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AP
In this undated Pennsylvania Department of Corrections' photo, shown is Terrance Williams who is on death row for fatally beating Amos Norwood in1984 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Pennsylvania Department of Corrections)
A Pennsylvania widow says she has forgiven the man who killed her husband decades ago and is urging the governor of Pennsylvania to spare the condemned murderer scheduled for execution Oct. 3.
Terrance "Terry" Williams is on death row at the State Correctional Institute at Greene, south of Pittsburgh, for killing Amos Norwood, 56, with a tire iron in Philadelphia in 1984.
Defense lawyer Victor J. Abreu said Williams' crimes were mitigated by a childhood of sexual abuse that later included attacks by Norwood, who abused Williams for years. Williams was 18 at the time of the murder. Williams, now 46, is also serving a life term for killing another alleged abuser, Herbert Hamilton, 50, when he was 17.
Norwood's widow, Mamie Norwood, described her husband's killing as "unbearable" but wrote in a letter that "several years ago, after much prayer and self-reflection, I found the strength and courage to forgive Terry Williams."
"I do not wish to see Terry Williams executed,” she said in her letter.
Norwood’s letter was included in a clemency petition filed Thursday with the backing of dozens of lawyers and child welfare advocates who called upon Corbett and the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons to stop Williams' execution.
View petition for executive clemency (Pdf.)
Williams' clemency hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17, Abreu said.
"He was a victim of horrific abuse since he was 6 years old,” Abreu told NBC News. "The jury didn’t know that the two men who were killed were abusing him. That information was never presented to the jury."
Watch US News crime videos on NBCNews.com
Abreu said he spoke with Williams last week at the maximum security prison near Waynesburg and described their conversations as upbeat. "He remains hopeful that the board and the governor will intervene in this case. He's is optimistic about that," he said.
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Leave a Comment:
Why would this guy be sentenced to death for killng his rapist in the first place?
If you read the article, it says that the circumstances of abuse were not presented to the jury.
How is it the jury was never informed of the abuse? That makes no sense and would, in my mind, require a new trial a long time go.
Prosecutorial misconduct. Happened here in Texas Williamson County. Man spent 27 years in prison and was vindicated by DNA evidence, Thing was, the prosecutors with held evidence during the trial that would have given a not guilty verdict. So far, prosecutor has still not been charged with any offense except the loss of his law license. And this happened last year. Man was black so you can figure out the reason for this case.
And, Williamson county was feature on 20/20 in 1999 as the most corrupt county in central Texas.
Look at the time frame for when the trial took place. Judging by my math the trial would have taken place during the '80s. The prosecution probably objected to any evidence being brought in that would bring down the character of the victims. And looking at the other factors that are apparent on the face of the crime his current lawyer was most likely not his lawyer at the time of the original trial. He probably had some lazy public defender.
That is not the way it went down in this mans case. The prosecution, not the defense, had evidence that would have brought a not guilty. It was nearing elections so what better way to get vote then to bring down a "hardened" criminal! The evidence was with held from the defense. That is not the way it is supposed to work. Evidence was never presented until DNA and an investigation in 2011.
A sad story all around.
The IDIOTS in the courts claim the system is FAIR! How is it fair when the jury wasn't told that Williams two victims were ABUSING him!!Williams should be FREED right now!!
No one that I know claims the system is "fair." What does fair have to do with criminal justice? Fair has as little to do with criminal justice as the truth. As a matter of fact, I think justice has nothing to do with criminal justice either.
Was he a good person before he killed? Can he prove these men, [animals?], molested him? If the answer to these two questions is yes, then pin a medal on him.
forget clemency, why isn't his lawyer pushing for a new trial? Where is the Innocence Project when you need them?
I am not saying he's done no wrong but at the very least this case should be re-evaluated and this man has the right to a FAIR trial, not one that omit the facts of his situation!
If the men were abusing him and he killed them then he was doing a service for man kind and should be congratulated not executed. I hope the Governor spends some time reviewing this,
Really?? then why didn't the Defense team present the evidence????
It is simple why the 'Defense' (if you want to call it that) didn't present the evidence. From the article,
“That we were talking about executing somebody who meets his lawyer a day before trial is an indictment of the system.
This statement alone shows he was steamrolled by a very corrupt system, especially in Pennsylvania. Look a the 'Kids for Cash' Scandal, in Luzerne County PA
I only live 45 minutes from Luzerne county so am none to proud to be from the 'great' state of Pennsylvania. Just remember 'You've got a friend in PA' just not the criminal justice system
If all the sexual abuse is true and thats why he killed his molesters I don't understand why he is in prison this long? He probably saved numerous kids from rape at their Cho-mo hands. The least would be to let him live. I say turn the guy loose, he already has done too much time..........
The article said that the abuse was never mentioned in the trial-so the jury didn't know about it and thus couldn't take it into account in their verdict. Nor could it have been taken into account during sentencing.
