17 February 201015 December 2022 4WardEverUK

The life of a death penalty lawyer

originally published by: New York Times
11th February 2010

Toward the beginning of “The Autobiography of an Execution,” David Dow relaxes after a speech with the celebrated death penalty abolitionist Sister Helen Prejean. “It was the first time I went drinking with a nun.”

Prejean tells Dow, who has represented more than 100 death row inmates over 20 years, that “support for the death penalty is a mile wide, but just an inch deep.” Dow responds: “Well, Sister, I believe you can drown in an inch of water.” This book is Dow’s effort to drain the puddle.

27 January 201015 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Unanswered questions over death in Germany

originally published by: The Press Association
22nd January 2010

The Attorney General has said that there was an “unanswered question” over the death of a student from north London who allegedly became involved with a “dangerous” right-wing political cult in Germany.

Baroness Scotland said it was unclear from the inquest into the death of 22-year-old Jeremiah Duggan whether his fatal injuries were caused by running into the path of two vehicles on the German autobahn near Wiesbaden in March 2003.

His mother, Erica, who has always called for a full investigation into this death, will apply to the High Court for a fresh inquest in a bid to obtain “a just and proper public investigation into her son’s tragic and suspicious death”, her lawyers, Leigh Day, said.

8 January 201015 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Police criticised over cocaine custody death

originally published: 7th January 2010
all credits: The Independent

Police did not implement procedures “appropriately” when they dealt with a man who had a wrap of cocaine in his mouth, an inquest concluded today.

Jason McPherson, 25, of East Acton, west London, died after collapsing at a police station after being taken in to be searched on January 18, 2007.

He had put a packet of the drug in his mouth, which led to a struggle with officers at Notting Hill station, the inquest at the Royal Courts of Justice heard. He died in hospital later.

The jury of 11 took five hours to return a narrative verdict on Mr McPherson’s death.