Commute the Death Sentence of Vernon L. Smith

Commute the Death Sentence of Vernon L. Smith

The Issue

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.

 

avatar of the starter
Ned HamsonPetition StarterMy background includes 30 years of both professional and volunteer work across the globe as a manager, guide and advisor, writer, researcher, editor, strategist, and advocate focused on individual, team, and organizational performance improvement and innovation; advocating just and humane thinking and action toward people, animals, plants and well… the planet. My aim is to help those interested in creating and sustaining positive futures; in short, I help those who want to create an innovation that will work and last (stick).
Media inquiries
This petition had 51 supporters

The Issue

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.

 

avatar of the starter
Ned HamsonPetition StarterMy background includes 30 years of both professional and volunteer work across the globe as a manager, guide and advisor, writer, researcher, editor, strategist, and advocate focused on individual, team, and organizational performance improvement and innovation; advocating just and humane thinking and action toward people, animals, plants and well… the planet. My aim is to help those interested in creating and sustaining positive futures; in short, I help those who want to create an innovation that will work and last (stick).
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Julie Przybysz
Julie Przybysz
Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center - Families That Matter

Petition Updates

Share this petition

Petition created on July 29, 2009