Category Archives: criminal justice

Abominations Masked by Secrecy

Willie Jerome Manning first came to the world’s attention because of an article by Clive Stafford Smith, who continues to speak out against the death penalty. Stafford Smith recently described the US death penalty as a dying dinosaur – destined for … Continue reading

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Delays in DNA Testing

As long ago as August 2016, it seems that Willie Manning and the State were “attempting to reach an agreement on how to proceed with developing a DNA profile from hairs that were used at Mr. Manning’s trial.” A new Mississippi Supreme … Continue reading

Posted in capital punishmant, criminal justice, death penalty, DNA testing, Fly Manning, forensic testimony, hair testimony, Mississippi, USA, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Significance of Absent Witnesses

In the early hours of the December 11, 1992, two Mississippi State University students were murdered. Willie Manning said he was at the 2500 Club that night. As the prosecutor himself pointed out, if Willie was at that club, he … Continue reading

Posted in criminal justice, defense attorneys, Fly Manning, Mississippi, USA, Willie Manning, witness testimony, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Repressive Social and Racial Control

Two years ago the Mississippi Supreme Court overturned the two murder convictions in Willie Manning’s second case, saying: “[T]he State violated his due-process rights when it failed to provide favorable, material evidence, upon request.” Willie was fortunate.  If exculpatory police canvass … Continue reading

Posted in African American, capital punishment, criminal justice, death penalty, executions, Mississippi, racial control, social control, USA, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

A Good Start to 2017

On death row any good news can raise the spirits. As 2017 begins, Willie Manning must be happy to know that a fellow inmate, Charles Crawford, has been allowed to challenge Mississippi’s plan to use compounded drugs, specifically midazolam, for … Continue reading

Posted in capital punishmant, Charles Crawford, criminal justice, death penalty, Death Row, lethal injection drugs, midazolam, Mississippi, USA, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Less fortunate than ourselves

It is ten years since Clive Stafford Smith alerted the world to Willie Manning’s appalling plight. Stafford Smith’s article began: “It is a platitude to suggest that as the Christmas season approaches we should consider those less fortunate than ourselves, but … Continue reading

Posted in capital punishment, criminal justice, death penalty, Death Row, death row mental health, death row solitary confinement, Fly Manning, human rights abuse, Injustice, innocence, Mississippi, USA, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Travesty of Justice

22 years ago, the conviction of Willie Manning for the murder of two students caused anger in the local community, who believed racism had influenced the verdict. On November 19, 1994, the Oktibbeha County NAACP sponsored a protest march* to … Continue reading

Posted in African American, capital punishmant, criminal justice, death penalty, Injustice, innocence, Mississippi, NAACP, Oktibbeha County, racism, USA, Willie Jerome Manning, Willie Manning, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Man in the Orange Jumpsuit

Willie Manning’s name appears as number 153 on the list of death row exonerations published by the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC); but because of another, unrelated capital conviction he is still behind bars on Mississippi’s death row. He remains “the … Continue reading

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Death Penalty Losing its Grip

Last week brought wonderful news for death penalty opponents – according to a Pew Research survey, fewer than half of Americans now favor using the death penalty!  Overall support for capital punishment has plummeted in the last 18 months, from 56% … Continue reading

Posted in African American, capital punishmant, criminal justice, death penalty, Fly Manning, Mississippi, USA, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Jim Hood: undermining the rights of criminal defendants

It seems that while Willie Manning has been languishing in his cell, the Attorney General, Jim Hood, has been busy harassing experienced capital defense lawyers in Mississippi. Radley Balko relates that Hood has found a way to do this by using … Continue reading

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