Split Decision by Board of Pardons on clemency for Terry Williams

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.terrywilliamsclemency.com for more background about the case and information about the support for clemency for Terry.

URGENT: Clemency for Terrance Williams

Currently, Terrance "Terry" Williams is awaiting his death, scheduled for less than a month from today. On October 3, 2012, Terry will be executed by the state of Pennsylvania unless Governor Tom Corbett and the Board of Pardons can be convinced to commute Terry's death sentence to life in prison without parole.

Terry's story is a devastating one. In a clemency petition filed with the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons and Governor Corbett by child advocates and other Pennsylvanians, Terry's tragic childhood is outlined, beginning with his violent and abusive mother and step-father, and subsequent rapes by various older men, starting when Terry was only six years old. The rest of his childhood continued similarly. Terry was later repeatedly raped by men in positions of power, including a teacher and a church leader.

What ensued from this history of abuse after abuse is that Terry eventually lashed out at his abusers. Terry was first convicted of an armed robbery in 1982, at age 16, and for the 1984 killing of Herbert Hamilton, at age 17. Hamilton had been sexually abusing Terry until one day when Hamilton attacked Terry and a fight broke out between the two. It ended with Terry repeatedly stabbing Hamilton to his death.

Just a few months after Terry's 18th birthday, he murdered another of his abusers, Amos Norwood, a leader of the acolytes at Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Philadelphia. What started as sexual abuse quickly escalated to violent sexual encounters between the two, where Norwood would beat Terry while raping him. During his trial, the jury was told of Terry's two prior convictions of armed robbery and murder. They were not told of his history of being sexually abused by the very men he killed. According to the clemency petition, Terry's attorney did not meet with him until the day before his trial began and did not investigate the facts of the trial. Several jurors who convicted Terry and opted for the death penalty rather than life without parole have now signed sworn affidavits saying that had they known of the history of abuse by Terry's victims, they would not have supported a death sentence.

Additionally, Norwood's widow has also come out in support for clemency for Terry, who is deeply penitent of his crimes, and would like his sentence reduced to life without parole. In total, 22 former prosecutors and judges, 34 law professors, 40 mental health professionals, and over three dozen faith leaders from across the state of Pennsylvania, including the Archbishop of Philadelphia, Charles Chaput, have publicly called for Terry's death sentence to be commuted to life without parole. 

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, and Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams all have the power to stop the execution of Terrance Williams and reduce his sentence to life without the possibility of parole. Please contact Governor Corbett, sign the petition on Terry's web site, and educate yourself about this case and other cases like it at the Death Penalty Information Center.

It is urgent that we act immediately and fight for this man's life. Please contact your representatives and spread the word. 

Terry Williams: A Case for Clemency

Child Advocates, Jurors and Victim’s Widow Urge Clemency for Terry Williams, a Survivor of Child Sexual Abuse Who Killed His Abusers

Unprecedented Outpouring of Support in PA by Former Prosecutors and Judges, Faith Leaders, Mental Health Professionals and Law Professors Who Join Call to Stop Execution Scheduled for October 3rd

Clemency Petition Filed Today Citing Horrific Physical and Sexual Abuse Unheard by Jury That Sentenced Terry to Death

(Philadelphia, PA; September 6, 2012) Today, more than two dozen child advocates joined former jurors, the victim’s widow and dozens of other concerned individuals and organizations, in urging Governor Tom Corbett and the Board of Pardons to grant clemency to Terrance “Terry” Williams, who suffered years of physical and sexual abuse from older males, eventually killing two of his abusers while in his teens. Among those who are publicly calling for the death sentence to be commuted are 22 former prosecutors and judges, 34 law professors, 40 mental health professionals and over three dozen faith leaders from across Pennsylvania including the Archbishop of Philadelphia, Charles Chaput. If Terry Williams is executed on October 3, 2012, he will be the first non-volunteer put to death by the Commonwealth in 50 years.

In a letter sent to Governor Tom Corbett and the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, child advocates noted the special impact of child sex abuse cases in Pennsylvania because of the tragic events which have come to light involving Jerry Sandusky and the Catholic church, writing, “In our Commonwealth, we have seen very public and analogous examples of this phenomenon as major institutions in Pennsylvania have come under scrutiny regarding the sexual abuse of children.”

The letter from child advocates continues, “The evidence of abuse in this case is clear. There can be no doubt that Terry was repeatedly and violently abused and exploited as a child and teenager by manipulative older men. Terry’s acts of violence have, alas, an explanation of the worst sort: enveloped by anger and self-hatred, Terry lashed out and killed two of the men who sexually abused him and caused him so much pain.”

