Louisiana v. Vincent Simmons: Frame-up in Avoyelles Parish - Paperback

by Katja Pumm (Author)

"If he was not guilty, he would not be in prison," so the argument goes about inmates. And yet, DNA evidence frees two or more innocent prisoners each month in the United States of America. But, the great majority of the wrongly convicted cannot make use of this forensic science because there is none to test or for other reasons. African-American Vincent Simmons is one of them. In 1977, white minor twin sisters reported a "black man" had raped them. Before the police made a proper investigation, they arrested Simmons without probable cause, put him in an illegal line-up, and shot him almost to death. He has maintained his innocence from the start. Despite exonerating evidence that the prosecutor withheld until 1993, courts continue to deny Simmons a hearing. He is still serving a one hundred-year sentence at the infamous Angola prison. "Louisiana v. Vincent Simmons: Frame-up in Avoyelles Parish" examines this case and its background in detail from all angles. This book discloses the major issues that often lead to judicial errors. It reaches out in simple language to laymen, professionals and legislators. .

Author Biography

Author Katja Pumm studied journalism at the Hamburger Akademie für Fernstudien. In 2003, she became sensitive to the cause of innocent prisoners. Pumm began to publicly support errors of justice awareness and launched the Innocent in Prison Project International ("I.I.P.P.I."), the first interactive medium of its kind on the internet. She illustrates criminal cases and provides additional information on the phenomenon of wrongful conviction. "Louisiana v. Vincent Simmons: Frame-up in Avoyelles Parish" is Katja Pumm's first book. She hopes to break a taboo, spur authorities to a thorough investigation in Simmons' cause, educate people about a serious epidemic, and contribute ideas for better judicial systems. The investigative writer has two teenage children and lives in a village near Hamburg, Germany.