Terrance Williams is scheduled to be executed in Pennsylvania on October 3, 2012. The e-mail below gives more information. This was forwarded by the National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty from the National Coalition for the Defense of Battered Women.
Williams, who came from an abusive home, was arrested for killing a man who had been sexually abusing him for years, and had raped him the night before the murder. After his arrest, he confessed to killing another abuser some time earlier. The jury at the trial was never told about the sexual abuse.
The letter below gives a link to a petition to the Governor and Parole Board of Pennsylvia, and to an article that appeared last week Philadelphia Inquirer, which is worth reading.
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
We need your help to stop the execution of Terrance Williams a Pennsylvania man scheduled to be executed on October 3rd. Mr. Williams had just turned 18 when he killed a man who had been sexually abusing him for years. We are seeking signatures on a petition urging the PA Board of Pardons and the Governor to do the right thing and commute Mr. Williams’ death sentence to life (without parole).
.
The National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women is supporting Mr. Williams’ bid for clemency because, like other victims of abuse whom we assist, Mr. Williams’ victimization was not investigated or presented to the jury, nor did the jury know that the decedent sexually assaulted Mr. Williams many times, including violently raping him the night before the incident. Several jurors have stated in affidavits that had they known about the abuse, they would not have voted to sentence Mr. Williams to death.
.
We must stop this terrible injustice. Help persuade the Board of Pardons and Governor to commute Mr. William’s sentence from death to life by signing the petition.
For more information about the case and to sign the petition go to: http://www.terrywilliamsclemency.com/ You will find the petition on the “Petition for Clemency” tab on the right side of the page underneath the photo.
.
PLEASE sign the petition and/or send letters to the Board of Pardons and Governor Corbett. You will find their addresses at http://www.terrywilliamsclemency.com/.... There is also a link to the petition there.
.
A story that appeared last week in the Philadelphia Inquirer includes information about why the decedent’s widow does not wish to see Mr. Williams executed.
http://www.philly.com/...