A Fair Trial for Christopher Pittman

To:  The Honorable Daniel F. Pieper

This petition is respectfully submitted to the Honorable Judge Daniel F. Pieper by concerned citizens nationwide and residents of the great State of South Carolina. We pray that you will consider this petition a request from friend's of the court.

One of the jurors, Steven Platt discussed the case with a third party in a bar on Feb.14th, the first of two days of jury deliberations. The conversation included discussion by Platt concerning the division between jurors in deciding Christopher Pittman's guilt or innocence and was held before going back for further deliberations.

If this allegation is found to be fact, this is clearly juror misconduct that may have affected the verdict. With an alternate juror, the trial could have ended with an acquittal or a mistrial.

During the trial, you instructed jurors not to look at media reports or talk about the case to anyone, to ensure Christopher Pittman received a fair trial. The entire nation watched Platt in post-trial television interviews say that there were three holdouts for Pittman's defense. This statement is of grave concern to concerned citizens, that Platt could have bullied jurors into a guilty verdict.

We are requesting that if you find that juror Platt acted improperly, to seat yourself as the "13th" juror, an accepted legal doctrine in South Carolina, or approve the motion filed by Christopher Pittman’s defense to throw out the verdict and order a new trial.

If you find that juror Platt did not act improperly, we respectfully request that Christopher Pittman’s 30-year prison sentence be reduced to end at his 21st birthday. In a civilized society and according to the United States Constitution, Christopher Pittman's 30-year sentence is barbaric and excessive punishment because he was a child of 12 at the time he was accused of the crime.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The A Fair Trial for Christopher Pittman Petition to The Honorable Daniel F. Pieper was created by Justice For Juveniles and written by Donna Gallegos (justiceforjuveniles@yahoo.com).  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.

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