20th anniversary of Anthony Mungin's death sentence in the US.
Fighting for 20 years to get a new and fair trial so that he can prove his innocence.
His desire 20 years later: To be free so that he can help prevent youngsters from getting into the cycle of violence - "For you, it is not too late" he writes.
Next February 23rd will be the 20th anniversary of the day Anthony Mungin was sentenced to death, for a crime in which he has always maintained his innocence. He has known every possible ordeal: To study his case day and night, learn the law all by himself, to write hundreds of letters ignored for a long time, to resist depression after all the denials of his appeals. To suffer the loss of those he loved. Despite it all, he says today his determination remains stronger than ever.
Today, he is amidst a crucial appeal, the last one in the State courts in the US - The Florida Supreme Court will soon decide if he is entitled to a new trial.
Thanks to an ever growing group of support thoughout Europe, complementary investigations have pointed to a number of new witnesses that were never investigated nor presented at his trial, who could have helped prove Anthony’s innocence. Currently the bone of contention evolves around George Brown, a new witness, who 20 years later, says that the police report is false. His version of the facts contradicts significantly the testimony of the only witness supposed to be at the crime scene and presented by the prosecution at trial, Ronald Kirkland, a man with extensive criminal history. Kirkland declared at trial that he could identify Anthony Mungin as the man coming out of the store, as himself was entering it. See case summary here
If it was not for his European friends, Anthony believes he would have been already eligible for execution. Thanks to his faith and his contacts with his friends from all sides, he has operated a spiritual re-birth over the years. 20 years ago, he was a troublesome youngsters; if he was freed tomorrow he would like to pay back society and help youngsters not to follow the path that leads to violence.
In an emotional plea releaased for the 20th anniversary of his death sentence, in which he thanks his European supporters, he also adresses a special message directly to youngsters:
Even though I am innocent of the crime I am on death row for, I have made mistakes in my life as a teenager and young adult. I truly regret those mistakes. (...) I don't want you going down the same destructive path as I went down. Prison life is not a glorious life. It is pure hell. (...) Grown men in prison are hanging themselves because they cannot deal with the mistreatment and loneliness. And the feeling of hoplessness. (...) To every young person who is reading this, please listen to me - the best life for you is a free life. You can turn your life around if you simply try. And I beg you to try because you are worth it. I care! If no-one else seems to care, I'm letting you know that I do. And I am sure others do too. I care about you enough to not want to see you throw your life away. But you have to look in the mirror and love the person you see enough to make the decision to make something good out of your life. It is not too late for you.
(see full message here)
Today, he is amidst a crucial appeal, the last one in the State courts in the US - The Florida Supreme Court will soon decide if he is entitled to a new trial.
Thanks to an ever growing group of support thoughout Europe, complementary investigations have pointed to a number of new witnesses that were never investigated nor presented at his trial, who could have helped prove Anthony’s innocence. Currently the bone of contention evolves around George Brown, a new witness, who 20 years later, says that the police report is false. His version of the facts contradicts significantly the testimony of the only witness supposed to be at the crime scene and presented by the prosecution at trial, Ronald Kirkland, a man with extensive criminal history. Kirkland declared at trial that he could identify Anthony Mungin as the man coming out of the store, as himself was entering it. See case summary here
If it was not for his European friends, Anthony believes he would have been already eligible for execution. Thanks to his faith and his contacts with his friends from all sides, he has operated a spiritual re-birth over the years. 20 years ago, he was a troublesome youngsters; if he was freed tomorrow he would like to pay back society and help youngsters not to follow the path that leads to violence.
In an emotional plea releaased for the 20th anniversary of his death sentence, in which he thanks his European supporters, he also adresses a special message directly to youngsters:
Even though I am innocent of the crime I am on death row for, I have made mistakes in my life as a teenager and young adult. I truly regret those mistakes. (...) I don't want you going down the same destructive path as I went down. Prison life is not a glorious life. It is pure hell. (...) Grown men in prison are hanging themselves because they cannot deal with the mistreatment and loneliness. And the feeling of hoplessness. (...) To every young person who is reading this, please listen to me - the best life for you is a free life. You can turn your life around if you simply try. And I beg you to try because you are worth it. I care! If no-one else seems to care, I'm letting you know that I do. And I am sure others do too. I care about you enough to not want to see you throw your life away. But you have to look in the mirror and love the person you see enough to make the decision to make something good out of your life. It is not too late for you.
