Cases: Linda Carty (USA)
British woman Linda Carty is one of a relatively small number of female prisoners on death row in the US (under two percent of the total).
After a drastically flawed trial, Linda was convicted in February 2002 for taking part in the murder of a neighbour. The prosecution’s rather implausible theory was that Linda wanted to ‘cut the victim’s baby out’ and to steal the child, though in fact the child had already been born.
The failings in the prosecution’s case were obvious from the start. However, as Linda was prevented from hiring her own defence lawyer, she had to rely on a notorious local lawyer who was appointed for her by the court. This lawyer’s incompetence has already led to 20 of his clients ending up on death row, more than any other defence lawyer in the US. Despite the fact that Linda’s life was at stake, the lawyer did not have one meaningful discussion with her until after her trial had already began.
The prosecution’s case against Linda was based on the testimony of the three men also accused of the neighbour’s murder. All were known career criminals and, by blaming Linda, were saving themselves from likely execution.
Linda's case has now passed through both stages of the appeals process in Texas. Despite new evidence pointing to innocence and the incompetence of her court appointed lawyer, her death sentence was affirmed. Linda’s last hope of staying alive is by taking take her case to the federal courts - the final stage in the US appeals process.
Reprieve is now working with US law firm Baker Botts acting pro bono in the case, seeking a hearing in federal court. We have convened a panel of experts, including US death penalty lawyers and British lawyers, to work with Linda’s local attorneys to prove her innocence. Reprieve has also sent an investigator to Texas to continue the fight to save Linda’s life.
|
Click here
Click here.
Click here.
Click here.
Click here.
