In support of Alexander Pring Wilson

Dear Governor Romney,

We, the people, hereby invoke your action in the case of Commonwealth vs. Alexander Pring-Wilson on two counts. The first matter of concern, we the people vehemently oppose the verdict of Voluntary Manslaughter handed down by the jury against the defendant. We believe that there is sufficient evidence that the jury did not act within good conduct during their deliberations. The Constitution clearly states that all citizens are entitled to an impartial trial. It is the duty of the jury to objectively review evidences to determine if the Prosecution has proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt. The jury has an obligation to render a fair and impartial verdict. According to jury forewoman, Carol Neville, during the trial, the jurors placed a photo of Michael Colono (the victim) up on the chalkboard. Neville was quoted in the Boston Globe saying, We had him in our thoughts and in our minds all the way through." This Statement strongly shows favoritism, rendering this jury incapable of biased objectivity and clouding their deliberations with emotions. In addition, the jurors were not given written instructions at the on-set of their deliberations as to the guidelines they should use in reaching their verdict. . This issue is tantamount since Juror Neville also admits that up until the Judge read and handed transcripts of her instructions, days later that they were very confused about the guidelines those days were spent marinating in confusion about the rules of their deliberations, and every law involved where Self-defense issue is raised. We in good conscious believe then, that they lost complete interest in the justification laws, did not consider them, and only looked at the laws pertaining to what charge to convict the Defendant on. There are various other comments made by this Jury, namely McDowell that are compelling, and reveal that they were not following the guidelines.

We also bring to your attention that the national statistics show the majority of this nation is against this jury verdict; likewise the majority of the citizens of Massachusetts are adamantly opposed as well. National and state polls regarding the general view on this verdict will affirm this to you. Therefore, we urge prompt consideration regarding this case and request intervention on behalf of this defendant, whom the majority feel is wrongfully convicted and are strongly in favor of any of these options: a pardon, a new trial, or stay of execution pending the appeals process.

Our second matter of this petition is in regards to Mr. Pring-Wilson's sentence and safety. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has been made aware that the defendant and his family have received threats before, during and after the trial on numerous occasions. This has put the defendants mother in a state of unnecessary fear. To compound this terror, the Commonwealth chose to brush these threats aside and remand the defendant over to the prison system even when house arrest was a reasonable option, Giving what has taken place and after reviewing the record of violence history in one of one of the district attorney key witnesses, Samuel Rodriguez, (who was directly involved in the events leading up tot this case) and has 3 prior conviction for assault and battery. Not to mention a reputation of threatening police with gang violence, (Particularly the Latin King), our concerns as along with Mr. Prings family are legitimate. We also understand that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is dealing with a handicap apparatus within the prison system that would make their job nearly impossible to keep Mr. Wilson safe for the duration of his time. We promise you that the majority of the Nation who is against the verdict is also diligently watching every move made regarding this prison issue. You must know that if any harm should come to Mr. Pring Wilson during the duration of his sentence you will be held accountable along with the Commonwealth of Mass. We hereby urge you to strongly consider alleviating the state of this nearly impossible responsibility and remanding Mr. Wilson to serve his time through house arrest should you decide against considering a pardon against the verdict.

In closing, we hope this petition have served to spark some critical thinking on your part, that if these grounds for reasonable doubt weigh on your conscience as they do ours, that you will take action. Some may consider your taking action a risky or daring move, but we see it in an entirely different light. By stepping up and assuming the responsibility of righting these wrongs, you are helping to restore the faith of cynics who don't believe ordinary citizens have loud enough voices. In taking the time to go about change, you are giving hope to the countless others who find themselves imprisoned under similar circumstances. We have the utmost respect for the strength and solidity of character it takes to be the leader of a free state. But in the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Thank you again for your patience and open-mindedness in our presentation.