Post by Anja Nieser on Oct 1, 2006 6:39:04 GMT -5
Yarris strikes back, seeks new probe in murder case
An attorney representing exonerated former death-row inmate Nicholas
Yarris has sent a letter to federal and state authorities demanding they
re-open the investigation into the murder of Linda May Craig. In a
tantalizing twist to the 25-year-old murder mystery, attorney John W.
"Jack" Beavers claims he has "at least one witness wishing to provide
leads relating to the actual identity of the rapist-killer" who abducted
Craig and dumped her body in a snowy field in December 1981.
Yarris, 45, formerly of Southwest Philadelphia and now living in England
with his wife and daughter, was convicted of Craig's slaying in 1982 and
was sentenced to death. After spending nearly half his life on
Pennsylvania's death row, he was cleared through DNA tests and was
released from prison in January 2004.
While a Delaware County grand jury is reportedly re-examining the case, no
arrests have been made and no progress has been reported.
Beavers, in his letter dated Sept. 8 sent to the attorney generals of
Pennsylvania, Delaware and the U.S., the FBI, and governors of
Pennsylvania and Delaware, cited what he called the "interstate and
multi-jurisdictional crimes involving kidnapping, murder, rape and
attempted murder," which are not being investigated by any impartial
investigators or investigators who would normally look into such crimes.
He pointed out that Craig was apparently kidnapped as she left her job at
the Tri-State Mall in Delaware and was transported over state lines to
Pennsylvania. He said she was kidnapped and murdered either in Delaware or
Pennsylvania.
Only Delaware County officials are investigating the murder, "some of whom
are named defendants in a civil rights suit, which I have filed on Mr.
Yarris' behalf," Beavers wrote.
He was referring to the grand jury and a federal civil rights lawsuit
seeking $22 million in compensation for the 22 years Yarris spent on death
row.
Beavers informed authorities he was forwarding the details of an e-mail
lead "regarding evidence about the true rapist-killer's possible identity
on a separate sheet and will not release the same to any source other than
you."
He would not elaborate on that new witness in an interview Tuesday.
Beavers said the Delaware State Police homicide unit is handling the
"Delaware end of the Craig murder," and he has talked to them. The
homicide unit sergeant he said he talked to couldn't be reached for
comment.
Beavers said he has received replies to his letter from the counsel for
the Delaware governor's office and the Delaware Attorney General's office.
The letter is still under review by Delaware Attorney General Carl Danberg
and his staff and there has not yet been a response, a spokeswoman said
Wednesday.
Beavers said he had also spoken to Gov. Ed Rendell last week and he said
"in essence, he's not going to allow anyone's rights to be trampled in
Pennsylvania."
Rendell spokeswoman Kate Philips said she "will not be able to comment on
the specifics of the letter because it's in active litigation." She said
the letter was in the office of general counsel and the Governor's Office
hasn't reviewed it.
The FBI in Philadelphia also couldn't be reached for comment despite a
voicemail message left with a spokesperson.
"As far as I'm concerned, everybody's responded but the FBI," Beavers said
Tuesday.
Beavers said he did not send the letter to the Delaware County District
Attorney's office.
Delaware County Deputy District Attorney Sheldon Kovach declined comment
Wednesday. He referred to recent comments made by Assistant District
Attorney Joseph Brielmann that the Craig murder case is an active
investigation and all matters before the grand jury and its investigative
process are confidential.
The letter also contains claims familiar to those who have followed the
case -- that various citizens and government officials "conspired to
murder Nicholas Yarris by having him falsely convicted and executed for
Linda Craig's murder."
Beavers said Yarris' conviction resulted from the destruction of evidence,
false testimony procured by government officials and false allegations
that Yarris had confessed to the rape and murder of Linda Craig. He said
the latter all "constitute crimes in their own right."
Yarris and his attorney questioned why the FBI, state police in Delaware
and Pennsylvania have not become involved in investigating "this
multi-jurisdictional crime."
On behalf of Yarris, Beavers demanded the following:
- An immediate full investigation of Craig's kidnapping, rape and murder.
- That investigations be undertaken and grand juries convened to
investigate the attempted murder by public officials and private citizens
who destroyed evidence and obtained and gave known false statements for
the purpose of having Yarris executed.
- That investigations be undertaken regarding violations of criminal
statutes by public officials and private citizens, including perjury,
subornation of perjury, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence
and criminal conspiracy.
If no action is taken, Beavers said, he will file a motion against all the
law enforcement agencies contacted seeking a mandatory injunctive court
order compelling each agency to do its duty.
"Mr. Yarris may not have the right to know the details of the
investigations, but he has the right to know that the crimes committed
against himself and Linda Craig are being reasonably investigated and
existing leads in the case are being zealously pursued," Beavers said.
