On June 6th 2012, the State of Ohio is planning to Execute Abdul-Hamead, Awkal for the 1992 murders of his wife and her brother. Awkal has already served 18 years in prison and has asked for the death sentence to be carried out quickly.
UPDATE June 6, 2012
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Execution STAYED!
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OHIO Supreme Court Stays Execution of Awkal Abdul-Hamead
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Columbus Dispathc News Break "Supreme Court Postpones Execution --"
late yesterday afternoon, Kasich unexpectedly used his executive clemency power to postpone Awkal’s execution. He said in a statement that the time will allow Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Stuart Friedman to hold a hearing to determine whether Awkal is mentally competent to be executed.
Awkal Abdul-Hamead has also stated that he works for the CIA. Has helped America's Generals and President Obama with the Wars in the middle east. According to the OHIOANS To Stop Executions, Mr Awkal is so mentally ill and in need of commuting the execution to life without parole - because;
he [Awkal Abdul-Hamead] has directed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and that he has communicated regularly with CIA officials and Presidents Bush and Obama. He also believes that the CIA is behind his execution.
Thus, Adrian Griffin, the Northern Ohio Organizer for Ohioans to Stop Executions (OTSE) - concludes (
here) that;
Even if, unlike me, you believe it is possible to have a fair and just death penalty system in this country, I think we can agree that we should not use it on the seriously mentally ill.
Democracy in Action, along with the Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and OTSE is asing that as many as possible -
PLEASE Call Ohio Governor Kasich on Tuesday May 29, 2012 at 614 644 0932
or -- politely email his the Ohio Governor's staff at
Brad Reynolds, Director of Constituent Services,
brad.reynolds@governor.ohio.gov (614-644-0932)
Judge said he could look at Awkal and Judge his sanity
Awkal's own attorney said his clients sanity was a serious issue. Originally Awkal was deemed unfit to stand trial. But then the judge learned that one of the mental health professionals was not yet licensed in the state of Ohio and threw out the opinion. Instead, the Judge told the defense counsel he would "look" at Awkal Abdul-Hawead and "judge" his mental state from his seat on the bench.
Awkal's Defense Counsel Called Prosecution Psychiatrist Who Nailed His Client
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It boggles the mind to see that the defense counsel for Awkal Abdul-Hamead actually thought it okay to call the Prosecutions own expert. Who then nailed the death penalty as okay for Awkal. Thus was contrary to the entire defense of incompetency. It sealed the fate of Abdul-Hamead, Awkal - resulting in a ruling of guilt and a Death Penalty
Circuit Court Judges Argue On Competency and Attorney Performance
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Despite the prosecutions hard fought case to state that Awkal is a malingering, many judges who have reviewed the case state openly that they feel the competency of Awkal is in great question. According to the Ohio Government's Clemency review on page 24 (
here). It states that;
A panel of the [federal] 6th Circuit Court of Appeals decide that Awkal shot get a new trial based on ineffective assistance of counsel. The panel held: "Clearly, Awkal's counsel's selection of guilt-phase experts was far less than ideal; counsel chose one unlicesned psychologist, a new and uncertified psychiatrist and a psychiatrist whose testimony completely underminded Awkal's sole defense. We conclude that [defense] counsel's decision to call Dr. Rizk (the prosecutor's expert) to testify at the guilt phase constituted the deficient performance necessary to establish ineffective assistance of counsel.
Pardon Parole Dissent in Favor of Commuting Awkal's Sentence
One Ohio Pardon/ Parole member (Ellen Venters), stated that she was in favor of commuting the sentence (see page 22 (
here)). Ellen Venters states that;
The expert witness testimonies during the trial and the statements submitted during the parole board hearing were so varying that they were almost useless. That the trial judge in his written opinion stated "the various opinions of the expert witness called in this case cannot be reconciled."
Prosecutor Argues No History of Illness. NO [c]hit- Awkal Came to U.S. at Age 24
At the Parole Board hearing, the prosecutor said he took the Death penalty "off the table" in any case where there's a significant detail of mental illness issuses. However, Awkal did Not come to the America until he was age 24. Thus, the remark is not only unqualified, it does not take into consideration that a person from another country may likely not have had any proper medicial attention.
Conclusion - Awkal's Sentenced Should Be Commuted
When you have multiple judges argue about the competency of a person. Along with multiple mental health professionals contradicting each other. And those issues compounded by an ineffective counsel. You have more than reasonable doubt about a totally proper & fair process of prosecution. Blood lust should never outweigh common sense.
At the barest of minimums, the defense counsel should have argued the combinations of religious restriction of his liking Christmas, the pressures to force him to do anothers idea of what religion means. Combined with the fact that Awkal Abdul-Hamead came from a country were "guns and death and violence" are an every day occurrence. There's no question this prosecution to the point of death penalty is absurd.
Yes he deserves life away from being able to harm others
But NO Death Penalty
You can see the Entire case history in this PDF here;
http://www.drc.ohio.gov/...
Contact Adrian Griffin of Ohians to Stop Executions (OTSE)
Office cell (216) 688-1180
Email: otse.neohio@gmail.com
Website http://www.oste.org