20 January 2000
Mr. Don Siegleman
Governor of Alabama
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104
Dear Governor:
Patrick Swiney was a police
officer for 5 years while I was Chief of Police in Alabaster, Alabama.I
also worked with Patrick for 3 years at Vestavia, Alabama.I've
known Patrick for most of his life.He's
always been easy going and courteous to people.He
was a good officer and trustworthy, and I enjoyed working with him very
much.
I've always known that
in a "crime of passion" that it is a proven fact that they never bother
anybody else again, and I had believed that Patrick had received a sentence
that was way too harsh for the crime for which he was convicted.In
other cases that I know of, a person who has committed a crime of passion
has served just a few years in prison to pay for that crime, and because
of the nature of such a crime, releasing such a person never has been considered
dangerous to the public.This is
how I've felt about Patrick since the tragedy in 1987.
However, I have recently
had the opportunity to review the state forensic lab reports on testing
for gun powder residue on Patrick's skin and clothing.These
reports indicate that Patrick never handled a discharged weapon on the
night of the alleged crime.Now,
this makes Patrick innocent and because of this, he needs to be released
from prison immediately.It never
occurred to me that Patrick was innocent because he was the only suspect
in this crime.Now, I see that the
police work left a lot to be desired.It's
difficult to say whether the real shooter will ever be found now that so
much time has passed.Patrick's been
in prison for 11 years for a crime he never committed!
Governor, you cannot let
this continue.An innocent man is
in prison.This is very disturbing
to me and it should be to you as well.You
must do everything you can to get him released.Whatever
it takes, you need to free this man to right a serious wrong that's been
done.
Sincerely,
C.E. Bull Carter
P.O. Box 53
Alabaster, AL 35007
205-663-7260
