Executing Justice: An Inside Account of the Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal

by Daniel R. Williams

Book Overview

Mumia Abu-Jamal is an award-winning journalist and author of three well-received books and many essays. He is also a death-row inmate, awaiting execution in Pennsylvania for allegedly killing a police officer in 1981. For many around the world, he is an inspired leader and the centerpiece to a revived progressive movement critical of our justice system and escalating global economic inequities. For others, he is a cold-blooded killer who has duped...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312276664
• ISBN13: 9780312276669
• Release Date: May 2001
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.73 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.5" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Revealing the cracks in the facade.

Because I know one of Mumia's attorneys, this book was more like "Everything You Wanted to Know About the Mumia Case but Were Afraid to Ask."Political grandstanding, self-destructing testimony by defense witnesses, and a looney-tune conspiracy theory: this book tells enough about the case to give fair warning to anyone interested in becoming part of the pro-Mumia movement.Along with Leonard Weinglass' RACE FOR JUSTICE and the trial transcripts, this book tells you what the kooks and radicals don't want you to know.

Obvious Now Why Mumia Fired Williams

Shortly before this book was to be published, Mumia Abu Jamal fired Daniel Williams and the rest of his defense team largely over the contents of this book. After reading this excellent count it is obvious why -- even while he's trying to actively defend Abu Jamal in the book, it provides a damning account of the Free Mumia movement, and really leaves little doubt in the reader's mind that whether or not Abu Jamal received a fair trial, he almost certainly shot Officer Daniel Faulkner.There is an intriguing passage in the book describing a wild conspiracy theory witness that some elements of the defense team wanted to put forward, which Abu Jamal eventually rejected. Williams chides himself for not having enough faith in Abu Jamal to realize he would never try to propagate such a fraud on the court. Of course as soon as he fired Williams, Abu Jamal presented exactly this conspiracy to the Court as the latest version of his defense. Williams, like many defense lawyers, is not a very good judge of character.Still, this is an excellent look at the inner workings of the Abu Jamal defense team.

Terrific Read

Truly an outstanding book. Having no real knowledge of the highly publicized Mumia Abu-Jamal case, the book provided real insight into what occured at his trial, conviction, and ongoing appeals. The author combined his comprehensive knowledge as Mumia's legal counsel with a true gift for the written word and the result was a book I could not put down.

outstanding

Finally, someone has provided information about this case. This book is informative and engaging to read. And what a read it is.

The Case of Mumia Abu Jamal: The Quest For A Fair Trial

Judge Sabo, presiding over the 1982 trial of Mumia Abu Jamal, refused to let defense counsel make a simple phone call that would have brought in a conveniently absent policeman, Gary Wakshul, to testify. Wakshul's initial police report completely contrdicted claims of others that Mumia had admitted guilt within hours of his arrest. This was just one of many, many instances where the judge, acting like a prosecutor in robes, along with a dangerously corrupt criminal justice system in Philadelphia, prevented a full and fair presentation of evidence. That evidence, in its entirety, could very well have raised reasonable doubt among the jurors. This beautifully written book by Dan Williams should be read by every law student for its many insights about trial advocacy. It deserves a greater general readership because it is, among other things, a searching examination of the pitfalls of capital punishment. Above all, this book shows a passion for Justice, the kind of passion that ennobles the best lawyers.