December
19, 1999
Mr. Don Siegleman
Governor of Alabama
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104
Dear Governor Siegleman,
I fully support your act of granting clemency to Patrick Swiney, or
at the
least recommending him for parole.
I have known Mr. Swiney and his wife for several years. If ever there
was a case deserving of clemency, this one is it. There is a preponderance
of evidence in his case that Mr. Swiney may be innocent of the crime of
which he's been convicted. Unfortunately, this evidence was not allowed
to be introduced at trial. I believe that Patrick Swiney is innocent. But
even if you do not believe this, even if Mr. Swiney committed these acts,
he has served enough time for a crime of passion, as he was accused of
committing. More than enough time. And his time has been hard on Mr. Swiney.
His health is at serious risk.
This
is the time of year for soul searching and I hope you search yours to find
a way to intervene in this case of justice gone awry. Patrick and Sherry
Swiney deserve to have their lives back. Living in Illinois, I have seen
enough of rogue justice -- half of all death row cases here have been overturned,
with people found innocent thanks to DNA testing and other advances in
technology. It makes me wonder how many people in my state are in
for years, for life perhaps and yet are innocent. We have over-zealous
prosecutors here coupled with incompetent defense attorneys. From what
I've heard and read about Alabama justice, it would be hard for me
to say which state out does the other in delivering injustice in place
of blind justice.
Now,
in Mr. Swiney's case, you have a chance to right some grievous wrongs and
I strongly request that you do everything you can and give this case your
urgent attention.
Regards,
Gale Ahrens
The Patrick Crusade
