Transcript of Hearing Reveals DA In 1977 Case Provided No Discovery To Vincent Simmons Defense According to Original Attorney Mike Kelly
Vincent Simmons, after 44 years in prison on a 100 year sentence, might finally get his day in court fighting for his innocence of the rape of two 14 year old white girls in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, an assault that never happened.
After the first Judge Spruill removed himself last month, the current judge, William Bennett, ordered the District Attorney, Charles Riddle, removed from the case as well.
Testimony, in the 12 Judicial District Court in ALexandria, LA, today, by Simmons original attorney, Mike Kelley, 44 years ago, stated on the record, that he never received any discovery from the DA’s office or police, including the medical examiner reports that proved there was no sexual assault of the girls. He also testified that he never was made aware of a police lineup in which Mr Simmons was presented to witnesses shackled in the line up. see photo
Simmons’ Attorney, Justin Bonus, Also Presented Evidence that Witnesses Have been Facing threats and intimidation from Keith Laborde, the Man who Witnesses Say Lied About Simmons Involvement in 1977 rape which resulted in his 100 year sentence
Background
Two weeks after the night of May 9, 1977, two 14-year-old twin white girls and their 18-year- old cousin were visiting with relatives and mentioned nothing about being raped and kidnapped until one of the relatives noticed a scratch on the man’s neck. Things immediately changed and the three told them a concocted story about being assaulted by an unknown Black man. The relatives, skeptical that they were telling them the whole story, two weeks after it allegedly occurred, advised them to go to the police.
At the police station, they could not provide many details other than a Black man attacked them. While there were no corroborating witnesses and no evidence at all of a rape and kidnapping, it did not stop the police from picking up a young Black man from town and taking him into the station. Unable to truly understand the charges against him, as he had only sixth grade education and was illiterate, the police denied him an attorney and the ability to make a call. He was then placed in a line up with a few other men, but there was only one man in the line up that day who was handcuffed and placed in restraints – Vincent Simmons. The twins and their cousin identified the man with the handcuffs and shortly thereafter in the stationhouse Simmons was shot point blank in his chest.
He was tried less than 60 days later and in one day convicted of the charges. He was sentenced to 100 years in prison. He has served nearly 44 years, mostly in solitary confinement. Old and sickly, Vincent remains in Angola Prison.
New evidence has emerged that the alleged 1977 rape of two 14- year-old white girls in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, never happened. New witnesses have come forward and provided sworn statements that there was no sexual assault, rape or kidnapping, and that the alleged victims lied about the attack by an unknown Black man. There was absolutely no DNA or other evidence tying Simmons to the alleged crime.
Other evidence includes the coroner report that was kept hidden from the defense at the time of the trial, and recently corroborated by a forensic pathology expert, proving that neither of the girls were assaulted and raped.
The lone Black person on the jury now states in a sworn affidavit that she was not only scared and coerced into a conviction, had she known of the medical reports, she would have likely acquitted Mr. Simmons. “I now believe Vincent is innocent.”
Expert witness identification evidence that shows that the alleged victim identification of Simmons was shocking especially considering that he was handcuffed when placed in the lineup and selected by the alleged victims. See photo of lineup https://bit.ly/3jYA99n
According to experts, Vincent Simmons was convicted by “a legal process that paralleled the prosecutions of scores of black men accused of crimes by white women.” Police conducted no investigation and there were efforts by police to coerce him to confess. One complaining witness told police that her uncle was very upset and talked about taking the law into his own hands. The other referred to black men as Niggers and told police that all Blacks looked the same to her. The trial was held 51 days after the crime, and defense counsel had very little time to prepare his case. Simmons was convicted by a jury composed of 11 whites and 1 African American in two days and received an extremely severe sentence. “His trial, for all practical purposes, was a legal lynching.”
Contact: Lonnie Soury. lsoury@soury.com, (917) 519-4521
Attorney Justin Bonus, justin.bonus@gmail.com, (347)-920-0160
See www.freevincent.com
www.wrongfullyconvicted.info
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/05/us/vincent-simmons-rape-case-new-testimony-hearing/index.html