COSELLOUT

“It was so, you know, traumatic. …So I just went with the motto, don’t serve time, let time serve you. …And because I went through this, like, wow, it could happen to me, too” — Paris Hilton, June 27, on Larry King discussing 23 day jail sentence

Okay, that was waaaaaay too easy and KILL BIGOTRY is not generally in the business of going after easy targets, but please understand that there is a point in that opening quote (okay, the poke was kind of fun, too!). But since the very last thing this world needs is another Paris Hilton column, let’s rename the title and fry some bigger fish… How about: “Larry King: Meet Byron Halsey”.

Byron Halsey was fully exonerated yesterday based on DNA evidence that proves his innocence after serving 19 years in prison and narrowly escaping the death penalty. Mr. Halsey is the 205th person nationwide exonerated based on DNA evidence, according to the Innocence Project. Below are excerpts from their full article.

Click right here to tell Larry King to immediately have Mr. Halsey on his show to highlight REAL injustice, so that DNA testing can be provided to protect all the other Byron Halseys. (copy-paste sample text is at end of article for the rushed)

DNA Identifies Real Perpetrator: The Innocence Project states: “The DNA testing on several key pieces of evidence used to convict Halsey actually indicated the guilt of another man, Cliff Hall, who is already in prison for several other sex crimes in New Jersey and who testified against Halsey during his trial …As in Halsey’s case, DNA in more than 37% of exoneration cases nationwide also helped identify the true perpetrator of the crimes.”

Death Penalty? Barry Scheck, Co-Director of the Innocence Project states: “By the grace of God, Byron Halsey is alive today to clear his name. He came within a hair’s breadth of being sentenced to die and ultimately being executed for a crime that DNA now proves he didn’t commit,” … “It is impossible to think about the risks and costs of the death penalty in New Jersey without thinking of Byron Halsey – and realizing just how close the state came to sentencing an innocent man to die”

Compensation? “New Jersey is one of 22 states nationwide with a law compensating people who were wrongfully convicted. New Jersey’s law does not provide any services (job training, health insurance, college tuition, etc.). It provides $20,000 for each year of wrongful incarceration.” …Okay, does this mean that most states DON’T compensate wrongfully incarcerated victims? And if New Jersey is one of the “good states” will it invest more money per year DURING his incarceration, then will compensate him after he is freed?

Memo to Larry King: Byron Halsey’s suffering all by itself warrants an appearance. Throw in the opportunity to shine light the flawed justice system, the critical importance of DNA evidence, implications on the death penalty, and the issues around compensation and it is a no-brainer. Factor in your recent coverage on the suffering of Paris Hilton and it is nothing short of an obligation that is tied to anything that might resemble “journalistic integrity”.

Please tell Larry King to have Byron Halsey on his show.

(Sample text to copy-paste or modify: Dear Mr. Larry King, on June 27 you broadcast to the world the 23 day ordeal that Paris Hilton persevered through. As you may well know, Byron Halsey, after narrowly avoiding execution, has just fully been exonerated through DNA evidence after serving 19 years in prison. In order to maintain your journalistic integrity we ask that you book Mr. Halsey on your show as soon as possible to highlight the various failures of our criminal justice system.)

For complete story on Byron Halsey see this FULL ARTICLE from “The Innocence Project”


End Note: WAYS TO HELP: Reprint from “The INNOCENCE PROJECT”:

LEARN MORE:

1) Read report “200 Exonerated, Too Many Wrongfully Convicted.”
2) Read breaking news on the month-long campaign to commemorate the 200 exonerations.
3) Learn how the first 200 DNA exonerations are leading to reform in local, state and federal policies.

GET INVOLVED:

1) Sign up to receive e-mail updates on events in your community during the month-long “200 Exonerated” campaign and news on the Innocence Project’s work.
2) Click here for details on 10 things you can do to help prevent wrongful convictions.
3) Host a “200 Exonerated, Too Many Wrongfully Convicted” educational forum, speaking engagement or house party. Email the Innocence Project for all the tools you need to hold an event in your community.