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GREGORY WRIGHT was wrongfully executed on October 30th, 2008
Connie andGreg 
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  PRESS RELEASE for immediate distribution -
Statement concerning the TV screening on Investigation Discovery of episode 4 of DALLAS DNA, concerning the case and execution of Gregory Edward Wright in Texas on October 30th 2008



 

Trial Transcripts Affidavits Appeal files Supporters Links Polygraph Greg's awards Greg's Words Tributes email
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born November 1st 1965 - wrongly executed October 30th 2008
The US Supreme Court rejected Greg's final appeal - the execution of an innocent man is completed
     The 5th Circuit effectively tore up the charge for which Greg was tried, convicted and sentenced, and substituted one of a "party to the crime" - so admitting that Texas has failed in its attempt to find conclusive evidence against him.  Greg has never faced a jury under this charge and therefore, under all natural justice, remains forever innocent.  Rest in peace Greg.
Greg's final words to you all (as recorded by TDCJ)

“There has been a lot of confusion on who done this. I know you all want closure. Donna had her Christianity intact when she died. She never went to a drug house. John Adams lied. He went to the police and told them a story. He made deals and sold stuff to keep from going to prison. I left the house, and I left him there. My only act or involvement was not telling on him. John Adams is the one that killed Donna Vick. I took a polygraph and passed. John Adams never volunteered to take one. I have done everything in my power. Donna Vick helped me; she took me off the street. I was a truck driver; my CDL was still active. Donna gave me everything I could ask for. I helped her around the yard. I helped her around the house. She asked if there were anyone else to help. I am a Christian myself, so I told her about John Adam. We picked him up at a dope house. I did not know he was a career criminal. When we got to the house he was jonesin for drugs. He has to go to Dallas. I was in the bathroom when he attacked. I am deaf in one ear and I thought the T.V. was up too loud. I ran in to the bedroom. By the time I came in, when I tried to help her, with first aid, it was too late. The veins were cut on her throat. He stabbed her in her heart, and that's what killed her. I told John Adams, "turn yourself in or hit the high road." I owed him a favor because he pulled someone off my back. I was in a fight downtown. Two or three days later he turned on me. I have done everything to prove my innocence. Before you is an innocent man. I love my family. I'll be waiting on ya'll. I'm finished talking.”   Gregory Wright, Oct. 30th, 2008
*** Note of Empathy from Journey of Hope ***
Reflections by Grits for Breakfast
Listen to a critical analysis of this case by Jim Skelton & Meg Penrose on Execution Watch    (how?)
Witness to an execution - video report by Cynthia McKinney
Article "Presidential candidate joins protest of execution"   (text version here)
AMNESTY USA Death Penalty Blog statement on Innocence

Tributes from Friends

After three test charts were administered, an analysis of the polygraph charts was made, and in my professional opinion Mr Wright is being truthful in all his answers to the relevant test questions." Joe D. Morris B.S., M.A., C.P.E. Polygraph Examiner, Texas.......... "Is Gregory E. Wright actually and factually innocent of the murder of Donna D. Vick and never knew of any intent to harm before the crime took place?" - "Yes he’s innocent of this crime. I did it." John Wade Adams, August 11, 2008
My name is John Wade Adams #999278. I want the record clear that Greg Wright is innocent of the crime he’s here on death row for. If you kill him your (sic) killing a innocent man. Greg Wright was used as a scape goat. I’m doing this because I’m tired of seeing innocent people being killed for murders they’ve not done the statement I made is a lie the one that I made at the first of our arrest. Greg Wright is innocent! I was there and know better. Did you place the murder of Donna D. Vick on the hands of Gregory E. Wright? Yes to make it look like he did it. I set him up.


An open letter from Greg Wright's supporters in Texas, across the USA, and across the world

to Governor Rick Perry; Justices of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeal; Justices of the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals;
Members of the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles; Craig Watkins, District Attorney for Dallas; Judge Francis, trial judge

Sirs,
After nearly eleven years of incarceration on death row, and nearly 11 years of appeals against a wrongful conviction and sentence for murder, Gregory Wright has been given an execution date of Oct.30th 2008. We make this final appeal to you, in faith of the American respect for Justice, and of the value of an innocent human life. While unreservedly expressing our sympathy for the relatives of Ms. Donna Vick, and our abhorrence of the crime by which she lost her life, we cannot accept the wrongful death of her friend Gregory Wright, in whom she trusted and loved, and for whom he respected and befriended in turn. The circumstances of their relationship, and the timing and circumstances of her death, of course make it difficult to prove that Greg had nothing to do with her murder. But in the modern age and sophistication of evaluative judicial process, we believe with all our hearts and minds that the evidence now available to you is overwhelming in its conclusion, minimally that sufficient doubt of guilt exists to justify setting aside this sentence of death, and that in fact it supports fully the actual innocence as claimed by Greg over all these years. That evidence is set out once more below. We appeal to you to assess the evidence anew, and to cast favorable judgment.

