Coalizione Italiana Contro la Pena di Morte
THIS MAN NEEDS YOUR HELP!
Mr.
Howard Guidry #999226
Polunsky Unit
3872 Fm 350 South
Livingston, TX 77351
USA
Howard Paul Guidry was
convicted in 1997 as the triggerman for the 1994 murder of Mrs. Farah
Fratta. Her death was masterminded by her husband, former Missouri City
Officer Robert Fratta. He and another man, Mr. Joseph Prystash, were
convicted for their roles in the slaying and sentenced to death (they
are still on death row). The couple was involved in a bitter divorce and
a custody battle for their three small children. Prosecutors said Mr.
Fratta hired Joseph Prystash for the killing. Mr. Prystash, prosecutors
say, then hired Guidry, who lived next door to Prystash's girlfriend.
Prosecutors said Prystash and Guidry had expected to be paid about
$1,000, a Jeep and the murder weapon.
Howard, an African-American young man from Louisiana, was born on April
15, 1976. He was 18 when the crime was committed and entered death row
when he was 21.
The following is a brief overview of the facts that led Howard Guidry to
be wrongly convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death:
1) On March 7, 1995 Mr. Guidry was interrogated by 2 detectives
concerning a murder;
2) Mr. Guidry was handcuffed to a steel chair in a small room where he
was physically and psychologically tortured over a period of several
hours by the 2 officers;
3) Though Mr. Guidry repeatedly asked to have his attorney present, as
is the law, the detectives denied him the privilege;
4) A false confession was constructed by the detectives as they abused
Mr. Guidry;
5) This confession and hearsay witness testimony [Joseph Prystash’s
girlfriend’s] was used to convict him and send him to death row.
In 2003 – 8 years later – Mr. Guidry’s conviction was overturned by a
federal judge, because the judge found that Mr. Guidry’s confession was
illegal and the hearsay witness testimony should have not been used in
his trial. The Federal Judge also ordered the State of Texas to release
Howard Guidry or retry him.
The State of Texas appealed the Judge’s decision, however – in 2004 – a
higher court (the 5th Circuit) confirmed the decision made by the
Federal Judge. Howard Guidry was not released, though, and the State of
Texas decided to retry him.
On February 19, 2007 the second trial opened. After only 3 days, Howard
Guidry was convicted of capital murder a second time. NOW THE DA WANTS
TO OBTAIN ANOTHER DEATH SENTENCE!
No physical evidence links Howard Guidry to this crime. Those so called
“eye witnesses” weren't sure what the person even looked like they saw
in the dark. At the new trial, though, the DA had 3 new witnesses – of
whom nobody knew anything at the original trial! – who said that: 1)
“Guidry told me that he had shot the victim”, 2) and 3)“Guidry said a
man owed him $1,000” and and “Guidry gave me the 38-caliber gun in mid
lo late November, 1994”. Prosecutors linked the gun to Prystash and
Robert Fratta and determined that it was the murder weapon. These two men are both serving sentences in Texas
prisons (12 years and 25 years respectively, both for aggravated robbery).
The prosecutor has openly admitted to having paid some of the witnesses.
There is still hope. Howard is asking for your support in hiring
adequate legal specialist to help secure his chance to live.
For further information about Howard’s case you may write to:
- Arianna Ballotta –
arianna@linknet.it (in Italian, English, German and French)
- Regina Schmahl –
reginaschmahl@yahoo.com (in English and German)
To make donations:
POSTAL ACCOUNT NR. 38725800
DONATIONS MADE OUT TO: COALIZIONE ITALIANA CONTRO LA PENA DI MORTE - C.P.39
- 80078 POZZUOLI (NA) - ITALY
DESCRIPTION: PRO HOWARD GUIDRY (TEXAS)
Howard Guidry stands a good chance of saving his life, but he needs
adequate legal specialist for his direct appeal. HE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT!
A life may be saved. Please be a part of making it happen!
We thank you all in advance for your help/donations/suggestions.
Italian Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty
arianna@linknet.it