Judge Overturns Death Sentence for Abu-Jamal

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PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - A federal judge Tuesday overturned the death sentence of former radio journalist and Black Panther Mumia Abu-Jamal and ordered a new sentencing hearing for the convicted cop-killer whose case has been espoused by death-penalty opponents worldwide.

Ruling on a defense petition for a new trial, U.S. District Judge William Yohn let stand Abu-Jamal's conviction for the murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner, who was gunned down in the early morning hours of Dec. 9, 1981.

But the judge gave state prosecutors 180 days to conduct a fresh sentencing hearing for Abu-Jamal, citing errors in the original death-penalty phase of his murder trial.

``The short answer is that we're going to appeal,'' said Philadelphia district attorney's office spokeswoman Cathie Abookire, who predicted that a new hearing would not move forward anytime soon.

Abu-Jamal, 47, is a political activist whose two-decade imprisonment has won him comparisons among supporters with South Africa's Nelson Mandela as a political prisoner victimized by a racist criminal justice system. But prosecutors say his is nothing more than a violent common criminal.

Abu-Jamal was convicted of murdering Faulkner during a shootout, after the 25-year-old 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 who alleged that he was railroaded into a conviction, Abu-Jamal has repeatedly maintained his innocence in Faulkner's death and launched numerous legal appeals to stall his execution.

European opponents of the death penalty and groups including Amnesty International have long protested Abu-Jamal's planned execution.

Earlier Stories
U.S. Judge Overturns Death Sentence for Abu-Jamal (December 18)

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