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Tim, condemned to death in the state of Texas, was executed on march 15th. Thank you if you have intervened in his behalf. |
If you want to know more: death penalty in the US (from Gilles Forhan)
In 1994, Tim wrote to Amnesty International to ask for correspondents.
It took more than one year for the request, which had been sent to the
CAAT (Christians' Action for the Abolition of Torture), to be
published in the CAAT paper, and for the young group from Rennes
(Brittany, west of France) to answer it. The correspondence between
Rozenn - a former member of the group from Rennes - and Tim was
finally established during the summer 1995.
All along his letters, Tim revealed himself to be a very sensitive, thoughtful and intelligent person.
"I don't ever want you to think that
because I'm imprisoned I wouldn't want to hear your troubles. We all
need someone to lean on at times, and of you want to you can lean on
me.I'm here for you no matter what. [...] Sometimes it's good for me
to hear what others are going through, I get so caught up with my own
world here that I forget that life still goes on outside these
walls. When you tell me about what's hapening in your life I forget
about this place and for a moment I'm there with you."
When he heard about his deferred sentence, he burst out of energy and
wished to take advantage of the new life offered to him in a most
desperate way. From then on the correspondence took a new turn. Tim
hasn't written much and seems to be overcome again with a feeling of
renouncement.
In August 1999, Rozenn and her husband were lucky enough to go and
visit him at Huntsville. A 4 hours visit which was made possible
because of the distance.
Finally, here is what he asks me to tell all of you in his letter
dated February, 4th:
With love,
Right from the first letters the correspondence showed an amazing
intensity."Show me parts of your world,
and I'll share you mine", wrote Tim.
For 5 years, the youth group CAAT from Lyon (south east of France) -
where Rozenn had moved - and the Amnesty branch of the ENS (Ecole
Normale Supérieure) in Lyon took over the correspondence with Tim.
Sending pictures and postcards from all over France, and particularly
from the sea that Tim likes so much, sending support messages, poems
translated into English, prayers... Sometimes sending little sums of
money too to pay for the writing paper and the stamps, as well as to
repair his typewriter.
"With the $20 you sent, wrote Tim in 96,
I could buy paper, stamps, pens. And I used the last $2 to
buy a coke and a pastry. I hadn't done that for so long ! You can't
imagine what it means to be deprives of everything. They took us much
more than our freedom."
Thus a complicity developed between us. We trustfully told each
other more or less important worries as well as our joys.
The correspondence took a turning point in 1998 when Tim received his
first execution date programmed for April, 24th. We didn't hear from
him for many months, but on April, 28th, we received a letter:
"I've been such a fool. For months I've hidden away from
everyone and everything I hold dear. I thought by doing this, when
the time came for me to lie down and die, giving in to death would be
easier. I was wrong. As the days passed and my date with the
executioner grew nearer, the more I longed dor those I had pushed
away. The harder I tried to forget those I care for, the more
thoughts of them, of you, haunted me. I won't do this mistake
again."
Naturellement, Tim a été très choqué par cette
expérience douloureuse,
même s'il a obtenu un sursis 9 jours avant la date fixée. Il avait déjà
préparé des paquets à envoyer à tous ceux qu'il aimait, leur partageant
ses derniers effets.
During this visit, Tim explained to us why he didn't write a lot any
more.
"To tell what ? My days are empty, I spend
20 hours a day watching TV. I know I shouldn't, it's just a way the
prison's administrators found to keep us quiet. But I have losed
everything else. Except my pain, my dark thoughts, my intense feeling
of guilt..."
You should know that since November 1998, the detention living conditions in the death corridors have constantly debased. Following an escape attempt, the three persons in charge of the prison have been replaced by tough ones in order to eye up/ spy on the prisoners (these are Tim's words).
At the same time a new unit is being built which is to receive all the prisoners condemned to death from October 1999. An entirely underground unit, without any air, without any natural light, with very few possible contacts between the prisoners and the outside world. For instance, the prison yards of this new unit are individual so as to avoid any talks between two prisoners. Even the visits are only through the telephone.
