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| Kevin Keith |
Kevin Keith, a former Cantonian, has been spared the death penalty by Gov. Ted Strickland.
Strickland has commuted Keith’s death sentence — which was scheduled for Sept. 15 — to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Keith, 46 , was convicted in 1994 for three drug-related killings in Bucyrus in Crawford County. One of the victims was a 4-year-old.
Keith has maintained his innocence, claiming he was in another city visiting relatives when the shootings occurred.
Strickland, who previously described the case as troubling,” cited an absence of a full investigation, a failure to investigate other possible suspects, and an over-reliance on eyewitness testimony.
Source: CantonRep.com, Sept. 2, 2010
Source: CantonRep.com, Sept. 2, 2010
Governor's Statement Regarding Clemency Application of Kevin Keith
Columbus, OH--Governor Ted Strickland today issued the following statement regarding the pending clemency application of Kevin Keith:
"Kevin Keith was convicted, by a jury, of callously murdering three people-including a four-year old child-and shooting three others, including two young children. Since the time of his arrest more than 16 years ago, Mr. Keith has maintained his innocence, insisting that someone else committed the murders.
"Mr. Keith's conviction has been repeatedly reviewed and upheld by Ohio and federal courts at the trial and appellate level. The Ohio Parole Board recommended against clemency in this case. There is evidence which links him to the crimes that, while circumstantial, is not otherwise well explained. It is my view, after a thorough review of the information and evidence available to me at this time, that it is far more likely that Mr. Keith committed these murders than it is likely that he did not.
"Yet, despite the evidence supporting his guilt and the substantial legal review of Mr. Keith's conviction, many legitimate questions have been raised regarding the evidence in support of the conviction and the investigation which led to it. In particular, Mr. Keith's conviction relied upon the linking of certain eyewitness testimony with certain forensic evidence about which important questions have been raised. I also find the absence of a full investigation of other credible suspects troubling.
"Clearly, the careful exercise of a governor's executive clemency authority is appropriate in a case like this one, given the real and unanswered questions surrounding the murders for which Mr. Keith was convicted. Mr. Keith still has appellate legal proceedings pending which, in theory, could ultimately result in his conviction being overturned altogether. But the pending legal proceedings may never result in a full reexamination of his case, including an investigation of alternate suspects, by law enforcement authorities and/or the courts. That would be unfortunate--this case is clearly one in which a full, fair analysis of all of the unanswered questions should be considered by a court. Under these circumstances, I cannot allow Mr. Keith to be executed. I have decided, at this time, to commute Mr. Keith's sentence to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Should further evidence justify my doing so, I am prepared to review this matter again for possible further action." (Source: Office of the Governor)
From Amnesty International USA:
Kevin Keith’s lawyers, who had been seeking a pardon for their client, welcomed the governor’s decision. In a statement they added that their work was unfinished: “Mr Keith remains incarcerated for a crime he did not commit, and that crime remains unsolved. The same compelling reasons that support Governor Strickland's actions today warrant a new, fair trial for Mr Keith, including the existence of newly discovered evidence, the revelation of evidence withheld by the State, and the development of new science behind eyewitness identification, all of which point to Mr Keith's innocence…The commutation to a life sentence does not lessen the need for justice to prevail.”
The lawyers have expressed their thanks to the thousands of people who appealed for clemency. They said that over 25,000 people had signed online petitions, and that, “in the last two weeks alone, over 7,000 people sent letters to Governor Strickland urging him to grant clemency.”
From Death Penalty Focus - Working for Alternatives to the Death Penalty:
"It feels like the world has stopped...Our family has gone through a lot...I'd like to thank Governor Strickland for being a just man," said Kevin's older brother Charles upon hearing the news that his younger brother would live past September 15th--that he would live to embrace his family one more time and celebrate another birthday.
Thanks to supporters and activists, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland spared Kevin Keith from execution yesterday.
Strickland, who is facing a tough reelection battle and was presented with an 8-0 recommendation against clemency from the Ohio Parole Board, managed to see past political ambition and expediency and summoned the courage to do what was right. He recognized that the execution of an innocent man could not be undone. He weighed his options and cast his vote for life.
This heroic decision is a reminder that committed individuals can make a difference--that each and every one of our actions matter--that one life matters. If you feel moved to thank Governor Strickland, his contact info and a sample letter are below.
Thank you for standing with us as we work to end the death penalty. Thanks to you, the tide is turning.
Sincerely,
Stefanie Faucher
Associate Director
PS: Please consider supporting the crucial work of Death Penalty Focus. We could not do it without you.
Contact Info and Template Thank You Letter to Governor Strickland
Governor's Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 South High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
USA
Phone/Fax:
General Info: (614) 466-3555
Fax: (614) 466-9354
Dear Governor Strickland,
Thank you for granting clemency to Kevin Keith.
As you noted in your commutation statement, many legitimate questions have been raised regarding the evidence in support of Mr. Keith's conviction. This evidence of innocence was never presented in its entirety before any court or jury. It would have been a tragic mistake to execute Mr. Keith when such grave doubts linger about his guilt.
This year, you demonstrated your commitment to improving the fairness and accuracy of Ohio's criminal justice system by signing into law comprehensive reform legislation to combat wrongful convictions. By granting clemency to Mr. Keith, you upheld that commitment.
I commend you for recognizing that there is no room for error when a life is at stake.
[your name]
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