The letters from the child advocates and the other distinguished Pennsylvanians accompanied a clemency petition filed today with the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons and Governor Corbett by Terry’s attorneys urging commutation to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The clemency petition provides details of Terry’s horrific childhood of abuse and rape. Growing up in poverty and chaos, Terry was raised by a violently physically abusive single mother. First raped by an older boy when he was only six years old, Terry was later groomed by a public schoolteacher who bought him food, clothes, a bicycle and gave him rides to school and eventually began raping him.

As a teenager, Terry was the victim of two other older men. These men used their influence as a church leader and as a sports booster to get access to young boys. Terry was sexually abused and exploited by both of these men.  Tragically, Terry killed both of these men when he was seventeen and eighteen years old, respectively.

The jury that convicted Terry and sentenced him to death for the murder of Amos Norwood, which occurred just three months after Terry turned eighteen, never knew all the relevant facts.  Terry’s attorney, who did not meet with him until the day before the trial started, did not investigate the facts of the case before trial and never told the jurors that Terry was abused throughout his childhood and was abused by the men he killed.  Now, several jurors say that if they had known the whole truth about Terry's story, they would have voted for life instead of death.  “If I had known that Terrance Williams had a sexual relationship with the older male victim, that definitely would have made a difference” says one of the jurors who signed an affidavit. “That would have been shocking. I certainly think he would not have been sentenced to death.”

Additionally, Pennsylvania is the only state where courts are not required to instruct juries that life means life without parole in first- and second-degree murder cases. Several jurors from Terry's capital trial have stated that they did not understand this crucial point, and thought that their choice was between a death sentence or a life sentence with the possibility of parole. “If I had known that a life sentence meant life without parole, I personally would have voted for a life sentence, and I think other people would have voted for life too,” one juror stated in a sworn affidavit.

Now that they have all the facts, five of the jurors from Terry’s capital trial have submitted sworn affidavits expressing their support for life in prison rather than the death sentence handed down at trial.

In addition to child advocates and jurors, the victim’s widow supports clemency for Terry, who is deeply remorseful. Despite losing her husband, Mrs. Norwood has forgiven Terry and expresses her support for Terry’s sentence to be reduced from death to life. In Mrs. Norwood’s words, “I have come to forgive Mr. Williams. It has taken me many years. I want his life spared and I do not want him executed. I am at peace with my decision and I hope and pray that my wishes are respected.” (Read her affidavit here: http://bit.ly/P8hWUY)

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett, the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, and Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams have the power to stop the execution and reduce Terry Williams’ sentence from death to life without the possibility of parole.

Please join us in asking for clemency for Terry and sign the petition here.

TX Judge: No Hearing For Delusional Death Row Prisoner

When a judge blocks a hearing for a man who has been consistently found to be mentally incompetent, what are we to do? See what Brian Evans from Amnesty International USA has to say http://bit.ly/PnAbVn

Execute Art Not People Official Poster

PADP Philadelphia Sponsors "Execute Art Not People"

An annual event sponsored by Pennsylvanians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty called “Execute Art Not People” will be held on June 1 at the Ethical Society of Philadelphia from 6 – 9 p.m.

This year, the event will focus on ways the Pennsylvania government can redirect funds to arts and education from programs like the death penalty.

At the event, there will be an interactive art project in front of the building as well as a free screening of the film “Concrete Steel and Paint,” which will be followed by a panel discussion with the film’s directors.

Featured artists who participated in Execute Art Not People include: King Britt, Kate Watson-Wallace, Tatyana Fazalizadeh, Paul Santoleri, Gianni Lee, Yis Goodwin and Lafayette Sanders.

The event will hopefully raise awareness about the tribulations of the death penalty, especially in Philadelphia where the system often finds itself under scrutiny.

For more information, call 267-639-6169 or email PhillyPADP@gmail.com.

Singapore President Must Grant Clemency to Yong Vui Kong

In the United States, crimes related to drugs are not usually met with a harsh death sentence, but in countries such as Singapore, those convicted could receive a death sentence without a trial.

Such is the case of Yong Vui Kong, who was sentenced to death in 2007 for carrying 47 grams of heroin (anyone carrying over 15 grams when arrested automatically receives the death penalty). Kong, who was 19 years old at the time and illiterate, was not even considered an adult at the time of his arrest, and because he was illiterate did not know of the penalties of the crime.

Now, nearly five years later, Kong’s appeals have run out and he faces execution unless the President of Singapore grants him clemency. The President can grant clemency after a recommendation from the cabinet.

There is absolutely no reason for this young man to be executed. He deserves a second chance at life, and it is up to the cabinet to realize that before it is too late.

Currently, the Twittersphere is buzzing with support for Kong. Numerous tweets directed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singapore (Twitter handle @MFAsg) call for clemency and compassion from the cabinet and the President.

Amnesty International is asking that everyone show support for Yong Vui Kong by sending the following tweet periodically over the next 24 hours:

Mr K Shanmugam, give Yong Vui Kong a second chance to live! #deathpenalty #singapore #yongvuikong @MFAsg