The old confederacy rises again in yet another miscarriage ofjustice. As is the norm in our modern society, "if the police can't convict a rich white man for a crime, they put it off on a poor black man" in order to clear their records. I am a black man on deathrow simply because I was convenient and lacked the funds to secure a competent attorney. I was snatched away from my loving wife and children, because the poor and minority are considered to be a disposable entity. It is easy enough to lock them away-or execute them-for crimes they did not commit. This case adequately represents the prejudices and inadequacies that still haunt our system of justice, so shot through with the frailties of human judgments. To get a truer sense of my situation please read the remainder of my story very carefully.
 

THE INVESTIGATION

On May 15, 1990, a young white woman living in an all white community was murdered and according to investigators, raped as well. But according to the state's forensic witness this was very questionable.  It is not my intention to offend anyone nor do I wish to speak bad about this young lady because for one, she is dead, and two, I did not know her. However, the evidence suggests that she was living a double-life. While engaged to be married to one young man, it is alleged that she was having an affair with a doctor. There is also other evidence that indicates she and her fiancee had a big argument just before she was killed. Coincidentally, her engagement ring was missing when her body was discovered. Another coincidence is that the doctor involved in the alleged affair suddenly moved to another state, "after" his then girlfriend made statements to investigators that "he" had killed her. For 6 years the FBI profile indicated that a white male had committed the crime. Additionally, there was forensic evidence that supported this theory.
 
 

PRE-TRIAL PUBLICITY

At no time in the history of this community was there more publicity than in this case. Yet, the presiding judge would not grant a change of venue. It is important to note that the judge had only recently been appointed to the bench at the time this case was assigned to him. With an election for his position looming one can only wonder what impact the need to be a law order judge had on the trial court's decision to keep the trial before the electorate. Could it be that with an upcoming election a conviction was needed to insure his success??
 

THE JURY

The judge's bias along with the prosecutions efforts to eliminate blacks from the jury panel resulted in an almost all-white jury, with the exception of two blacks. The jurors were mostly of older persons. During jury selection a white juror was reported for violating the judges order instructing potential jurors, "not to discuss the case."  She was reported by a black woman. The white juror when question by the judge denied this. The judge struck both jurors for cause. The prosecution encouraged this action because, for them, it meant one less black they would have to worry about. But what legal basis did the judge have for punishing this black woman for doing what she was supposed to do? There is no legal basis for such action. Instead, the judge was sending a message-that this is still 'white america' and a black or minority speaking out against a white person is still not permitted. This type of judicial conduct is reminiscent of the "Jim Crow" days when blacks weren't allowed to speak bad or challenge white persons. Another incident involving the misconduct of another white juror is a contributing factor in this contention. This juror was reported by another white juror for having a cellular phone after having been instructed by the judge,"that while being sequestered jurors would be prohibited from carrying cellular phones, pagers, or other electronic communication devices." when, too questioned, this white juror denied this. Subsequently, this jurors cellular phone records were immediately subpoenaed which revealed that this juror was carrying a cellular phone and had made numerous phone calls to someone. After learning of such extrajudicial communication/contact this juror was allowed to remain on the jury panel,in contact with other members of the jury. The judge never polled the other members of the jury to ascertain whether or not this juror had made comments to them. Had this been a Black or minority, would such preferential treatment been awarded to them for such a blatant disregard??!! Additionally, it is this type of treatment that contributes to the racism that continues to plague our system of justice !
 

EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE PROSECUTION

The prosecution presented testimony from the states forensic expert indicating that I could be the source of the physical evidence allegedly found at the crime scene. The prosecution brought in a witness that testified about having seen me with a ring similar to the one missing from the victim. This witness supposedly saw the ring while sitting inside a car, with dark tinted windows which were rolled up, while being a distance of 7-10 feet away from me. Another prosecution witness testified that he saw me (a black man) in an all-white bar, that I, a complete stranger approached him and began volunteering information about sexual acts I allegedly acquired from white women. This was a calculated move by the prosecution to interject racial bias which would inflame white jurors.
 

EVIDENCE PRESENTED BY THE DEFENSE

A local white attorney with social and economic ties to the community was appointed to represent me. He received threatening phone calls from white citizens opposed to him representing me. At trial be subpoenaed two witnesses; the first witness was the manager and owner of the all-white bar, who testified that the conversation alleged to have taking place in this bar according to the prosecutions witness, never took place. The second witness for the defense was a co-worker of the victim who testified about a white male exposing himself to the victim and making sexual advances toward the victim around the time the victim was killed.
 

MY ALIBI
 

On the day of the murder,May 15,1990, I was at work. I worked a full eight hours. I had time records to prove this and had the statements of co-workers to verify this.
 

EVIDENCE FAVORABLE TO ME BUT NOT PRESENTED

There were a number of witnesses who could have provided evidence that would have exonerated me; the FBI agents who generated the suspect profile which indicated the suspect to be a white male. The witness who told investigators that her boyfriend, a prominent white male doctor who was having an affair with the victim, was responsible for the murder. A pawn shop owner who could have provided evidence about the missing ring. Additionally, there were other witnesses associated with law-enforcement agencies who received information that proved to them that I was not guilty of the charged crime.Then there were the neighbors who lived across the street from the victim who remembered seeing the victim last with a white male other than her fiancee. And lastly, there were testimony from a pre-trial hearing that proved that the state's forensic experts tampered with my blood sample and testimony that another state's expert fabricated a forensic document declaring a DNA match on my blood when a match did not exist. Why wasn't such crucial evidence presented at my trial?

In a capital murder case a criminal defense attorney charges in the excess of $80,000. The local attorney appointed to represent me was paid $2,000 by the state. There was no way this attorney would represent me effectively in such a high profiled and racially motivated case. Additionally, in the eyes of racist white citizens of this county it didn't matter that I was innocent, all that mattered was that I was a black man allegedly responsible for the rape and murder of one of their own. While a conviction would be simply had, the truth is more complicated and ultimately more troubling. We all know that serious flaws plague Americas criminal justice system, which condemns the innocent more ofien than most fair-minded citizens would like to believe. I don't claim to be a model citizen but, a killer, I am not. My family and I really need someone to help us and this is our plea for help.

My family and I need donations of either money(to finance an appeal/new-trial) or volunteers to do legal and investigative work. If you should have any questions about anything contained in my story please write me at my address which is listed at the very end of my story. My story is not designed to offend anyones race, but only to offend racism and to alert society to those injustices that are instigated by racism.However, if anyone has been offended by my story, please accept my apology. There is so much more to my story. Please inquire!!
 

FOR DONATIONS OF MONEY PLEASE SEND TO:

SUSANNA HAMMONDS
P.O.BOX 135
DOTHAN,ALABAMA 36302

Please, I really need your help and support now before my appeal is exhausted in the courts!!!!!

THANK YOU,
ARTEZ HAMMONDS
#Z-630 5-U-14
HOLMAN 3700
ATMORE,ALABAMA 36503

I am a Black male 29 years of age, weight 230 pounds, height 5'11", with brown eyes.  I enjoy reading books about religion, history, as well as other topics that stimulate my interest.  My hobbies are drawing, working crossword puzzles, and working creatively with my hands.  I'm interested in corresponding with mature individuals.

ARTEZ HAMMONDS
#Z-630 5-U-14
HOLMAN 3700
ATMORE,ALABAMA 36503

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