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For the first time in nearly five years, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will very likely carry out the state-sponsored killing of a human being. We call on all people of conscience to join together to stop the scheduled June 1 execution of Hubert Michael, a man with severe, untreated mental illness who suffered from extreme abuse as a child and until very recently was intent on committing state-assisted suicide. Barring unforeseen intervention by the courts or Gov. Rendell, Michael will be the fourth person to be killed by the state since Pennsylvania reinstated the death penalty. Like Keith Zettlemoyer and Leon Moser (both executed in 1995) and Gary Heidnik (executed in 1999), Michael had waived his appeals and informed the courts of his desire to be killed. He has since changed his mind. There is substantial evidence that has not been heard in his case, which would virtually assure a stay of execution.

YOU can help stop this execution, which if carried out, would be at a minimum an immoral and barbaric act in violation of any civilized standards of human decency. Furthermore, Hubert Michael’s execution would be an illegal act, clearly violating the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth amendments of the U.S. Constitution.

A major grassroots organizing effort has been launched across Pennsylvania – and beyond – to activate citizens to stop the execution. A MASSIVE LETTER-WRITING CAMPAIGN TO GOV. RENDELL IS UNDER WAY, demanding that Hubert Michael’s death warrant be rescinded immediately. If the execution is not stayed, several days of intensive phone calling to the governor’s office will be scheduled before the execution. Finally, on June 1 from 5-7 p.m., coordinated demonstrations will be held throughout Pennsylvania in an assertive display of vocal and visible resistance to the scheduled 7 p.m. execution.

BACKGROUND

Hubert Michael, 47, has been on death row for nine years, having been convicted of the 1993 kidnapping and murder of a 16-year-old girl in York County. He is mentally ill, suffering from severe depression and organic brain disorder. Accounts of his childhood are a composite of brutal abuse and ongoing neglect. He had a history of serious learning problems and school failure, and developed substance abuse problems with cocaine, heroin, Quaaludes, Valium, steroids, alcohol and other drugs. In July 1994, while in the York County Jail, he attempted suicide.

The environment in which Hubert Michael grew up was described by his sister as “simply hell.” Michael’s father regularly beat him, his mother and his three siblings with his hands, fists, belts and sticks. The father routinely referred to Michael and his sisters as “dumb sons of bitches,” telling them he regretted they were ever born. His interaction with Michael consisted of either physically and emotionally abusing him or completely ignoring him. His father repeatedly grabbed the child by the temples, held him in the air and shook him violently, which doctors believe may have caused the brain damage he now has. As he grew older, Michael’s mental health further deteriorated, and on July 12, 1993, Michael reached his lowest point, later saying he “fell apart” and “lost control.” He picked up Trista Eng, who was on her way to work at a fast-food restaurant, and took her to state game lands, where he shot and killed her.

Michael’s “trial” was a farce, plagued by numerous errors by the court, his attorney and the prosecutor. Michael’s incompetent lawyer, an assistant public defender, essentially abandoned him, and even though Michael was clearly mentally disturbed at the time, both the lawyer and judge were intent on arranging his state-assisted suicide. At Michael’s sentencing hearing, York County Common Pleas Judge John Chronister told him, “If [the death penalty] is your desire and you’re willing to have it happen, it would seem to me it’s a waste of time to have a hearing. If you want the death penalty . . . quite frankly we can arrange it for you.” Suffering from chronic mental illness and emotional problems that to this day remain untreated, Michael changed his mind numerous times about whether he wanted to live or die, most recently in early May when he elected to pursue his appeals again. His case is yet another example of the deadly problems plaguing Pennsylvania’s broken death penalty system.

A CALL TO RESISTANCE

We call on all concerned citizens to take action TODAY by writing to Gov. Rendell, urging him to rescind Hubert Michael’s death warrant immediately. Please watch closely for developments in his case and on our campaign to stop the execution. E-mail and web site updates will continue throughout this crisis.

WRITE TO:
Governor Edward G. Rendell
225 Main Capitol Building
Harrisburg, PA 17120

CALL GOVERNOR RENDELL’S OFFICE ON MAY 29, 30 AND JUNE 1: 717-787-2500

ATTEND A DEMONSTRATION IN YOUR AREA ON JUNE 1, 5-7 P.M.: For information on demonstrations in other cities, call 215-729-8720

Bethlehem: City Center, Church Street. For more information: 610-691-8730.

Erie: Governor’s Northwest Regional Office, 100 State Street (2nd and State). For more information: 814-833-7031.

Harrisburg: Governor’s Mansion: 2nd and Maclay Streets. For more information: 717-514-2747.

Philadelphia: Governor’s Southeast Regional Office, 200 South Broad St. For more information: 215-724-6120.

Pittsburgh: Governor’s Southwest Regional Office, 300 Liberty Avenue. For more information: 412-241-8154.

Wilkes-Barre: Luzerne County Courthouse, 200 North River Street. For more information: 570-823-9977.

Talking Points

Michael’s initial lawyer was woefully inadequate, making no effort whatsoever to present mitigating evidence on behalf of his mentally ill, suicidal and erratic client, in violation of the Eighth and Fourteenth amendments. His lawyer actually asserted that no mitigating evidence existed, despite knowing otherwise. He also refused to present the defense Michael sought and threatened that if Michael attempted to testify on his own behalf, he would testify against him.

Michael’s requests to be provided with new, effective legal counsel and to withdraw his guilty plea and proceed with a trial were refused without a hearing or explanation. Depressed, hopeless and suicidal, he was coerced into pleading guilty, as the judge and his own lawyer literally arranged his death sentence.

Michael has a documented history of extreme physical and emotional abuse throughout his childhood, as well as severe mental illness and irrational behavior that have been diagnosed but never treated. For the state to carry out his execution at taxpayer expense when such evidence has not even been heard by a court would be a disgrace to any reasonable standards of human rights.

PLEASE PASS THIS ON TO FRIENDS, FAMILY MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES, ETC.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO STOPPING THIS EXECUTION!