Free Carmen Woods

To:  Governor & District Attorney of Pennsylvania

Carmen Woods was sentenced to life in prison for a murder he did not commit. He has been incarcerated for the last 26 years. For 26 years, we (the family & friends) have appealed to the courts with new evidence and pointed out discrepancies that took place at trial, such as:

1. The only alleged eye witness recanted his statement to a prominent news reporter, as well signing an affidavit with Carmen’s attorney.

2. The victim’s father was caught communicating with a juror at trial, and Judge Albert F. Sabo the pro-commonwealth judge did nothing to remedy this matter.

3. Carmen was represented by an incompetent lawyer who was later disbarred for alcoholism. He admitted to the PA Bar Disciplinary Board that he had a serious drinking problem and had been drinking since a family tragedy in 1972 and that after his divorce in 1976 it spiraled out of control. He further stated that he reached the peak of his alcoholism in 1982-84 (Carmen’s trial was in November 1982)

4. A new witness has come forth and is willing to testify that it was not Carmen that he saw shoot and kill Chester.

All Carmen’s appeals were denied. The courts have rejected our appeals to present the new witness because of Time-Barr (paper not filed in time) or because they claim the evidence does not prove innocence. However, if the evidence that we uncovered was introduced at trial, it would have proved the alleged witness was lying and that Carmen is innocent.

Carmen had faith in the judicial system when he turned himself in thinking justice would prevail. Sadly, the system has failed. The law states innocent until proven guilty; however, it is really guilty until proven innocent. You are part of this system. You have the power to make the previous wrongs right.

The death of Chester Laws, Jr. was extremely tragic, and we, in no way seek to deny the amount of pain and suffering the Laws family has endured; but Carmen did not kill Chester. He has served 26 years for this crime, and I believe this to be enough.

We set forth our pleas as the hidden victims in this case, a family who simply wants Carmen free from this Miscarriage of Justice. We could bring hundreds of witnesses to testify of their love and desire to see Carmen brought back into society.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania no longer has any credible case against Carmen. Any present-day examination of the facts reveals 26 years of wrongful imprisonment. This is a Miscarriage of Justice!

Judge for yourself, read the evidence on this website: freecarmenwoods.com

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The Free Carmen Woods Petition to Governor & District Attorney of Pennsylvania was created by Free Carmen Woods Committee and written by Darlene Brown (freecarmenwoods@verizon.net).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.