(see full message here)
Emmanuelle Purdon, President of Save Anthony has said:
Executing Anthony may equate to execute an innocent man, let alone a man with a real value to society. There has been so many new pieces of evidence discovered since the original trial that we believe that Anthony deserves a brand new one. Certainly, his friends believe in his innocence. Beside, each execution costs 24 millions dollars in Florida; by contrast, Anthony, if he was freed, may be able to help convince young people or troublesome youngsters not to become future criminals and help save future innocent lives, as a result. We are asking all those in power to help us save Anthony's life and help us put such an experiment in place. Anyone can help us, whether journalist, priest, lawyer, diplomat or a simple member of the public. It starts with very simple steps, such as a word of support, a prayer, a contact, or joining our association...
Alison, British teacher in France has said:
Anthony helps me on a daily basis when I work with the children (...) He has helped them to realise that to work hard at school and to get to higher studies is absolutely capital for their future life. Listen to Alison's 1 mn audio message here
Linda Meakins, British tutor and penpal of a death row prisoner executed in 2010, has said:
(...) Anthony Mungin is another beacon of hope for reform. He can inspire young people not to go down the dark path. Executing him would deprive society from exploring the opportunity to try make society safer. Certainly, it would have a devastating effect on all those who have grown to know him, respect him, and who believe in his innocence. See the moving story of Linda Meakins here
Executing Anthony may equate to execute an innocent man, let alone a man with a real value to society. There has been so many new pieces of evidence discovered since the original trial that we believe that Anthony deserves a brand new one. Certainly, his friends believe in his innocence. Beside, each execution costs 24 millions dollars in Florida; by contrast, Anthony, if he was freed, may be able to help convince young people or troublesome youngsters not to become future criminals and help save future innocent lives, as a result. We are asking all those in power to help us save Anthony's life and help us put such an experiment in place. Anyone can help us, whether journalist, priest, lawyer, diplomat or a simple member of the public. It starts with very simple steps, such as a word of support, a prayer, a contact, or joining our association...
Alison, British teacher in France has said:
Anthony helps me on a daily basis when I work with the children (...) He has helped them to realise that to work hard at school and to get to higher studies is absolutely capital for their future life. Listen to Alison's 1 mn audio message here
Linda Meakins, British tutor and penpal of a death row prisoner executed in 2010, has said:
(...) Anthony Mungin is another beacon of hope for reform. He can inspire young people not to go down the dark path. Executing him would deprive society from exploring the opportunity to try make society safer. Certainly, it would have a devastating effect on all those who have grown to know him, respect him, and who believe in his innocence. See the moving story of Linda Meakins here
Note to editors
. Save Anthony is a French association under the 1901 law, founded in 2006 to promote Anthony Mungin's story and finance his privately retained legal team.
. Anthony Mungin is a US national, sentenced by a tight 7-5 jury vote on February 23rd, 1993, for the murder of a store clerk in Jacksonville, Florida. Florida is the only state not to require the unanimity of the jury to sentence a man to death.
. Today, the association is grateful to all those who are showing support to Anthony including the French NGO Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, ACAT, French newspapers Temoignage Chretien, L'Itinerant, all the journalists and those who are part of the long humain chain of people, who are trying to help save Anthony Mungin's life.
. See here testimonies of Anthony's "big European family of adoption", his friends and supporters
. See here support of the children for Anthony Mungin
. See here religious appeal from the ACAT and French spiritual magazine Temoignage Chretien
. See mobilisation of artists for Anthony next February 23rd in France
. See new video clip of an interview of Anthony Mungin, by French journalist Bernard de la Villardiere, in which he speaks about his work with youngsters.
You can watch it on Youtube here
. Save Anthony is a French association under the 1901 law, founded in 2006 to promote Anthony Mungin's story and finance his privately retained legal team.
. Anthony Mungin is a US national, sentenced by a tight 7-5 jury vote on February 23rd, 1993, for the murder of a store clerk in Jacksonville, Florida. Florida is the only state not to require the unanimity of the jury to sentence a man to death.
. Today, the association is grateful to all those who are showing support to Anthony including the French NGO Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort, ACAT, French newspapers Temoignage Chretien, L'Itinerant, all the journalists and those who are part of the long humain chain of people, who are trying to help save Anthony Mungin's life.
. See here testimonies of Anthony's "big European family of adoption", his friends and supporters
. See here support of the children for Anthony Mungin
. See here religious appeal from the ACAT and French spiritual magazine Temoignage Chretien
. See mobilisation of artists for Anthony next February 23rd in France
. See new video clip of an interview of Anthony Mungin, by French journalist Bernard de la Villardiere, in which he speaks about his work with youngsters.
You can watch it on Youtube here
