Statement from Attorney for Terry Williams Re: Board of Pardons Split Decision
"On
behalf of Terry Williams, we are deeply disappointed that the Board of
Pardons has denied Terry’s request for clemency. This is particularly
disheartening after a majority of the Board, including the Attorney
General of Pennsylvania, by a 3-2 vote, recommended to spare Terry’s
life. Pennsylvania requires a unanimous recommendation in favor of
clemency in order for clemency to be considered by the Governor.
Notably
the majority vote for clemency for Terry Williams came from the three
members of the Board who have the most experience with victims of child
sex abuse and victims generally, including Attorney General Linda Kelly
(who prosecuted the Sandusky scandal), the Victim Representative and a
mental health expert.
In
light of the fact that the Commonwealth’s top prosecutor has voted for
clemency, we are deeply troubled that District Attorney Seth Williams
continues to push for Terry’s execution. Seth Williams, who considers
himself an advocate and defender of victims of abuse, has allowed
prosecutors to argue that evidence that Terry was abused by the man he
killed since the age of 13 should not matter in deciding whether he
lives or dies.
We
look forward to presenting new evidence on Thursday in the Court of
Common Pleas that prosecutors at the time of trial hid the true motive
for the killing of Amos Norwood from jurors. The motive was not
robbery, as alleged at trial, but Mr. Williams' reaction to the years of
abuse by Mr. Norwood. Mr. Williams' co-defendant was aware of the true
motive but testified that it was robbery in exchange for an undisclosed
deal with the prosecutor to help him get early parole.
Evidence
of the actual motive for the killing would have made a difference at
Terry’s trial and jurors have submitted sworn affidavits declaring that,
now that they know all the facts, they support life in prison without
parole over the death sentence for Terry Williams. The victim's widow
has also stated that she supports life without the possibility of
parole.
We
are confident that a thorough review of the facts will make it clear
that the jurors in this case did not have accurate and complete
information about the crime or Terry Williams.”
Please visit www.terrywilliamsclemenc
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