Mural in New Orleans painted by artist Rigo 23. Photo: Marina Drummer

It was revealed at an evidentiary hearing that prison officials withheld information from the jury that they had paid off the chief witness in the case. Hezekiah Brown was paid a carton of cigarettes a week, used as prison currency, and eventually rewarded with a pardon and release from prison. Herman Wallace has spent over 35 years in solitary confinement.

Herman Wallace's lawyers argued that the warden had essentially bribed the witness and kept that information from the jury. This violated his right to a fair trial. Furthermore, there was no physical evidence connecting him to the murder. Commissioner Morgan ruled that it is reasonable to assume that a jury would not have convicted Mr. Wallace knowing that the main prosecution witness was paid off.

Despite the moral fortitude exercised by Commissioner Morgan, it has been over a year since the hearing. Mr. Wallace remains in limbo, waiting for Judge Michael Irwin to adopt this recommendation.

We, the friends, family and supporters of Herman Wallace, ask Judge Irwin to exercise the same moral fortitude and reverse this wrongful conviction.
More than enough time has elapsed for Judge Irwin to review the case and to make his ruling. Is this another example of Louisiana injustice, or will Judge Irwin adopt his commissioner's recommendation and correct this gross miscarriage of justice?

As concerned citizens, we want it to be known that we will not go away until there is a resolution on this matter. Herman often says, "The louder my voice, the deeper they bury me." We say, "The deeper they bury Herman Wallace, the louder our voices will become."

On Tuesday, Oct. 9, a press conference was to be held on the Baton Rouge Courthouse steps. Geronimo ji Jaga and Robert King - two exonerated long-term political prisoners - planned to be there. Robert, the third member of the Angola 3, was released in 2001 after 29 years locked away in the Louisiana State Prison at Angola, a former plantation. The three had founded a chapter of the Black Panther Party there. Ron Chisolm, co-founder of the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond, and supporters of the Coalition to Free the Angola Three also planned to attend the press conference. For more information, contact Marina Drummer, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , and visit www.angola3.org.

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