I just want to make sure I understand all this. You have a legal,moral and godlike duty to mankind to murder the person who abuses you. Just want to be on the same page....... I'm glad to know that from 1984 on, it's ok for me to beat the @!$%# out of someone who touches my dick. How far back in time can I go and still get away with beating the @!$%# out of a person with my tire iron?
Let him out and give him a list of pedophiles to work from....we need more folks like him.
I'm with you!
Vigilante justice should never be an acceptable alternative to the rule of law.
Sad story....I am glad she found it in her heart to forgive him, but, what a life wasted by the actions of perverted men. I just finished reading the article of the bishop in Ohio being found guilty of not disclosing information on pedophile priests. He has a two year suspended sentence and will receive instruction in timely reporting...Sad.
I have little faith in Governor Corbett to be honest. This is a true test on how he feels in these types of situations. At least the conservative Governor of Ohio steps in and honestly looks at these situations. It should not matter the political party, but based on his past actions, he will not step in.
Just an opinion. The condemned should live.
pa sucks on the death penalty.gary hiednik wanted to die but they drug it out.but finally they killed him.i won ten bucks on that one,but that was 99 i think.that was the last one executed.they might give him a stay.
Well, you certainly didn't spend the 10 bucks on punctuation and grammar lessons...
Really skunky ??? U actually felt compelled to waste your time to belittle someone with your post ?
ouch skanky,that hurt.
jerseys not much better.been waiting along time for ambrose harris.pos.
s..t.jersey abolished the death penalty.f..k!
Williams should be given a medal and released.
Wow... If the Governor didn't want to get involved he should at least allow the case to be reopened and the new evidence presented. Can we have one happy ending here?
Please somebody get a petition going to get this guy released!
You do it Caroline Redbrook since you thought of it. Change.com
here u go:
Probably the widow is now his lover. If he was being sexually abused at that time, why he didn't say anything to the authorities, this guy is a killer and has to be executed, immediately. Probably the widow was participating in a mènage-a-trois with her husband and the killer.
Wow. Do you use the word "probably" very often with no proof at all? You probably are mentally deficient.
Many victims of abuse don't tell anybody especially when it is young boys being molested by another male as they are ashamed.I hope that they free him.
@midnight
Troll much...or could you actually be that retarded and still know how to type?
midnight
why do u think so many in the sandusky case were quiet for all these yrs ? U think they probably liked it and felt too ashamed to tell ? What a dolt !
Most people who commit violent crimes.... murders, rapes, molestations were sexually assaulted themselves.
How could she now be his lover if he is in prison??
Idiot!
As an Atheist myself, I applaud her for being a true Christian. Many who say they are Christian, are hypocrites to what they claim to believe.
Unbelievable. It's understandable that a sexual abuse victim would kill their abuser. An abuse victim can harbor a lot of rage. Anger is a natural response to abuse that is not the fault of the victim.
Sexual abuse can generate more anger than a punch in the face.
It may very well have been an act of divine retribution to keep the guy from abusing more kids.
And then the good old empire Babylon imprisons the guy for defending himself and future victims, and then we wonder why George Bush was reading a story about goats to children on 9/11.
Look at all the people that supported Sandusky and Paterno. Goats, everywhere.
I believe he should be granted a full pardon and given compensation for time served. I believe he performed a service to society by killing these sick bastards.
Dreamland...Yes, where someone who has been locked up for his entire adult life can come out after 30 years and pick up life like the pause button got hit. What skills did the system give him? Not much besides how to live in prison. What skills did he have when he was taken away? Not many as he was 18 back then.
I hate to say it, but his quality of life and hope for happy days would probably be better served leaving him where he is. Change his sentence to life for his own benefit.
I agree with you rubberducky76!!
He can be provided with counseling and classes to get back into society.
Skunky, WIlliams should be COMPISATED enough to live COMFORTABLY for the REST OF HIS LIFE so he WONT HAVE TO find a low paying job!!
I think I would have forgiven him immediately considering what her husband did to him.
My thoughts exactly
Oh yeah...and let the man go free, he should have never been in prison in the first place.
We should get a petition going. He was young and gave in to a rage that should've been taken care of by therapy...that nobody apparently saw it in him or cared enough to get him the help he so desperately needed.
I don't get any of this. If it's true, what is he doing in jail??? Was any of this investigated??? If not, why???
Because this happened in the '80s and look at the race of the people involved. It's not hard to figure out.
This happened in the '80's. Not 1908. No excuses. If race was a factor and evidence was deliberately withheld, then those responsible need to accept responsibility. It would make them no better than Mr. Williams's tormentors.
It makes zero sense to me...This is why tough laws need to be enacted against the poison which is pedophilia.
@Chefaz-1319563 ---- You say that like race and racism could not have been an issue in 1980, race and racist attitudes have proven to be a factor in the criminal justice system in 2012 -- what rock have you been living under? Prosecutors just what to win their cases, at any cost.