Unlike what had been told, only a few prisoners have been transferred
into this unit, the others stayed in Ellis unit. Tim finally escaped
from this moving which frightened him a lot:
"There's been talk of moving all of us to
another unit, one that will make this place seem like a day at Disney
Land. If what I hear about this new unit is accurate, you can be sure
I won't be around much longer, I'll drop what's left of my appeals
and tell the state to crank it up.".
Tim also explained to us why he had stopped fighting for his life:
"You know, 90% of the inmates here say
they are innocent. But actually there are few innocent people on death
row. I have known a man who was innocent, I'm 100% sure of it. He was
executed. As for me I don't see me as innocent. I took a life. And
believe me when I say there's not a day passes that I don't think
about the person I killed or regret what I did, and wish that by some
miracle or divined intervention I could turn the clock back, go back
and relive that part of my life. I know in my heart I would do things
so differently. And I'm not just saying this because I now find myself
on death row. I look back on my past and I cringe with shame and
regret. I'd do anything to make amends. I'd drop all appeals and
accept my fate gladly if it could change the past. But that 's not the
way the world works, and I'm powerless to change a thing or even tell
the people that deserve to hear it the most I'm sorry."
Tim also wrote to us in 1999:
"Just the thought that my own country
wants me dead, and is willing to spend literally millions of dollars
to make it so, weighs heavy on my mind. I'm made to feel like some
kind of scourge or social pariah, a disease that needs to be
eradicated from the face of the earth. [...] It's a common
misconception that those in prison, and particularly oon the row, are
antisocial, uneducated, slow, mentally warped, or otherwise not
normal. Take me for example, if we were to meet on the street or at
work or wherever, you would never know I've been in prison all these
years. I would just be another person to you. I'm no monster or
deviant or perv."
Results of our actions
Letters of encouragement for Tim:
Thank you to those who have written to Tim!
Your letters have token Tim out of his loneliness! Here is what he
wrote me on February, 4th:
"I am in a solitary confinement cell, moved here yesterday at part of
the administration's new death row policy to segregate and isolate
those of us with an execution date approaching. Their last parting
gift. A last bit of indigantion. The frightening thing is, it may have
worked if it weren't for the lifeline arriving through the mail
tonight. It woke me up and forced me to see I'm not alone, that what
is happening is actually bigger than just me but affects so many
others, out there as well as in here. I'll try to be such a good
friend to you in these last days as you have been to me during the
years."
Dear friends,
I cannot thank you enough for your concern and unwavering support at
this most difficult time. All your cards and letters and photos have
been a Godsend, giving me the strength and the courage to face with
dignity the days ahead. Knowing so many wonderful people are out
there thinking of me and praying for me, it means so much to me. I
can't find the words to express the love and gratitude I feel for you
all. When I first began corresponding with Rozenn I knew right away I
had found a very special friend. But little did I know that our
friendship would bring me in contact with so many truly wonderful
people. Thank you all.
Tim.
And on February, 9th:
"Dear Rozenn, I just finished reading your letter which I received tonight. I really enjoyed
your letter. You never fail to encourage me and lift my spirits with your
words. God surely blessed me when He brought us together. You've been such a
very special friend.
You know, you probably could have picked a more worthy subject for all the
attention. Not that I'm complaining. I'm overwhelmed by all of this. I never
realized that so many good people would want to get involved and fight for me.
It's touched my heart to sit and read the letters from people I don't know and
in all likelihood will never have the opportunity to meet, everyone filled with
such concern and sympathy. But I can't help but feel that all this energy is
being wasted on me, who by my own confession am guilty of the crime. Not that I
think this gives them the right to kill me, killing is wrong. But there are
truly innocent people who have done nothing and still are executed. James
Beathard, whom the State killed last December 9th I KNEW was innocent. Hell,
they knew he was innocent ! But it didn't matter. James and I had become good
friends over the years and it was devastating to talk to him the night before
his execution. He couldn't believe they were actually going through with it. I
didn't know what to say to him. I guess the reason I feel so guilty now and so
unworthy is because I have you there going to this great effort to save my
life and my friend James had no one and I don't know how to reconcile this in
my own mind. [...]"
