+25

Supreme Court Overturns Ruling that Nullified Death Penalty for Cop Killer

36 Comments

Officer Daniel Faulkner

Philadelphia – The Supreme Court on Tuesday threw out a ruling that had set aside the death sentence of Mumia Abu-Jamal, convicted of killing a Philadelphia police officer in the 1980s in a racially tinged case that has made the former Black Panther an international cause celebre.

The justices ordered the U.S. 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia to revisit its 2008 ruling that Abu-Jamal deserved a new sentencing hearing because of flawed jury instructions.

The Supreme Court pointed to its decision in an Ohio case last week, when it said a neo-Nazi killer did not deserve a new sentencing hearing on those grounds.

A mostly white Philadelphia jury convicted Abu-Jamal of killing white Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981.

Prosecutors think Faulkner and Abu-Jamal exchanged gunfire after Abu-Jamal’s brother was pulled over in a traffic stop. A wounded Abu-Jamal, his own gun lying nearby, was still at the scene when police arrived, and authorities consider the evidence against him overwhelming.

But he maintains his innocence. Since his conviction, activists in the United States and Europe have rallied in support of his claim that he was the victim of a racist justice system.

The issue over jury instructions relates to whether jurors understood how to weigh mitigating circumstances that might have kept Abu-Jamal off death row.

Other Top News:

Flag as inappropriate

+25

uncledennis1

over 3 years ago

22366 Comments

Paul Newman & Mike Farrell are just a couple who jumped on the band wagon to free this scumbag. It is past due for the "Big Sleep".
petecoolcattt

over 3 years ago

652 Comments

What 'Frog-Sh&t. Send the prick to Hell.......
bklyn

over 3 years ago

762 Comments

there are a lot of criminals who once they wind up behind bars become "saved". great , thats because most of their drugs supply and way of living stopped (i say most because there is a lot of stuff they get in prison) - some become artists, some preachers. some denounce gangs. i say good for you however the result was the same - you committed a crime , in this case someone (an officer died) and i dont care how many celebrities, politicians or anyone else is in your corner. i have been at many death row executions and witnessed many of the victims families denounce the executions and "pray" for their suspect.
heck - give me the needles or let me push the buttons. say goodbye cop killer.
Whalewatcher

over 3 years ago

9918 Comments

I can't imagine being a family member of Officer Faulkner's and having to go through a wide-awake night mare like this for over 25 years. I understand his widow, Maureen, wrote a book about this, entitled "Murdered by Mumia". Tried to find it in the local library, but no luck. Hope to find a copy of it soon.
dslow

over 3 years ago

704 Comments

FRY MUMIA!
JeMan

over 3 years ago

392 Comments

I agree lets kill the POS. It's sad that many Americans have also supported this radical nut job.
Anonymous

over 3 years ago

I was 8 months old when Wesley Cook (I refuse to justify his delusions by calling him Mumia) murdered Danny Faulkner and now I've been a cop almost six years...WHY IS THIS POS STILL ALIVE???
bill9823

over 3 years ago

2034 Comments

Maybe they can send him to hell now
fletc

over 3 years ago

182 Comments

"activists in the United States and Europe have rallied in support of his claim that he was the victim of a racist justice system."

What a bunch of asshats.
DALLASCRANE

over 3 years ago

19386 Comments

Almost 40 years and he is still on death row? Justice delayed is justice denied.
wildsoldier

over 3 years ago

1246 Comments

Just kill him already.....
Jonas

over 3 years ago

38530 Comments

I can't say much more. Echo................................................................................
APDSARGE

over 3 years ago

1064 Comments

Can't say it any better than my brothers before me. So I won't. BUMP!
tlwinkles379

over 3 years ago

2428 Comments

Good! Fry him. So much for all that Ben and Jerry's money!!! Serves them right.
Anonymous

over 3 years ago

This was a positive decision. I have the utmost respect for Officer Faulkner's widow.