Dear supporters,
Greetings to everyone. I hope this letter finds of you in the best spirits. Even if that is not the reality of your situation, I hope that you will gain strength, comfort and guidance from your families, friends and simply caring people. As always, I am very grateful for your support and the friendships that has developed throughout this fight for justice. My hope, strength, and confidence has risen to a higher level because of your active support and genuine friendships.
Despite all the hectic legal proceedings underway, I am doing rather fine mentally and physically. I apologize for not personnally updating you all sooner about the February 3rd hearing, but I was totally focussed on legal strategic preparations for the next step, due to an impending deadline to file our motion to the Circuit court requesting a new trial.
Nonetheless, I want to express my thoughts about what occured at the evidentiary hearing on February 3rd 2012. But first, let me tell you about the transportation ordeal. Thursday afternoon, on February 2nd I was transported from death row to the County jail in Jacksonville, Florida to attend the hearing. That, by itself, was one horrific experience I'll never forget. Handcuff were snapped on my wrist and leg irons around my ankles. A long chain in the front connected the handcuff and leg irons. Two police officers from Jacksonville opened the back doors of the van that had no windows for prisoners to look out. There was a steel wall in the middle of the van creating two components to sit prisoners. The bench and interior was steel plated. The officers assisted me in stepping up into the van. Once I was inside the van, the officer slammed the door and it instantly became pitch black dark. I couldn't even see my hands in front of me. I strained my eyes to see something, anything, but all I saw was black darkness. I pressed my hands against the steel wall. I felt as if I were in a casket buried alive. My heart started pounding and beating fast. Then I yelled: "there aren't lights in here - please turn on the lights!" But all I heard was the police officers' laughter. It wasn't funny to me. In fact, it was terrifying: extreme psychological torture.
Every time the van took a right or a left turn, I slide the opposite direction from one end of the van, to the other, helplessly - bumping my head, knees, ribs and elbow on the steel in the back of the van. There was nothing I could do to protect myself. I heard the officers laughing every time they heard me sliding.
After we arrived at the jail and I literally crawled out, they had the audacity to facetiously ask "was it all right?"
As my eyes adjusted to the light, I responded "your spitefulness makes me stronger". Their smiles quickly vanished.
The evidentiary hearing, in my opinion, went as I had assumed it would. My lawyer did a good job. Our witness told the truth and stood his ground. I am satisfied with our witness testimony. His memory was clear and certain on the most crucial points, which are: he was the first to arrive to the store. The State witness was not there when he arrived. He searched for the clerk for several minutes before the State's witness even arrived. He was the one to call 911 after locating the clerk, and he told this to the police officer at the scene.
The police officers continued to support the police report. They testified that our witness told them exactly what is written in the report at the scene of the crime.
My lawyer made a very strong point at the end of the hearing. He stated that our witness is the only one in all of this that has nothing to gain or lose. He has no reason to lie for me or the State. And he has no criminal record.
Within the next two weeks we have to submit our motion to the judge laying out our legal argument supporting our request for a new trial. The State will submit theirs in the same time. The Judge has to make his decision by March 21st, 2012.
I am confident that we are making progress and will achieve our goal, because it is so obvious I did not receive a fair trial 20 years ago. And these unfair trials are exactly how innocent people like me end up on death row for a murder I didn't do. So I am humbly asking you to continue to support me with your prayers, encouraging letters and financial donations to the association. Thank you very much. May God bless you all. Stay strong, confident and positive minded.
If there is a will, then there is a way! Take care of yourselves and each other.
Much respect and much love,
Anthony Mungin
2/21/2012
Greetings to everyone. I hope this letter finds of you in the best spirits. Even if that is not the reality of your situation, I hope that you will gain strength, comfort and guidance from your families, friends and simply caring people. As always, I am very grateful for your support and the friendships that has developed throughout this fight for justice. My hope, strength, and confidence has risen to a higher level because of your active support and genuine friendships.
Despite all the hectic legal proceedings underway, I am doing rather fine mentally and physically. I apologize for not personnally updating you all sooner about the February 3rd hearing, but I was totally focussed on legal strategic preparations for the next step, due to an impending deadline to file our motion to the Circuit court requesting a new trial.
Nonetheless, I want to express my thoughts about what occured at the evidentiary hearing on February 3rd 2012. But first, let me tell you about the transportation ordeal. Thursday afternoon, on February 2nd I was transported from death row to the County jail in Jacksonville, Florida to attend the hearing. That, by itself, was one horrific experience I'll never forget. Handcuff were snapped on my wrist and leg irons around my ankles. A long chain in the front connected the handcuff and leg irons. Two police officers from Jacksonville opened the back doors of the van that had no windows for prisoners to look out. There was a steel wall in the middle of the van creating two components to sit prisoners. The bench and interior was steel plated. The officers assisted me in stepping up into the van. Once I was inside the van, the officer slammed the door and it instantly became pitch black dark. I couldn't even see my hands in front of me. I strained my eyes to see something, anything, but all I saw was black darkness. I pressed my hands against the steel wall. I felt as if I were in a casket buried alive. My heart started pounding and beating fast. Then I yelled: "there aren't lights in here - please turn on the lights!" But all I heard was the police officers' laughter. It wasn't funny to me. In fact, it was terrifying: extreme psychological torture.
Every time the van took a right or a left turn, I slide the opposite direction from one end of the van, to the other, helplessly - bumping my head, knees, ribs and elbow on the steel in the back of the van. There was nothing I could do to protect myself. I heard the officers laughing every time they heard me sliding.
After we arrived at the jail and I literally crawled out, they had the audacity to facetiously ask "was it all right?"
As my eyes adjusted to the light, I responded "your spitefulness makes me stronger". Their smiles quickly vanished.
The evidentiary hearing, in my opinion, went as I had assumed it would. My lawyer did a good job. Our witness told the truth and stood his ground. I am satisfied with our witness testimony. His memory was clear and certain on the most crucial points, which are: he was the first to arrive to the store. The State witness was not there when he arrived. He searched for the clerk for several minutes before the State's witness even arrived. He was the one to call 911 after locating the clerk, and he told this to the police officer at the scene.
The police officers continued to support the police report. They testified that our witness told them exactly what is written in the report at the scene of the crime.
My lawyer made a very strong point at the end of the hearing. He stated that our witness is the only one in all of this that has nothing to gain or lose. He has no reason to lie for me or the State. And he has no criminal record.
Within the next two weeks we have to submit our motion to the judge laying out our legal argument supporting our request for a new trial. The State will submit theirs in the same time. The Judge has to make his decision by March 21st, 2012.
I am confident that we are making progress and will achieve our goal, because it is so obvious I did not receive a fair trial 20 years ago. And these unfair trials are exactly how innocent people like me end up on death row for a murder I didn't do. So I am humbly asking you to continue to support me with your prayers, encouraging letters and financial donations to the association. Thank you very much. May God bless you all. Stay strong, confident and positive minded.
If there is a will, then there is a way! Take care of yourselves and each other.
Much respect and much love,
Anthony Mungin
2/21/2012
