Robert Barton
Charge: First Degree Murder w/Armed
Sentence: 30 Years to Life
Charge: First Degree Murder w/Armed
Sentence: 30 Years to Life
I am a 30 year old individual, who at the age of 16 was wrongfully convicted of a shooting homicide.
The police investigation initially pointed to one culprit, Edward Thompson, who would later become the government's chief witness in their case against me and another individual named Joseph Gray.
All of the core evidence introduced at trial by the prosecution, pointed directly towards the star witness, who I had an ongoing feud with. The witness took advantage of this opportunity to make me a scapegoat for a murder he knew I did not commit.
Mr Thompson was found alone in the jeep, that police said had been used in the crime, a short time after the murder was committed. Ballistic tests showed that the gun found at Mr Thompson's home was, infact, the murder weapon.
The police investigation initially pointed to one culprit, Edward Thompson, who would later become the government's chief witness in their case against me and another individual named Joseph Gray.
All of the core evidence introduced at trial by the prosecution, pointed directly towards the star witness, who I had an ongoing feud with. The witness took advantage of this opportunity to make me a scapegoat for a murder he knew I did not commit.
Mr Thompson was found alone in the jeep, that police said had been used in the crime, a short time after the murder was committed. Ballistic tests showed that the gun found at Mr Thompson's home was, infact, the murder weapon.
After fleeing the D.C. Metropolitan area to New Orleans, LA, Thompson was later charged with murder but convinced authorities that he was not the person (s) that they wanted and that he could give them the real perpetrator. He gave them mine and Joseph Gray's names. With the assistance of a detective, who was accused of providing fabricated testimonial evidence in another case, as well as unethical behaviour (see LEWIS List), the real perpetrator was released. Besides Mr Thompson's testimony, there was no physical evidence that linked me to the murder ie. fingerprints or hair samples. There was no motif nor did any other witness testify to my involvement in the killing. It was my word against Mr Thompson's and his lies were unethically corroborated by the fabricated evidence presented by the police.
Although I had a solid alibi I was advised by counsel not to testify therefore, a jury found me guilty because they were not made aware of all the facts. This injustice was further aided by the erroneous instructions given to the jury by the judge. I was wrongfully convicted in 1997 despite the fact that another witness saw Mr Thompson alone in the jeep on the night of the murder, brandishing a weapon and saying 'he had to go take care of some business'.
I am assiduously fighting to prove my innocence and regain my freedom. I hope to receive moral support and any type of legal assistance possible. Any donations towards my legal fund would be most welcome and be put towards obtaining possible DNA testing, investigative research, updated case laws etc.
Thank you for taking the time to read my plea:
Robert Barton
#08909-007
USP Atwater
PO Box 019001
Atwater
CA 95310
U.S.A.
Although I had a solid alibi I was advised by counsel not to testify therefore, a jury found me guilty because they were not made aware of all the facts. This injustice was further aided by the erroneous instructions given to the jury by the judge. I was wrongfully convicted in 1997 despite the fact that another witness saw Mr Thompson alone in the jeep on the night of the murder, brandishing a weapon and saying 'he had to go take care of some business'.
I am assiduously fighting to prove my innocence and regain my freedom. I hope to receive moral support and any type of legal assistance possible. Any donations towards my legal fund would be most welcome and be put towards obtaining possible DNA testing, investigative research, updated case laws etc.
Thank you for taking the time to read my plea:
Robert Barton
#08909-007
USP Atwater
PO Box 019001
Atwater
CA 95310
U.S.A.