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My answer: there are indeed a few innocent people who are executed by
the state of Texas. Some of them have a wide coverage in international
media, such as Odell Barnes. But there are probably others, like
James, who die in a relative indifference. It's not too late
to establish the truth if his innocence can be proved.
However, we chose to fight for Tim, even if he confessed to be guilty of his crime, because our opposition to the death penalty is absolute, whatever the crime may be. But beyond all controversy we wanted to show that someone who committed a crime is still a human being, capable of remorse, friendship, and sensitivity. |
Many of you wrote to the Texan newspapers. You can find information about the coverage of Tim's execution in American papers on this site.
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"Okay, thank you. To the Weis family, and ah I just want you to know
from the bottom of may heart that I am truly sorry. I mean it, I'm not
just saying it. Through the years of being in prison I come to hear and
respect our life. It was wrong what I did. I know you had to go through a
lot of pain and I'm sorry. To the Jones family, the same is true, I am
truly truly sorry. I wanted to prepare a longer statement but time ran
out. I had the chaplain write down a few words for my friends and for you,
my family. I would like him to read them for me, and ah, just please find
peace."
Chaplain Brazzil recites written statement:
"To the Jones Family:
For the Weis Family:
I feel that I have to speak out against the practice of the death penalty, although I have no regrets in my case. The death penalty is an unnecessary punishment for society who has other means to protect itself. You cannot rectify death with another death. Whenever the state chooses to take a life and take the power of God into their own hands, whenever our leader's kill in the name of justice, we are all diminished.
To my family and friends, father, sister and brother, those that have
traveled so far to be here today, please just know that I am at peace. You
have all been so good to me through this whole ordeal. I can never find
the words to express my love for all of you. Just know that I go with God.
Last Verbal Statement: |
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Hello members
It is my wish to express gratitude to all of you for your prayers and support for Timothy. My brother wanted me to let you all know that he enjoyed your letters and cards. He was touched by the overwhelming response to your web page dedicated to him. Although he was not able to answer everyone personally. He wanted me to thank you all. He would want you to continue the love and support for other inmates on Death Row at the Terrell Unit in Livingston, Texas. The conditions there are in dire need of improvement and they need all the support we can give them. Timothy is gone now but he has touched so many people in such a positive way that it will have an everlasting effect on people for years to come. Timothy's last days were spent with family and friends. We talked about many things and he had made peace with God. He knew he was going to a better place. His main concern was for the people he would leave behind, Making sure we all were going to be OK. He spent countless hours with us reassuring us that he was ready to go, and that this is what he wanted. He went with so much dignity, strength and courage it made me very proud to be his sister and it helps me to know he went with an open Heart. Again I want to thank every one of you for your love and support. It meant some much to Timothy and to all of us that love him. With Love and Regards, Sheila Buck Whtcloud1@aol.com |
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Rhône-Alpes : Youth group CAAT from Lyon, Amnesty
International branch of the ENS (Ecole Normale Superieure).
CAAT group from Bourgoin-Jallieu.
CAAT and Humanitary Action group of the highschool in la Verpillière. Contact: Rozenn Picard, 35 rue Louis Goux, 69100 Villeurbanne. France. Phone number: +33 (0)4 78 68 25 44.
Pays de Loire : CAAT Nantes, Amnesty International, Youth
group CAAT in Nantes. Contact: Anne-Yaëlle Fleurant - 4, Bd
du Petit Port - 44300 NANTES, France - Phone number: +33
(0)2.40.74.54.42 Brittany: CAAT Rennes, contact: Sara-Claire Debroise, 7 square de Champagne, 35000 Rennes. France. France: Youth Commission CAAT. Contact: Stéphanie Loreau.
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An international action group was created to protest against Tim's
execution. The members base their action on Tim's very unstable childhood.
