Television has made stars out of aspiring rock stars, squabbling housewives and children of the rich and not-really famous. Now, an inmate in New York’s infamous Sing Sing prison – where Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were executed in 1953 – is surely hoping a turn in the spotlight will change his life. Jon-Adrian Velazquez, 36, has been incarcerated at the maximum-security facility on the banks of the Hudson River in Ossining, New York since 1999. He was sent away for 25-to-life for killing a retired cop during a botched robbery at an illegal gambling parlor.
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- 2/11/2012
- by Marisa Guthrie
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York -- Martin Sheen shone a spotlight Monday on a prisoner's efforts to get his 1999 murder conviction thrown out, saying the case "cries out for justice."
Meeting inmate Jon-Adrian Velazquez at a suburban prison Monday "confirmed my belief that he is an innocent man," the actor said at a news conference later in the day outside a Manhattan courthouse. "I came away inspired. He is a young man on fire with the truth."
Sheen's appearance trained some star power on a case that involves a longstanding issue getting new attention from the U.S. Supreme Court: the reliability of eyewitness identifications of suspects.
Convicted of fatally shooting retired police officer Albert Ward in an underground betting parlor in 1998, Velazquez is serving 25 years to life in prison. But he and lawyers Robert C. Gottlieb and Celia A. Gordon are trying to persuade Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus. R. Vance Jr.
Meeting inmate Jon-Adrian Velazquez at a suburban prison Monday "confirmed my belief that he is an innocent man," the actor said at a news conference later in the day outside a Manhattan courthouse. "I came away inspired. He is a young man on fire with the truth."
Sheen's appearance trained some star power on a case that involves a longstanding issue getting new attention from the U.S. Supreme Court: the reliability of eyewitness identifications of suspects.
Convicted of fatally shooting retired police officer Albert Ward in an underground betting parlor in 1998, Velazquez is serving 25 years to life in prison. But he and lawyers Robert C. Gottlieb and Celia A. Gordon are trying to persuade Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus. R. Vance Jr.
- 12/6/2011
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Actor and activist Martin Sheen has thrown his support behind a convicted New York murderer fighting for his freedom.
The former West Wing star met with Jon-Adrian Velazquez on Monday morning, shortly before staging a press conference to plead with officials to take another look at his case.
Velazquez was imprisoned in 1999 after being convicted of killing a retired police officer. He has always maintained his innocence and Sheen believes him.
The actor says, "The case cries out for justice."
Velazquez appears to have a good case for appeal - his lawyers claim two key eyewitnesses have since recanted their identifications of him.
His defence team has asked the Manhattan District Attorney’s office to re-investigate the murder.
The former West Wing star met with Jon-Adrian Velazquez on Monday morning, shortly before staging a press conference to plead with officials to take another look at his case.
Velazquez was imprisoned in 1999 after being convicted of killing a retired police officer. He has always maintained his innocence and Sheen believes him.
The actor says, "The case cries out for justice."
Velazquez appears to have a good case for appeal - his lawyers claim two key eyewitnesses have since recanted their identifications of him.
His defence team has asked the Manhattan District Attorney’s office to re-investigate the murder.
- 12/6/2011
- WENN
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