PETITION CLOSED

  • The time period for signing this petition has ended.
Commute the Death Sentence of Vernon L. Smith
  1. Signatures
    53 out of 1,000
    Petitioning
    1. Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center - Families That Matter (Julie Przybysz)
  2. Created By
    Ned Hamson
    Cincinnati, OH
About this Petition Petition Letter

We, the undersigned, together with the family and friends of Vernon L. Smith (AKA: Abdullah Sharif Kaazim), urge Governor Strickland to commute Smith's death sentence.

Vernon Smith was convicted of the 1993 murder of Sohail Darwish. 

We believe Mr. Smith was not given a fair trial because:

* Mr. Smith's trial counsel was ineffective for failing to inquire about racial bias of prospective jurors due to the racially charged atmosphere surrounding the trial.

* Mr. Smith's appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to appeal the conviction based on the ineffectiveness of Mr. Smith's initial trial counsel.

* The State Court of Appeals denied Mr. Smith his constitutionally guaranteed due process rights because residual doubt was ot considered during the mitigation consideration stage of the trial even though Ohio law recognizes residual doubt as a mitigating factor.

 

We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who urge Governor Strickland to commute the sentence of Vernon Smith to life without parole.

 

Recent Signatures

Commute the Death Sentence of Vernon L. Smith

Dear Governor Strickland

Along with the family and friends of Vernon L. Smith (AKA: Abdullah Sharif Kaazim), I urge you Governor Strickland to commute Smith's death sentence.

Vernon Smith was convicted of the 1993 murder of Sohail Darwish.

I believe Mr. Smith was not given a fair trial because:

* Mr. Smith's trial counsel was ineffective for failing to inquire about racial bias of prospective jurors due to the racially charged atmosphere surrounding the trial.

* Mr. Smith's appellate counsel was ineffective for failing to appeal the conviction based on the ineffectiveness of Mr. Smith's initial trial counsel.

* The State Court of Appeals denied Mr. Smith his constitutionally guaranteed due process rights because residual doubt was ot considered during the mitigation consideration stage of the trial even though Ohio law recognizes residual doubt as a mitigating factor.


I urge you, Governor Strickland, to commute the sentence of Vernon Smith to life without parole.

[Your name]

Press Inquiries