About
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Book Description
After seven years of studying and research, German author Katja Pumm has finished writing a true crime story entitled “Louisiana v. Vincent Simmons: Frame-up in Avoyelles Parish” and published in the USA. She explains in this new book why the criminal case of 1977 is unfinished business, how the political system furthers miscarriages of justice, and why exonerating evidence does not always free innocent prisoners.
“If he was not guilty, he would not be in prison,” so the argument goes about inmates. And yet, DNA evidence frees two or more innocent prisoners each month in the United States of America. But, the great majority of the wrongly convicted cannot make use of this forensic science because there is nothing to test or for other reasons (e.g. destroyed or contaminated blood samples, denial by prosecutors and judges). African-American Vincent Simmons is one of them.
In 1977, white minor twin sisters reported a “black man” had raped them. Before the police made a proper investigation, they arrested Simmons without probable cause near the old St. Joseph cemetery on Waddil Street at Marksville, put him in an illegal line-up, and shot him almost to death in the interrogation room. (See timeline.) He has maintained his innocence from the start.
“Probable cause exists when known facts and circumstances are sufficient to warrant a man of reasonable prudence in the belief that an offense has been or is being committed.”
United States v. Davis, 458 F.2d 819, 821 (D.C.Cir.1972).
Despite exonerating evidence that the prosecutor withheld until 1993, courts continue to deny Simmons a hearing. He is still serving a one hundred-year sentence at the infamous Angola prison. Louisiana v. Vincent Simmons: Frame-up in Avoyelles Parish examines this case and its background in detail from all angles. This book discloses the major issues that often lead to judicial errors. It reaches out in simple language to laymen, professionals and legislators.
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Watch the book trailer here.
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Poll: Vote on whether or not you want Vincent Simmons to be granted an evidentiary hearing or retrial.
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This book is available in several book stores as e.g. CreateSpace (US$ 3.00 off, if you use the code of the coupon) and Amazon. Go to http://vincentsimmons.iippi.org/e-store/ to learn more.
I have not read the book, but happened upon this site by accident. I just finished a 6 year term at Allen Correctional Center and can tell you personally about corruption there. It seems as if a lot of money is being made through the La. prison and jail system. It just doesn’t go to the state. Too many things go on behind the prison walls that the public is not made aware of.
[…] clear, powerful, and respected as water, Simmons’ actual innocence—demonstrated in the new book “Louisiana v. Vincent Simmons: Frame-up in Avoyelles Parish” by Katja Pumm—would wash him out of the penal system. He has been confined since Monday May 23, […]
[…] chapter in the book “Louisiana v. Vincent Simmons: Frame-up in Avoyelles Parish” is entitled “Local Prison Industry.” A new discussion about this issue began when Governor […]
[…] convictions and why exculpatory evidence does not always free innocent prisoners. I think the About page is a good place to start reading. Visit the book trailer and have a look inside the 376 pages […]
[…] have read this book thoroughly and though it is hard for people to admit, especially those who work for the system, […]
[…] on the people. The chapter “Politics, Drugs, Dollars, Pleas and Snitches” in the book Louisiana v. Vincent Simmons – Frame-up in Avoyelles Parish very briefly explains why this policy has greatly failed and continues to fail. However, the new […]
[…] of the indirect but important topics of the book “Louisiana v. Vincent Simmons – Frame-up in Avoyelles Parish” is the scanty health system in the USA – especially for the poor, of course. The wealthy can […]
[…] Jeannette Theriot Knoll (the prosecutor in Louisiana v. Vincent Simmons) is an interested party and, therefore, has been recused from judgment like the two associate […]