1. A recent written confession by Greg's co-indictee John Adams, confirmed with a second written document, unsolicited and freely made available to Greg's attorneys, clearly and unreservedly exonerates Greg of any responsibility for the crime of murder. Adams has, under oath, admitted he wrote this confession, but now, understandably, has decided not to admit its truth under oath for fear of the consequences for his own life. To commit a confession in writing is not something done lightly, especially when done in the knowledge that your own life is endangered. Adams professed his Christian conversion and commitment when making this confession. If his word cannot be taken at face value on this, what worth can his original accusations against Greg have? Adams, by his own word and by his own history of knife use against another human being (admitted with details on his website) has condemned himself, but he continues to cast blame in an attempt to lessen regard for his own sole culpability.

2. Substantial DNA testing has been done on both the murder weapon and on a pair of jeans claimed by the prosecution to have been worn by Greg whilst participating in the act of murder. The tests have revealed NO linkage to Greg on the murder weapon. The tests on the jeans, strongly opposed by the prosecution, have also revealed NO positive linkage to Greg. However, the tests did reveal the strong likelihood of a linkage to Adams. Testimony at the trial showed that Greg was seen wearing jeans of an entirely different description before the timing of the murder. The jeans are also too small to have been worn by Greg, based on his physical measurements taken at his arrest hours after the crime, and also at the trial. A significant part of the evidence presented to the original jury has then been shown to have no reliability of fact. The jeans are more likely to have been worn by Adams, whose physical dimensions, also measured at the time of his arrest, match those of the jeans.

3. Fingerprint evidence presented at trial, always looked upon by juries as strong evidence of guilt, has now been proven to have had no status other than that of "junk science". Testimony from the state's own forensic department at the trial, plus evidence from a defense independent fingerprint expert (inexplicably not called at the trial to give his evidence), and evidence from a further expert in recent days - all state that the fingerprint in question was of such poor and incomplete quality that it would have been impossible to make a positive identification as belonging to Greg. The trial defense team have admitted in affidavit that they were in error in not protecting and preserving Greg's legal rights in respect of this matter at the trial. This trial evidence then is also proven to have no reliability of fact.

4. A scene-of-crime officer, charged with the collection and handling of evidence following discovery of the crime, has been shown publically to have been employed fraudulently by the state. He had made untrue and illegal claims of qualification and experience to his employers. This fact alone should render any evidence handled by him as at least unreliable, and probably inadmissible. The further fact that he has subsequently been accused of murder, and is recorded as one of America's most wanted criminals, should render his contribution to the evidence against Greg as worthless.

5. Greg has submitted himself to an independently conducted polygraph test by one of the state's most respected polygraph practitioners, himself often employed by the state. His evidence concludes that Greg's assertions of innocence are entirely truthful. While polygraph evidence is not admissible in a court of law, in these circumstances where unreliability of guilt has amply been demonstrated by other means, it is reasonable and not without precedence to weigh such evidence in favor of the accused.

6. The additional issues, raised in detail by Greg's attorneys, Bruce Anton and Mary Penrose, in the Writ of Habeas Corpus (available in full and in summary elsewhere on this site) have not been rejected in fact by any court. Again, the cumulative value and effect on the merits of at least full review of Greg's case can surely be undisputed.

We pray for your fair consideration of this case, a new trial or review, and for the release of Gregory Wright from wrongful threat of execution. The admission of error, or the admission of subsequent uncertainty, is not weakness in the eyes of the law or public. This capacity is rather what gives us all confidence and respect for the legal process and legal institutions. We thank Greg's attorneys, Bruce Anton and Meg Penrose, now working pro bono, for their tireless work in making these findings possible.

Sincerely and respectfully yours,

Peter Bellamy, Gregory Wright Supporters Coordinator
on behalf of supporters and family of Gregory Wright

Download this open letter
Sadly, this and many other letters of support, went unheeded by those we charge with the administration of fair Justice
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