Request For Release for Wrongfully Convicted
Request For Release for Wrongfully Convicted
The Issue
On September 20, 2014, Byron J Armstrong was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and first-degree murder. The charges arose after James Hartfield vandalized Armstrong’s grandfather’s truck. When Armstrong confronted him, they argued and a physical fight ensued. During the altercation, Hartfield pulled out a gun, and Armstrong, acting in self-defense, gained control of the weapon and shot Hartfield three times. Armstrong called the police immediately after.
At the preliminary hearing, witnesses testified to the events, and additional evidence, including threatening text messages and voicemails from Hartfield to Armstrong, was presented. (Excluded from trial)
In June 2016, during the trial, Attorney Kimberly Johnson requested a fast and speedy trial, asking for both charges to be tried together due to the related circumstances. The jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. However, Armstrong was still held for the pending murder trial.
In December 2016, during a motion hearing, District Attorney Zachuary Vaughn falsely claimed to Judge Jon Mark Weathers that the acquitted firearm was unrelated to the one involved in the murder trial. Despite Attorney Johnson’s efforts to exclude evidence related to the acquitted firearm, the trial proceeded using the same weapon as evidence.
On February 7, 2017, Armstrong was found guilty of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon.
This petition seeks justice for Byron J Armstrong, who defended himself in his residence, and highlights the prosecutorial misconduct committed by District Attorney Zachuary Vaughn. Vaughn’s false statements violated Armstrong’s right to a fair trial, infringing upon his 14th Amendment (Due Process) Right and violating his Fifth Amendment Right (Double Jeopardy) by subjecting him to trial after acquittal.
We request the Department of Justice, the Governor of Mississippi, and the President of the United States to investigate this wrongful conviction and grant a pardon for Armstrong.
885
The Issue
On September 20, 2014, Byron J Armstrong was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and first-degree murder. The charges arose after James Hartfield vandalized Armstrong’s grandfather’s truck. When Armstrong confronted him, they argued and a physical fight ensued. During the altercation, Hartfield pulled out a gun, and Armstrong, acting in self-defense, gained control of the weapon and shot Hartfield three times. Armstrong called the police immediately after.
At the preliminary hearing, witnesses testified to the events, and additional evidence, including threatening text messages and voicemails from Hartfield to Armstrong, was presented. (Excluded from trial)
In June 2016, during the trial, Attorney Kimberly Johnson requested a fast and speedy trial, asking for both charges to be tried together due to the related circumstances. The jury returned a unanimous not guilty verdict for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. However, Armstrong was still held for the pending murder trial.
In December 2016, during a motion hearing, District Attorney Zachuary Vaughn falsely claimed to Judge Jon Mark Weathers that the acquitted firearm was unrelated to the one involved in the murder trial. Despite Attorney Johnson’s efforts to exclude evidence related to the acquitted firearm, the trial proceeded using the same weapon as evidence.
On February 7, 2017, Armstrong was found guilty of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a felon.
This petition seeks justice for Byron J Armstrong, who defended himself in his residence, and highlights the prosecutorial misconduct committed by District Attorney Zachuary Vaughn. Vaughn’s false statements violated Armstrong’s right to a fair trial, infringing upon his 14th Amendment (Due Process) Right and violating his Fifth Amendment Right (Double Jeopardy) by subjecting him to trial after acquittal.
We request the Department of Justice, the Governor of Mississippi, and the President of the United States to investigate this wrongful conviction and grant a pardon for Armstrong.
885
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Petition created on October 24, 2021