Mumia Abu-Jamal Is Still Guilty As Hell

Mumia Abu-Jamal is the worst reason imaginable to oppose the death penalty, which I nevertheless do until the unlikely event that it can be meted out fairly and impartially.

Abu-Jamal, who was caught pumping round after round from a handgun into Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Faulkner way back in 1981, was convicted at a less-than-fair trial and has been appealing his death sentence for years, all the while refusing to testify on his own behalf and failing to produce his only alleged alibi witness to testify.

As perverse as it seems, Abu-Jamal may understand that the fame he has attained in prison would have eluded him on the street.

In any event, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit today refused to reinstate his death sentence but left intact his murder conviction. The panel also ruled that Abu-Jamal must be sentenced to life in prison or get a chance with a new Philadelphia jury, which would decide only whether he should be sentenced to death or get life in prison. Again.

More here on my thoughts on this scumbag.

Photograph by April Saul/The Philadelphia Inquirer