(source: Delaware County Times)
An attorney representing exonerated former death-row inmate Nicholas
Yarris has sent a letter to federal and state authorities demanding they
re-open the investigation into the murder of Linda May Craig. In a
tantalizing twist to the 25-year-old murder mystery, attorney John W.
"Jack" Beavers claims he has "at least one witness wishing to provide
leads relating to the actual identity of the rapist-killer" who abducted
Craig and dumped her body in a snowy field in December 1981.
Yarris, 45, formerly of Southwest Philadelphia and now living in England
with his wife and daughter, was convicted of Craig's slaying in 1982 and
was sentenced to death. After spending nearly half his life on
Pennsylvania's death row, he was cleared through DNA tests and was
released from prison in January 2004.
While a Delaware County grand jury is reportedly re-examining the case, no
arrests have been made and no progress has been reported.
Beavers, in his letter dated Sept. 8 sent to the attorney generals of
Pennsylvania, Delaware and the U.S., the FBI, and governors of
Pennsylvania and Delaware, cited what he called the "interstate and
multi-jurisdictional crimes involving kidnapping, murder, rape and
attempted murder," which are not being investigated by any impartial
investigators or investigators who would normally look into such crimes.
He pointed out that Craig was apparently kidnapped as she left her job at
the Tri-State Mall in Delaware and was transported over state lines to
Pennsylvania. He said she was kidnapped and murdered either in Delaware or
Pennsylvania.
Only Delaware County officials are investigating the murder, "some of whom
are named defendants in a civil rights suit, which I have filed on Mr.
Yarris' behalf," Beavers wrote.
He was referring to the grand jury and a federal civil rights lawsuit
seeking $22 million in compensation for the 22 years Yarris spent on death
row.
Beavers informed authorities he was forwarding the details of an e-mail
lead "regarding evidence about the true rapist-killer's possible identity
on a separate sheet and will not release the same to any source other than
you."
He would not elaborate on that new witness in an interview Tuesday.
Beavers said the Delaware State Police homicide unit is handling the
"Delaware end of the Craig murder," and he has talked to them. The
homicide unit sergeant he said he talked to couldn't be reached for
comment.
Beavers said he has received replies to his letter from the counsel for
the Delaware governor's office and the Delaware Attorney General's office.
The letter is still under review by Delaware Attorney General Carl Danberg
and his staff and there has not yet been a response, a spokeswoman said
Wednesday.
Beavers said he had also spoken to Gov. Ed Rendell last week and he said
"in essence, he's not going to allow anyone's rights to be trampled in
Pennsylvania."
Rendell spokeswoman Kate Philips said she "will not be able to comment on
the specifics of the letter because it's in active litigation." She said
the letter was in the office of general counsel and the Governor's Office
hasn't reviewed it.
The FBI in Philadelphia also couldn't be reached for comment despite a
voicemail message left with a spokesperson.
"As far as I'm concerned, everybody's responded but the FBI," Beavers said
Tuesday.
Beavers said he did not send the letter to the Delaware County District
Attorney's office.
Delaware County Deputy District Attorney Sheldon Kovach declined comment
Wednesday. He referred to recent comments made by Assistant District
Attorney Joseph Brielmann that the Craig murder case is an active
investigation and all matters before the grand jury and its investigative
process are confidential.
The letter also contains claims familiar to those who have followed the
case -- that various citizens and government officials "conspired to
murder Nicholas Yarris by having him falsely convicted and executed for
Linda Craig's murder."
Beavers said Yarris' conviction resulted from the destruction of evidence,
false testimony procured by government officials and false allegations
that Yarris had confessed to the rape and murder of Linda Craig. He said
the latter all "constitute crimes in their own right."
Yarris and his attorney questioned why the FBI, state police in Delaware
and Pennsylvania have not become involved in investigating "this
multi-jurisdictional crime."
On behalf of Yarris, Beavers demanded the following:
- An immediate full investigation of Craig's kidnapping, rape and murder.
- That investigations be undertaken and grand juries convened to
investigate the attempted murder by public officials and private citizens
who destroyed evidence and obtained and gave known false statements for
the purpose of having Yarris executed.
- That investigations be undertaken regarding violations of criminal
statutes by public officials and private citizens, including perjury,
subornation of perjury, obstruction of justice, destruction of evidence
and criminal conspiracy.
If no action is taken, Beavers said, he will file a motion against all the
law enforcement agencies contacted seeking a mandatory injunctive court
order compelling each agency to do its duty.
"Mr. Yarris may not have the right to know the details of the
investigations, but he has the right to know that the crimes committed
against himself and Linda Craig are being reasonably investigated and
existing leads in the case are being zealously pursued," Beavers said.
(source: Delaware County Times)