August 25, 2007 (3 articles)

Ohio

Kenny Richey hopes to be a free man in next seven days

ADAM MORRIS, The Scotsman

DEATH Row Scot Kenny Richey has spoken of his hope that he will be free
within a week.

Speaking for the first time since his death sentence was quashed for a
second time, the 42-year-old said he would hear within a few days when he
would be released.

Richey, who grew up in Edinburgh, said rekindling his romance with ex-wife
Wendy Amerud, 50, was among his top priorities once he leaves Mansfield
Correctional Unit in Ohio.

Seeing his mother Eileen, 62, and rebuilding his relationship with
22-year-old son Sean - who was two when he was originally sentenced - were
also things he was eager to do.

He said: "I don't know the exact date of my release - it could be days,
eight weeks at the most. I am worried and scared about what is about to
happen.

"I am looking forward to the minute I can see my family."

He added that he would be emerging a far different character than the one
who was jailed decades ago. He said: "I've lost weight - people will be
shocked when they see me."

Richey, who left the Capital at 18 to join his father in the USA, has been
on Death Row for more than 20 years after he was convicted of starting a
fire in which a two-year-old girl died in Ohio in 1986.

He has always protested his innocence, and had several false dawns about a
possible release. Richey refused a plea bargain which would have meant an
11-year sentence for arson and manslaughter.

While behind bars he has suffered three heart attacks.

His appeal was upheld by a federal court on August 10, and even though his
mother was jubilant at the time, she pointed out that a similar ruling was
made in 2005 before being overturned.

Eileen Richey, of Dalry, who speaks to her son about once a fortnight and
visited him last year, said she wouldn't ever believe her son would be free
until she saw it with her own two eyes.

Human rights charity Amnesty International have trying to secure his release
for years, arguing that when he was originally convicted he did not have
sufficient legal representation.

The prosecution claimed he started the fire because his estranged
ex-girlfriend and her new lover lived in the flat below.

Earlier this year, he was philosophical about starting his third decade on
Death Row.

"Every day is just another day," he said. "It shouldn't have gone on this
long but it has. It's the American way of life, I guess."

He originally believed he would be home by August: "I miss just walking
around the streets. That's one of the things I think I'll do when I get out.
Go on a long walk around Edinburgh."

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Source : The Scotsman

Scotsman.com News - Scotland - Kenny Richey hopes to be a free man in next seven days

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August 26, 2007

Ohio

Death row Brit to get retrial

The Sun (UK)

DEATH Row Briton Kenny Richey will face a retrial after US prosecutors
revealed they will not challenge a decision to overturn his murder
conviction.

Richey, who has spent more than 20 years on Death Row in Ohio, will now be
moved to an ordinary county jail.

He will be able to apply for bail and, if successful, he will be set free
until his new trial begins.

The development comes after the Sixth Circuit Federal Court of Appeal in
Cincinnati announced it was overturning his sentence earlier this month.

State prosecutors could have gone to the US Supreme Court to try to have the
decision overturned, but instead decided to stage a new trial.

Brian Laliberte, Ohio deputy first assistant attorney general, said: "We
will be retrying Mr Richey in the near future.

"We have taken a look at the Sixth Circuit Court's decision and, after
consulting with the Putnum County Prosecutor, we have decided not to appeal
the decision of the court."

He said that prosecutors will be preparing their new case over the next two
to three months.

The Scot, 43, was sentenced to death on January 27 1987 after he was
convicted of starting a fire in which a two-year-old girl died in Ohio in
1986.

He has always protested his innocence and the Sixth Circuit Federal Court of
Appeal in Cincinnati overturned Richey's death sentence for a second time on
August 10.

Richey was 18 when he left his mother's home in Edinburgh to live with his
American father in Ohio.

In July 1986 he was arrested for the murder of two-year-old Cynthia Collins,
who died in a fire at her mother's apartment.

The prosecution claimed he started the fire because his estranged former
girlfriend and her new lover - supposedly the intended targets - lived in
the flat beneath.

Protesting his innocence, Richey refused a plea bargain which would have led
to an 11-year sentence for arson and manslaughter.

Richey's lawyer Ken Parsigian said: "Kenny has always wanted a chance to
prove his innocence and this will give it to him."

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Source : The Sun

The Sun Online - News: Death row Brit to get retrial

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August 25, 2007

Ohio

Police officer pleads not guilty in death of girlfriend

By JOE MILICIA, Associated Press

CANTON - A police officer pleaded not guilty Friday to three counts of
aggravated murder and other charges in the killing of his pregnant
girlfriend.

Bobby Cutts Jr., who could receive the death penalty if convicted in the
death of Jessie Davis and her unborn daughter, nodded at his parents and his
pastor upon entering and leaving the makeshift courtroom at the Stark County
safety building.

Davis' disappearance in June drew national attention as thousands gathered
to search for her in the area surrounding her northeast Ohio home.
Authorities have not said how she was killed.

Along with the aggravated murder counts, Cutts, 30, also faces two counts of
gross abuse of a corpse and one count each of aggravated burglary and
endangering children.

"His spirits are strong. I think he has faith in the process," said Cutts'
attorney Fernando Mack. "He's presumed innocent just like any other
defendant situated similarly. He just wants people to pray for him."

Myisha Ferrell, a high school classmate of Cutts, also pleaded not guilty
Friday to charges of obstructing justice and complicity to abuse of a
corpse. Prosecutors say she helped dispose of Davis' body.

Common Pleas Judge Charles E. Brown Jr. set a trial date of Sept. 18, within
90 days of their arrests.

The date could be postponed if defense attorneys waive the defendants'
rights to speedy trials. They could also request to have the trials moved to
a different county because of the case's heavy publicity.

"We have to evaluate the case and do our homework," said Cutts' attorney
Myron Watson.

"Right now, it's just hard to gauge," Mack added.

Brown asked the jury commissioner to mail summonses to an unusually high 500
prospective jurors along with questionnaires regarding the death penalty and
what they know about the case.

Davis' mother, Patricia Porter, left the arraignment without commenting as
did prosecutors who walked out with her. Assistant prosecutor Dennis Barr
cited an order filed by the judge Friday that prevents parties from
discussing the case.

Authorities say Davis was killed June 14 in her home near North Canton,
about 45 miles south of Cleveland. Davis' body, still carrying a nearly
full-term fetus, was found nine days later about 25 miles away from her home
in a remote area of a park.

A day after Davis was killed, Porter found her 2 1/2-year-old grandson,
Blake, alone in the home wearing a dirty diaper. Bedroom furniture was
toppled and a pool of bleach was on the floor.

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Source : Associated Press

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