Kelvin X. Mars has spent the bulk of his life on death row. Today he is free, but he assures us it has been a long walk to freedom. Convicted in 1983 of the 1980 killing of a Philadelphia store owner, he was arrested despite eyewitness testimony, which identified his brother, Artie. When Artie’s wife provided an alibi, police chose Kelvin. Kelvin’s trial before the notorious hanging judge, Albert Sabo, relied upon a jailhouse witness who claimed Kelvin confessed. A simple handwriting analysis could have proved that his claim was false. His lawyer never asked for one, and when Kelvin filed a federal appeal after his death warrant was signed in 1999 the truth came to light, and the case further unraveled.
In 2007 A federal judge granted a new trial, but the DA appealed, and the appeals court reversed. While awaiting a federal evidentiary hearing, the DA made an offer Kelvin couldn’t refuse: plead to a third degree murder and go home, or fight for another 30 years for a new trial, or be executed. He took the deal, and after 30 years in hell, walked off of death row into freedom. Said Kelvin, “They wanted to legally lynch me.” Thanks to his perseverance, that chance is over. From in prison nation, this is Mumia Abu-Jamal.
These commentaries are recorded by Noel Hanrahan of Prison Radio.