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Rozenn
Texier-Picard (rozenn.picard@free.fr)
We should acknowledge the courage of George Ryan who refuses that an innocent person can be executed (whereas in many other states it is legal to execute a condemned person even if innocence has been established... hen the proofs haven't been presented in a strict time limit). But if certain dysfunctions, which contribute to execution of innocent ones are known, isn't the pure and simple abolition of death penalty the only way to end up with a risk-zero of executing an innocent? Which commission can really guarantee that Justice will not make further errors?
All the Death Row inmates seem to have been moved to Terrel Unit in Livingston, a few miles away from Huntsville. Many inmates complained about the conditions of this move. They were deeply humiliated by the guards. Besides the conditions of life in Terrel Unit seem to be very difficult. The inmates have no contact with one another, have to spend 23 hours a day in their cell (6 over 8 feet), and those who have no visitor can see nobody except their guards. There have been many protests these months, including hunger strike and a hostage taking in February. The Chairman of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said he might restore somr privileges, but insisted that he was not going to give in to their demands. One of the hostage takers, Ponchai Wilkerson, was executed on March 14. His girlfriend, Wessie Scyrus (called Njeri), was sentenced to 30 days of prison for cotempt to the court. She was not allowed be with Ponchai for his last days.
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An Urgent Appeal from Death Row By Emerson Rudd Dear Family, Friends, Comrades: On Feb. 21, 2000, two prisoners on Texas Death Row seized a hostage at the Terrell Unit (home to Death Row) and demanded improved conditions from the Administration and that a moratorium be established here in Texas, as well as throughout the nation. This act of courage was/is supported by many, and to show our support some of us prisoners communicated with prisoners P. Wilkerson and H. Guidry during the standoff. Our dialogue centered around what a moratorium meant for us all and about the repressive conditions that we have faced since arriving at the Terrell Unit, conditions that brought on a 21-day food strike on the dawn of the new year. Now that the hostage situation is over, we prisoners are faced with more repression and retaliation. On Feb. 22, 2000, every Death Row Prisoner was informed of a prison lockdown via a TDCJ lockdown schedule Notice to Offenders. After seven days, on the 29th of Feb. 2000, the lockdown was lifted for everyone except a group of Death Row Prisoners--we are the prisoners accused of communicating with P. Wilkerson and H. Guidry. We have all been given disciplinary cases for "Creating A Disturbance." This is even though our talks centered around issues of the Death Penalty and poor prison conditions. We have all been classified Level 3, therefore reducing recreation time, and cutting our general visits from four a month to one a month. As I said, the lockdown was lifted for everyone except us, who have continued to be fed sack lunch ("Johnnies") since the hostage situation began on Feb. 21, 2000. As March 3, 2000, neared, we expected to receive our first hot lunch (as we were under the impression that we were in our second week of the lockdown) and a few days later we expected to see family, friends, attorneys and spiritual advisors. However, no hot meal came and we were then informed by second shift Sgt. Poole that our status remained "WEEK ONE, DAY ONE" and that we would remain on the week one, day one status until Warden Treon said otherwise. I inquired about the lockdown schedule and how the schedule was for a progressive lockdown, and if there were no other problems, we were supposed to progress to the second, third and fourth week. Sgt. Poole informed me that our behavior meant nothing and that when Warden Treon said the lockdown would progress, that's when it would. I asked, When do you think this will be? He responded, I've seen it go on for 3 months! As prisoners, we understand our limitation--in that we can be a very mute people. This letter is written with the intent to unlock our voices and to be heard--we would like to bring our plight into the eyes of the people in a non-disruptive manner, but when a man is slated for death, thrown in a hole and deprived of the chance to see family, friends, attorneys and spiritual advisors--the man doesn't have a lot of room to be diplomatic. He becomes consumed with ridding himself of such oppressive forces. This letter is our cry for help! We need to let this establishment know that they are being watched and that the people will not stand for these acts, and that we will not turn nor close our eyes to what is happening. We ask that you call, email, or fax in your demand to end this act of retaliation (lockdown), which is in its third week. And that our visitation be restored--especially in light of there being no other problems.
In solidarity,
INCLUDED IN THE LOCKDOWN ARE:
Issued in solidarity with the prisoners by: |
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Last update:
March 22, 2000