Post by MXB on Jan 4, 2008 7:49:11 GMT -5
GOVERNOR STRICKLAND NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU!
John Spirko’s life hangs in the balance
January 3, 2008
This morning the Attorney General’s office announced that no DNA evidence could link ohn Spirko to the crime scene. January 24, 2008 remains an execution date for John Spirko, despite his compelling claims of innocence. In the 25 years, that John Spirko has been on death row - facing seven different execution dates - there has been no physical or forensic evidence that links John Spirko to the murder to Betty Mottinger.
After more than two years of extensive DNA testing, Attorney General Marc Dann concluded that no DNA evidence links John Spirko to the murder for which his execution is scheduled later this month.
In addition to no DNA evidence, there exists no credible eyewitness linking him to crime, and John Spirko was in Toledo, Ohio at 9:30am while Mrs. Mottinger was being abducted more than 100 miles away in Elgin, Ohio at 8:30am on August 9, 1982.
Families of murder victims and Ohioans deserve a fair and accurate justice system, free of wrongful convictions. Ohio must avoid the unthinkable -- execution of the wrong man.
Contact Governor Strickland to make the difference in his decision of life or death. The Governor needs to hear from as many Ohioans as possible. All Ohioans believe in fairness and no one wants to see the wrong man punished.
Contact the governor’s office by e-mail, fax, telephone and reglar mail.
We want to urge the governor to grant clemency to John Spirko.
HOW TO CONTACT GOV. STRICKLAND:
If you choose to send an electronic message through e-mail, you’ll need to go to the website at http://governor. ohio.gov/ and select the tab on the right-hand side labeled “contact us. From this point, there is a link to “Constituent Affairs” on the right-hand side of the page where you are given an option to contact the Governor. If you choose this option, make sure you keep your message to under 5000 words.
If you choose to call the governor’s office, dial the number for constituent issues, not the general information line, at 614-644-4357. If you speak to a person, let him/her know that you’re calling to urge the Governor to grant clemency for John Spirko. Leave your name and let them know where you’re calling from.
If you choose to fax your message, send it to 614-466-9354 with the subject line “Clemency for Spirko.”
The Governor’s mailing address is:
Governor’s Office
Riffe Center, 30th Floor
77 S. High Street
Columbus, OH 43215-6108
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SAMPLE STATEMENTS/MESSAGES
A sample e-mail message might be the following:
January 3, 2008
Dear Governor Strickland,
My name is Kevin Werner and I live in Cincinnati. I urge you to grant clemency to John Spirko and spare his life. Earlier today the attorney general announced that there was no DNA evidence that could link Spirko to the crime scene. Please make the right decision for all Ohioans and grant clemency.
Sincerely,
Kevin Werner
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A sample phone call might be the following:
Hello, my name is Kevin Werner and I’m calling from Cincinnati. I wanted to express to the gvernor that I want him to grant clemency to John Spirko. This is a very important issue to me. Thank you and please give Governor Strickland my message.
Thank you for responding to this urgent action alert. Please pass this message along to friends and family members that also want to see Ohio stop executions. We are asking for clemency because it may take the form of a pardon, reprieve or commutation.
For more info on clemency, visit the Ohio Public Defender’s website www.opd. ohio.gov/ Clemency/ Clem_App_ mainpage. html