Angel Diaz’s execution:

Margarita Sanchez De Leon
Directora Ejecutiva
Amnistia Internacional Seccion de Puerto Rico

Tel. (787) 763-8318
Fax (787) 763-5096
www.amnistiapr.org

******

SENT BY:

      Mark Elliott
      Spokesperson
      Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)
      (727) 215-9646
      mark at fadp.org
      www.fadp.org
      PMB 335, 2603 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy,
      Gainesville, FL 32609

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty works for restorative
justice in the form of effective alternatives to the death penalty. It
does so by

* supporting and coordinating the work of organizations and individuals
* educating and energizing the general public and state legislators
* supporting the many persons affected by capital crime and punishment
* advocating specific legislative improvements

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