Racism or prejudice in some form or another will always exist. There is always someone somewhere who won't like you because of your race, ancestry, age, hair (or lack of it), height, weight, cologne, accent, NV post - you name it.
Those in authority are supposed to be above these elements. They should have been installed / hired / voted into these positions because of their exceptional capabilities to reason and mete out justice - to deliver fairness and equity in the ethical fashion that their positions demand and these items should have been in play before the '80's. (always - but that's another story.) Agreed??? Are you with me so far???
Did you read my second sentence??? It began with the biggest little word in the English language:
IF
Humans do not always behave in the manner expected or do what they are supposed to do. No surprise there, right???
So...IMO...if Mr. Williams's claims of abuse by two creeps is what prompted him to kill them, I'd say it was self-defense and not murder. Wouldn't you??? In which case he doesn't deserve death row...he doesn't even deserve to be incarcerated. He should be released, given a huge amount for false imprisonment and given all consideration to integrate him back into the world. Not only that but if reasonable doubt or evidence existed as to why Mr. Williams killed two creeps and this was kept hidden, those who conspired against Mr. Williams should have to take his place in prison. Hence, my first post (and three questions) at 17:
So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Now...please tell me, NAB2...where's your rock and how long have you been there???
sounds like this guy needs a medal instead of the death penalty....those perverts got just what they deserved, death! why why can men and women control their sexual perversions, execute all child rapists and this would be a better world...this man on death row should be freed, and given restitution for the years he has been jailed...he served the community by killing these perverts who prey on innocent defenseless children.....
every time victims of child abuse are treated this way....we as a people are giving these perverts a upper hand, all people who rape children should be swiftly executed in a public place for everyone to see...bet this would curtail child rapists...we have to take a stand against these sick perverts that are among us
just no telling what kind of life this man would have had, had he not been raped by grown men...just sick, those perverts took this man's life more than once....and this is a fact if you know any child that had been raped by an adult. we must protect of most important resources...our children
Were either of these accused men tried in a court of law. We automatically post they are pedophiles because one man says they are. Wow and then we wonder why so many are in prison on sex abuse crimes... they are automatically guilty when accused.
That is true-these two men are dead, and any physical evidence is probably long gone (since the abuse happened decades ago). It seems that there was no investigation in the first place, so right now the only thing we know about this is what the man on death row and his lawyer say. Hopefully the truth will be found, and his sentence adjusted accordingly.
R Battle
You are correct that PA sucks with regards to the death penalty. Cop killer Mumia Abu Jamal should have been executed years ago but instead he has had the support of all the liberal Hollywood bleeding hearts. Got his own radio spots from prison as I understand it. Way to go PA, even California had the sense to put Tookie Williams to death for his heinous crimes.
Yes, let us get someone like George Bush back (Romney) then we go back to death and death panel, kill, kill, kill every day by the hands of the police and the government!, as well as attack more countries, so we can create more jobs for building killing machines, and then pray to one of the many Gods for forgiveness--strange Western country--and hope one of those Gods do not punish us like 9/11--- but it does give bigger turn over, and the young are the ones buying from business with their children (hopefully not well-fare-- before they are hired to be soldiers) we do need a lot of soldiers and police to kill thousands every year on the globe!--We certainly do not need the expense of old people anyway, according to Paul Ryan
OH, I almost forgot, we do need some real court systems here who would actually check all facts, no matter what deals are made, no deals should ever be made, and we could simply never have a story like this!----Equal justice for all--Right--Like the same page as guns for all---
What the he!! are you talking about? A five year old could construct better sentences than yours. Local governments are responsible for their public safety,not the feds and where are we killing all of these people you talk about. We shoot when shot at... Taliban has been blowing up innocent men women and children for years. Go bang on them for a while... and brush upon your English, it's horrible.
Bundgaard, that really is a bizarre post.
Bundgaard,
You are a true Dumbocrat, when you have nothing intelligent to say..blame Bush.
Hey Bund, you better hope your doctor doesn't read your rant, or it's right back on the drooly pills for you!
ya spare him so he can do it again lol
killer coddlers
dumbdumbdumb
if one kills inhumanly and has 100% conviction they need to be put to death
no matter any personal opinions
a killer is a killer
above the age of 14
below this aqe one has to give them a benefit of a doubt
but just a sliver
over the age of 13 one knows what he/she is doing and you will never convince me otherwise
You are such an idiot.
Either that or your pedophile defending your peers.
Pedophiles=garbage. If what the lawyers say is true the man has already paid too much for killing them.
I personally think that anyone convicted of sexual abuse of a child,(person under the age of legal consent) should be executed asap. If the victim is over the age of consent,the perp would offered a choice Castration plus life in jail,or death.Just my opinion.
Catration has proven not to work. they move to murder to get the same satifaction. If we had kept the death penalty for rape maybe there wouldn't be this constant reports of children beening abuse. How about bringing that up to the US for a vote?