Philadelphia: A Federal judge on Dec.19 overturned the death sentence on former journalist and Black Panther Mumia Abu-jamal and ordered a new hearing for the convicted cop- killer. The US district judge William Yohn, let stand Abu-jamal’s conviction for the Dec.9, 1981 murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner, however, denying the death row inmate’s request for a new trial. But Yohn gave the state 180 days to conduct a fresh sentencing hearing, citing errors in the original penalty phase of his murder trial.
Abu-jamal is a cause celebre among death penalty opponents around the world, including Hollywood celebrities and European public figures, many of whom regard him as a political prisoner.
Philaelphia prosecutors say Abu-jamal murdered Faulkner during a shootout more than 20years ago, after the police officer pulled over his brother for driving the wrong way down a one-way street.
Abu-jamal, who was wounded in the chest, contends he was shot while running away. With dogged backing from a network of supporters, Abu-jamal has repeatedly maintained his innocence in Faulkner’s death and launched numerous legal appeals to stall his execution. (Reuters – Hindu, Dec.20, 2001)
