Focus: Richey's fate is a matter that must concern us all

Kenny Richey is the Edinburgh-born man on death row in Ohio. He was
convicted in 1987 of arson and the aggravated murder of Cynthia Collins,
two. He has been awaiting execution for nearly 20 years and we hope for
a positive outcome to the re-hearing of evidence by the Sixth Circuit
Court of Appeal in January.

All the scientific evidence suggests that the fire, which tragically
took the life of little Cynthia on 30 June, 1986, was an accidental
house fire. I believe in my heart that, one day, Kenny will be a free
man.

This is about principles, not personalities. The principle is the same
today as it has always been for me. I began this campaign because I
believe in Kenny Richey's innocence. I have looked at every document
there is on this case, not once but many, many times. I have never seen
anything that suggests my belief is misguided. My belief in Kenny's
innocence is unshakeable.

Kenny has endured much emotional and physical strain. Being wrongfully
convicted is a terrible thing, but to take someone's freedom with the
threat of taking their very life is an unthinkable thing to endure.

We all know what it feels like to be blamed for something we didn't do
or say. Even on small matters, we get indignant and angry that we are
being falsely accused of something. Think, then, how Kenny and people in
his situation must feel - day in, day out sitting on death row with
question marks hanging over their convictions.

Currently, according to statistics from Amnesty International, 129
countries have abolished the death penalty in law or practise. However,
we still have about 20,000 people on death row around the world and in
November last year, the United States marked a grim milestone of 1,000
executions since 1976, when the death penalty was reinstated.

When we know something is wrong, it is our moral duty to stand up and
shout loudly for the people who have no real voice. It is our duty to
protect and fight for the vulnerable people in society, wherever they
may be.

And Kenny Richey is counted among the people to shout loudly for. He has
no real voice of his own because the US authorities will not listen and
have not listened to what he has been saying all along.

Once I heard and saw the facts of this case, and many other cases, I
could not walk away. I cannot turn a blind eye to this injustice and
neither should the UK government or the media. What has happened in the
Kenny Richey case is a great injustice.

The state of Ohio has taken 20 years of Kenny Richey's life for a crime
that may not have even happened. His youth is gone, his health is
deteriorating and it can never be given back to him, no matter how hard
he wishes it. The state of Ohio still wants to kill him. The state will
continue to appeal, just so it does not have to admit that it sometimes
gets it wrong.

Since his conviction, scientific evidence has come to light shedding
doubt on whether the fire that killed Cynthia Collins was arson. It has
been argued that the fire could have been started accidentally by faulty
electrics.

Unfortunately, this evidence has never been heard in a court of law and
Kenny could still be executed without this and other new evidence being
examined. This is why Kenny has always called for a retrial, knowing
that when all the evidence is heard, it could prove his innocence.

Can anyone imagine the torment and torture of all this? To be rendered
helpless and without much hope of the nightmare ever ending?

There has been much interest in recent months in the breakdown of my
relationship with Kenny, but this is deflecting attention away from the
real issue. Many forget that this is not just a "story"; this is Kenny's
life. To be in the pits of despair and alone is the most horrible
feeling.

This is Kenny's reality. He is helped by messages from his supporters,
but it is an intensely lonely experience. Only he can endure the life he
is being forced to live against his will.

Kenny's reality is that he wants this over with, one way or another.
Either kill him or let him go free.

There are serious concerns that the crushing uncertainty of his position
on death row and the knowledge that he could be executed at any time is
having a detrimental effect on his mental and physical health. In July
this year, he was rushed to hospital after suffering a heart attack -
his third in five years - and underwent an angioplasty procedure and
stent implant.

The irony of this situation was not lost on Kenny: that they should
fight to save his life only to put him back on death row. No human being
should be forced to exist like this. It is not even living, but merely
existing in a nightmare and hoping like hell that you survive it. So if
anyone ever wonders again, this is all exactly why I continue to fight
for Kenny Richey and others like him.

I believe in his innocence. I believe he was wrongfully convicted and I
believe that he will be freed one fine day. I know it will not be easy,
but all those who campaign against the death penalty know that.

Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, but the fight for justice is always
worthwhile. It is important now that media and supporters concentrate on
the important issues surrounding the Kenny Richey case: the immorality
of the death penalty; the injustice of the trial and the inhumanity of
keeping someone on death row for nearly half their life.

I know I can count on supporters to continue to write letters of protest
and to continue to support the campaign to release Kenny. We should
start once more to write to Tony Blair and the governor of Ohio.
Together we can help Kenny gain his freedom.

* Karen Torley is an anti-death penalty campaigner

Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts)