Kent Heitholt, a sports editor with Columbia Daily Tribune in Columbia, Missouri, was brutally murdered in the parking lot as he left work just after 2 a.m. on the morning of November 1, 2001. The police had no significant leads until 2 ½ years later when 19 year old Chuck Erickson began telling friends he'd had a dream that he may have been involved. Chuck was picked up by the police on March 10, 2004 and taken in for questioning.
Ryan was convicted of the murder of Ken Heitholt on 1 November 2001. No physical evidence was found at the scene to connect either Ryan or Chuck Erickson, who admitted to the crime in 2004, and named Ryan as his accomplice. It is clear from Police Interviews with Chuck that he was fed information and that he had no knowledge of the crime other than what he had seen in media reports. Erickson later recanted his accusatory statement against Ryan, who has always protested his innocence, and denied all knowledge of the crime.
The evidence against Ryan Ferguson? The testimony of Chuck Erickson - who later admitted he lied, and that in fact, neither he or Ryan were connected to the crime in any way. Chuck later plea bargained and testified against Ryan. He was given a 25 year sentence for second degree murder. Ryan was convicted and sentenced to 40 years.
Police Tapes which clearly show that Chuck Erickson was spoon fed detailed information about the crime, can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dCyKnc1BVV8
Full details including timelines, witness testimony, and case narrative, can be found on the FREE RYAN FERGUSON website. It is obvious to everyone apart from the prosectutors, that this case has no substance in fact, and should never have been brought to trial. Without the false testimony of Chuck Erickson, there would have been no case against Ryan Ferguson.
No one is immune from false accusation, it can happen to you, your family, and your friends. It is all to easy to accuse, but the consequences of false accusation reverberate and ruin countless lives, as can be seen in Ryans case. The murderer of Kent Heitholt walks free. It's time to FREE RYAN FERGUSON and clear his name. Details of what you can do to help are available on the FREE RYAN FERGUSON website.
Monday, 22 August 2011
Sunday, 21 August 2011
CONVICTED KILLER TO BE RELEASED!
Moves to release a convicted killer from a psychiatric institution are under way after he served just seven-and-a-half years for stabbing to death two members of the same family.
Gregory Davis, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
In a random, frenzied attack with no apparent motive he took a knife and a hammer to the Milton Keynes home of Dorothy Rogers in 2003 and stabbed the 48-year-old 31 times.
Her 19-year-old son Michael tried to escape but was chased to a children's playground where Davis stabbed, bludgeoned, then disembowelled him.
A third victim, Dorothy's boyfriend Mick Cowles, was also attacked with a hammer and seriously injured.
Afterwards, with his victims lying in pools of blood, Davis calmly picked up his girlfriend and took her on a date.
It was at a Mental Health Tribunal at the beginning of the month when the conditional discharge of Davis was agreed, despite only serving seven-and-a-half years in psychiatric institutions.
Ms Rogers' surviving son, who did not want to be identified, told Sky News: "This was a completely unprovoked attack.
"There's always a permanent threat that the offender could re-offend and in another if not more brutal way another time.
"We believe this is a complete travesty of justice and we feel that we've not been given the support that we deserve, especially after the loss of two precious lives."
In a statement, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice said: "Mental Health Tribunals are independent judicial bodies, responsible for deciding whether it is necessary to detain or discharge restricted patients.
"Conditionally discharged patients are supervised in the community by a psychiatrist and a social worker.
"As well as being required to meet with mental health professionals, they also have to abide by certain conditions to ensure public safety, which may include abstaining from alcohol, or adhering to exclusion zones such as the area where the victim lives.
"They may also be recalled to a secure hospital by the Secretary of State if there is evidence of increased risk to the public."
The conditional discharge has been agreed in principal, but has not yet happened.
A further meeting regarding the fate of Davis between police, social workers and psychiatrists is scheduled to take place in a few days' time. Source Yahoo.
I think it's time that Mental Health Tribunals were stripped of their rights of independence. When Gregory Davis kills again, and statistics show it is highly probable, who will be held accountable? We have a right to be protected from criminals - especially criminals with a history of mental illness. I can only imagine what the family of the two victims are feeling right now. If this issue bothers you - as it bothers me - do something about it. Write to the Secretary of State, demand that the law has the right to intervene and overthrow the decision of Mental Health Tribunals, and petition to keep criminals where they belong - behind bars.
Gregory Davis, 33, pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
In a random, frenzied attack with no apparent motive he took a knife and a hammer to the Milton Keynes home of Dorothy Rogers in 2003 and stabbed the 48-year-old 31 times.
Her 19-year-old son Michael tried to escape but was chased to a children's playground where Davis stabbed, bludgeoned, then disembowelled him.
A third victim, Dorothy's boyfriend Mick Cowles, was also attacked with a hammer and seriously injured.
Afterwards, with his victims lying in pools of blood, Davis calmly picked up his girlfriend and took her on a date.
It was at a Mental Health Tribunal at the beginning of the month when the conditional discharge of Davis was agreed, despite only serving seven-and-a-half years in psychiatric institutions.
Ms Rogers' surviving son, who did not want to be identified, told Sky News: "This was a completely unprovoked attack.
"There's always a permanent threat that the offender could re-offend and in another if not more brutal way another time.
"We believe this is a complete travesty of justice and we feel that we've not been given the support that we deserve, especially after the loss of two precious lives."
In a statement, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Justice said: "Mental Health Tribunals are independent judicial bodies, responsible for deciding whether it is necessary to detain or discharge restricted patients.
"Conditionally discharged patients are supervised in the community by a psychiatrist and a social worker.
"As well as being required to meet with mental health professionals, they also have to abide by certain conditions to ensure public safety, which may include abstaining from alcohol, or adhering to exclusion zones such as the area where the victim lives.
"They may also be recalled to a secure hospital by the Secretary of State if there is evidence of increased risk to the public."
The conditional discharge has been agreed in principal, but has not yet happened.
A further meeting regarding the fate of Davis between police, social workers and psychiatrists is scheduled to take place in a few days' time. Source Yahoo.
I think it's time that Mental Health Tribunals were stripped of their rights of independence. When Gregory Davis kills again, and statistics show it is highly probable, who will be held accountable? We have a right to be protected from criminals - especially criminals with a history of mental illness. I can only imagine what the family of the two victims are feeling right now. If this issue bothers you - as it bothers me - do something about it. Write to the Secretary of State, demand that the law has the right to intervene and overthrow the decision of Mental Health Tribunals, and petition to keep criminals where they belong - behind bars.
WEST MEMPHIS THREE
"West Memphis Three" refers to three men who were tried and convicted in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. During the trial, the prosecution put forth the idea that the only purported motive in the case was that the slayings were part of a Satanic ritual.[1][2][3] Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley, Jr. was sentenced to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin was sentenced to life imprisonment.
In July 2007, new forensic evidence was presented in the case, including evidence that none of the DNA collected at the crime scene matched the defendants, but did match Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of one of the victims, as well as a friend of Hobbs' whom he had been with on the day of the murders. The status report jointly issued by the State and the Defense team on July 17, 2007 states, "Although most of the genetic material recovered from the scene was attributable to the victims of the offenses, some of it cannot be attributed to either the victims or the defendants." On October 29, 2007, the defense filed a Second Amended Writ of Habeas Corpus, outlining the new evidence.[4]
After a series of appeals regarding the DNA evidence, including an argument before the Arkansas Supreme Court in 2010, the West Memphis Three reached a deal in which they pled "no contest" to the charges and were released with a ten year suspended sentence, having served 18 years and 78 days in prison. Source Wilkepedia.
This is undoubtedly one of the worst cases of injustice I have ever encountered. Had it not been for the fact that Damien Echols was sentenced to death, the plea bargain would not have been accepted. The ONLY reason it was accepted was to save the life of Echols - not an admission of guilt. An appeal would have been forthcoming in time, and the sentences overturned, due to lack of physical evidence connecting any of the three boys to the crime - by offering a plea bargain, the Justice Department undoubtedly saved themselves the humiliation of being proved wrong at a later date.
We are still faced with the fact that three young boys lost 18 years and 78 days of their lives convicted of a crime they did not commit. What happens now? By accepting a plea bargain and effectively admitting guilt - they have rendered themselves ineligable for any form of compensation for wrongful imprisonment. The US Criminal Justice System needs to look closely at this case, and others, to prevent this from happening ever again. To admit to a crime you did not commit as the only way to gain rightful freedom is a absolute disgrace and a further injustice to these three men. One can only hope that in time, and with pressure applied from the many supporters and followers of this case, the three will be completely vindicated of this henious crime.
It is beyond my comprehension as to why Terry Hobbs and his friend were cleared of involvement when after all - it was their DNA that was found at the crime scene - not that of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, or Jesse Misskelley.
If you care about injustice, and don't want this to happen to your son, husband, brother, father, or friend - make it known, and make a difference.
In July 2007, new forensic evidence was presented in the case, including evidence that none of the DNA collected at the crime scene matched the defendants, but did match Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of one of the victims, as well as a friend of Hobbs' whom he had been with on the day of the murders. The status report jointly issued by the State and the Defense team on July 17, 2007 states, "Although most of the genetic material recovered from the scene was attributable to the victims of the offenses, some of it cannot be attributed to either the victims or the defendants." On October 29, 2007, the defense filed a Second Amended Writ of Habeas Corpus, outlining the new evidence.[4]
After a series of appeals regarding the DNA evidence, including an argument before the Arkansas Supreme Court in 2010, the West Memphis Three reached a deal in which they pled "no contest" to the charges and were released with a ten year suspended sentence, having served 18 years and 78 days in prison. Source Wilkepedia.
This is undoubtedly one of the worst cases of injustice I have ever encountered. Had it not been for the fact that Damien Echols was sentenced to death, the plea bargain would not have been accepted. The ONLY reason it was accepted was to save the life of Echols - not an admission of guilt. An appeal would have been forthcoming in time, and the sentences overturned, due to lack of physical evidence connecting any of the three boys to the crime - by offering a plea bargain, the Justice Department undoubtedly saved themselves the humiliation of being proved wrong at a later date.
We are still faced with the fact that three young boys lost 18 years and 78 days of their lives convicted of a crime they did not commit. What happens now? By accepting a plea bargain and effectively admitting guilt - they have rendered themselves ineligable for any form of compensation for wrongful imprisonment. The US Criminal Justice System needs to look closely at this case, and others, to prevent this from happening ever again. To admit to a crime you did not commit as the only way to gain rightful freedom is a absolute disgrace and a further injustice to these three men. One can only hope that in time, and with pressure applied from the many supporters and followers of this case, the three will be completely vindicated of this henious crime.
It is beyond my comprehension as to why Terry Hobbs and his friend were cleared of involvement when after all - it was their DNA that was found at the crime scene - not that of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, or Jesse Misskelley.
If you care about injustice, and don't want this to happen to your son, husband, brother, father, or friend - make it known, and make a difference.
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