US Supreme Court, Kenny Richey and John Spirko

Ohio execution date 15th November

For the last ten years I have been fighting the legal authorities of the state of Ohio in an effort to have them recognise the innocence of the ?Scot on Death Row?, Kenny Richey and have them release him as an innocent man. Thankfully, with the help of supporters of my campaign a great deal of success has been achieved and Kenny had his conviction overturned 25 January 2005. The state of Ohio were ordered to retry or release him within 90 days, yet 9 months on he still languishes on Death Row. His conviction, trial and sentencing are an affront to anyone who believes in the ideal of the presumption of innocence and of guilt beyond reasonable doubt.

But apparently these maxims do not figure in Ohio state Attorney General, Jim Petro?s approach to the dispensation of justice. His candidature in the Ohio gubernatorial election may have some bearing on his performance in dealing with the 90 day order to retry or release Kenny Richey and if it does, would be seen as a cynical and spiteful attempt to use the situation to his political advantage. Will the state of Ohio risk the retrial of Kenny Richey?

A lot of reputations, political and legal would be at risk and in their face ?saving attempts the best option for the state of Ohio might be to free Kenny Richey and claim he was released "on a technicality." That is why we want a retrial which would establish his innocence "beyond reasonable doubt"

In this respect, the fight goes on!

Have you heard of John Spirko? He is also on Death Row in Ohio and innocent of the crime for which he is due to die on NOVEMBER 15th. Overwhelming evidence exists of his innocence but Governor Taft and Attorney General Petro are maintaining their modus operandi of ignoring the obvious in order to deflect from their own personal political traumas. John Spirko?s trauma can be alleviated by Taft, Petro and the Parole board acknowledging that he was not involved in the crime for which they intend executing him.

It is not too late to help save John Spirko, information and links on his case are available on www.kennyrichey.org and on John's site www.johnspirko.com

Karen

As Kenny and John both know, the fight goes on against injustice.

Kenny dictated this to me over the phone: Kenny and all of the other guys on death row are angry at the injustice that John Spriko is enduring at the hands of the State of Ohio. Both Kenny and myself support that John has his case looked at properly. We both support our friends John and Tracy.........as do all the guys on the row.

I have known John Spirko for over 19 years. John was one of the first friends I made when I first came to death row.

John has always been a decent and kind guy who has been known to go out of his way to help others.

I have read John's case, and the only conclusion I can come to with all certainty is that John Spirko is unequivocally innocent.

As John has often told me and I have always agreed,

"An innocent man is a dangerous man to the state of Ohio"

Unfortunately In order to cover up up the wrongful conviction of John Spirko the state of Ohio must murder John thereby hiding the truth forever.

And unfortunately the greatest crime is not that the state of Ohio will murder an innocent man, the greatest crime is that the people of Ohio will allow them to do it.

This is not justice for the Mottinger family either. They have also endured much pain and torture over these years but they have been lied to by over zealous prosecutors, a lying postal inspector and an Attorney General who does not appear to know what the words fairness and justice really mean.

So if John Spirko is innocent, which I believe with all my heart he is, this means there is a murderer who has got away with the "perfect crime" then he or they have been assisted by the State of Ohio in achieving this!!

I so firmly believe that John Spirko is innocent that I would gladly bet my life on that fact.

Pontius Pilate Petro and his overzealous quest to look good for Ohio voters couldn't care less if he executes an innocent man.

Pontius Pilate Petro like most officials who work within the Ohio judicial system are nothing more than a blight upon society in their arrogant self righteous manner, they will gladly execute an innocent man and secretly pat each other on the back instead of acting with honour like real men and standing up and admitting when they are wrong.

Sooner or later the injustices that these foul bastards inflict upon innocent people, will come back to strike them down.

They shall reap what they sow for the innocent shall only suffer so much.

Stand Strong John, our thoughts are with you.

Kenny Richey