Following Mixed Court Ruling, Mumia Abu Jamal's Lead Attorney Maintains Hope for Overturning Conviction

by via Democracy Now

Fri, Mar 28, 2008 7:45AM

Friday, March 28, 2008 :A federal appeals court Thursday refused to overturn the conviction of imprisoned journalist and former Black Panther Mumia Abu Jamal and rejected his call for a new trial. However the long-awaited ruling said Abu-Jamal, who has been on death row for 26 years, deserves a new sentencing hearing because of flawed jury instructions. If he is resentenced he will face either death or life in prison without parole. We speak to Abu Jamal's lead attorney, Robert Bryan.

A federal appeals court Thursday refused to overturn the conviction of imprisoned journalist and former Black Panther Mumia Abu Jamal and rejected his call for a new trial. However the long-awaited ruling said Abu-Jamal, who has been on death row for 26 years, deserves a new sentencing hearing because of flawed jury instructions.

If he is resentenced he will face either death or life in prison without parole. Abu-Jamal was convicted for killing a white police officer in 1982 following a controversial trial before a predominantly white jury. Protests are scheduled for today in New York and San Francisco.

We’re joined now in San Francisco by Robert Bryan, the lead counsel for Mumia Abu Jamal.

Robert Bryan, Lead Counsel for Mumia Abu-Jamal.

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For more information: http://www.democracynow.org/2008/3/28/foll...

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