Johnia Berry

I am so pleased with the work of the law enforcement agencies responsible for the investigation and arrest of Johnia Berry’s murderer after THREE years. It was a DNA match from a sample he had to submit having been recently convicted of a felony, I think. DNA matches aren’t likely to be mistaken, thankfully.

Composite vs. Suspect
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This case has always bothered me, if not for the obvious reasons, because I couldn’t get the thought of her crawling to her neighbors’ doors for help and no one helping her. Its just tragic on so many levels. I hope her family can find some peace and I know I will sleep better knowing this guy isn’t on the streets anymore.

 

Edit:
Joan and Mike Berry lobbied successfully for the creation of a state DNA database with samples from all suspects arrested on violent crime charges in Tennessee.  The state Legislature passed the “Johnia Berry Act of 2007“ in their latest session that requires anyone arrested for a violent crime to give a DNA sample to authorities. Previously, state law only required DNA samples from convicted violent offenders.

Workman granted “last wish”

Phillip Workman was executed early yesterday morning amidst a swarm of controversy.  I am saddened because I don’t support the death penalty for exactly the reasons of the controversy.  Five jurors had signed affidavits stating that had they been presented the evidence that was available at the time of the execution, none of them would have voted for the death sentence.  I won’t touch on that again, as I did previously, but I did want to mention Workman’s final meal.

Now you may want to say it was an act by a desperate man about to die.  I will not argue that point.  But Phillip Workman asked that his last meal be a pizza given to any homeless person near the prison in Nashville.  Prison officials declined his request because “they don’t give donations to charity”.  So a charity stepped in and make the request possible.  Not just possible, they bought 150 pizzas and fed hundreds of people.  It allows me to rest a bit easier for some reason.  You can read about it here.

I’m sorry an officer was killed many years ago in a robbery attempt. I’m sorry he was taken from his family.   I can’t imagine that pain.  But I am equally sorry that the state, MY state, was so vengeful that nothing, not even perjured witnesses, incompetent defense, and ballistics impossibilities, could keep them from killing someone else.

Update on Workman Execution

Governor Bredesen will allow the moratorium on executions to expire tomorrow, May 2.

This brings added urgency to our plea for clemency for Phillip Workman. He is to be executed on May 9.

Please consider whether justice requires adding your voice to those who have already requested that the Governor commute Workman’s death sentence to one of life imprisonment (51 years before eligibility for parole).

There are ballistics tests that experts have now said prove its not even possible for the bullet to have come from Workman’s gun. Wow, this just seems like a cover-up of something. Did Tennesseans invent the “Tillman Switcheroo” blame game?

Help Stop the Execution of Phillip Workman

Deadly Silence - Proof Of Innocent Man On Death Row 11:13

Workman is scheduled to be executed on May 9. Please watch this video so you can see he is most likely innocent of the crime for which he is going to be executed on May 9.

The “eye witness” was not at the crime scene. Is that not enough to call this into question?

Help! Contact Governor Bredesen

Governor’s Office
Tennessee State Capitol
Nashville, TN 37243-0001

Phone: 615.741.2001
Fax: 615.532.9711
Email: phil.bredesen@state.tn.us