soraya
05-18-2002, 06:36 AM
I've received this email today from my friend, Jessie
Hello everyone,
My Ojibwe friend Joel Ritchie is very desperate at this moment, and asked me to ONE MORE time spread the facts about his case in this following letter he wrote himself:
(He's about ready to give up, has no faith & trust anymore, is very lonely & confused, and his letters are so depressing lately, that I'm very worried and concerned, especially knowing about his suicide attemps in the past...)
My name is Joel Ritchie, I’m a Native American prisoner from Wisconsin, being housed in an out-of-state CCA facility in Whiteville, Tennessee.
I’m an innocent man convicted for the alleged murder of my friend/roommate.
Is there anyone who can help me out seeking legal assistance???????
At this point any advice or suggestions are welcome.
Let me give you some details about the case.
In April of 1997 I was charged and arrested for the murder of my friend and roommate Terri Schreiber.
In October of 1998 I was convicted and given Mandatory Life.
I was denied a fair trial due to judge and jury being bias.
The Judge said that people with an interest in the case should not make further contact with jurors.
Still, the jury had contact with friends and family of the victim!
Witnesses were sequestered, juror’s were not.
“Any off-the-record contact with the jury is presumptively prejudicial and the government bears a heavy burden
of proving that such a contact did not effect the jury; if the Government can not meet this burden a new trial
required . Accord-United States v.Forrest , 620f.2d457 ( 5th Cir.1980)
The suspect of the murder was described as having long hair, I did not look like this, at the time I had
Mohawk haircut.
A recent picture of me was admitted into evidence, but was not shown to the jury.
Two people gave information on my description , this was not shown to the jury either.
The judge denied my motion for a change of venue, he said “we think we can find an unbiased group of 12
persons”.
However at the time of my trial, 3 people were found guilty of 4 murders, 1 charged with the murder of a police
officer.
With this much media attention in a small community, I mean; 8 murders within a year, the change of venue
should have been granted.
The “Sixth Amendment” provides that the defendant shall have the right to a trial “by an impartial jury of the
state and district where in the crime shall have been committed “.
“every procedure which might lead him not to hold the balance nice, clean and true between the state and the
accused denies the latter due process of law” Estes v. Texas , 1965s.ct1319.
Other details:
The judge allows a witness to assert his attorney/client privilege in front of the jury, later he believes he made a mistake pursuant to Wis. Stat. 905.08
The D.A failed to show good cause on the latest disclosure of a witness, however the judge allows the witness to testify, against Wisc. Court Rule and Procedure 971.23,3 (A)
Juror Foreman and two other juror’s know testifying Police officers , and two others have family members who are Police officers. (like Det. Swetlik who testified at my trial, knew juror # 8 Jane Gau, and juror #11, and knew John Bartel since High School)
Witnesses who could help on my behalf were not called to the stand
Conflicting witness statements were not reviewed
My fingerprints were not found on the alleged murder weapon
Unknown fingerprints were found
No blood or DNA from victim was found on me or my clothes
Strong allegations that lead into the direction of my half brother John Arndt JR. and his friend Ralph Shipman being the true perpetrators.
Alleged murder weapon belongs to my half brother John Arndt JR.
DNA from John Arndt JR as well as from Ralph Shipman was not tested
Conclusion; my conviction was all based on “circumstantial evidence” and “Conflicting and lying testimony”!
Thank you so much for your time & attention,
Joel Ritchie
http://members.lycos.nl/justice_for_joe/
Please feel welcome to spread this message!!
Thanks for your help!
Jessie Metz
Hello everyone,
My Ojibwe friend Joel Ritchie is very desperate at this moment, and asked me to ONE MORE time spread the facts about his case in this following letter he wrote himself:
(He's about ready to give up, has no faith & trust anymore, is very lonely & confused, and his letters are so depressing lately, that I'm very worried and concerned, especially knowing about his suicide attemps in the past...)
My name is Joel Ritchie, I’m a Native American prisoner from Wisconsin, being housed in an out-of-state CCA facility in Whiteville, Tennessee.
I’m an innocent man convicted for the alleged murder of my friend/roommate.
Is there anyone who can help me out seeking legal assistance???????
At this point any advice or suggestions are welcome.
Let me give you some details about the case.
In April of 1997 I was charged and arrested for the murder of my friend and roommate Terri Schreiber.
In October of 1998 I was convicted and given Mandatory Life.
I was denied a fair trial due to judge and jury being bias.
The Judge said that people with an interest in the case should not make further contact with jurors.
Still, the jury had contact with friends and family of the victim!
Witnesses were sequestered, juror’s were not.
“Any off-the-record contact with the jury is presumptively prejudicial and the government bears a heavy burden
of proving that such a contact did not effect the jury; if the Government can not meet this burden a new trial
required . Accord-United States v.Forrest , 620f.2d457 ( 5th Cir.1980)
The suspect of the murder was described as having long hair, I did not look like this, at the time I had
Mohawk haircut.
A recent picture of me was admitted into evidence, but was not shown to the jury.
Two people gave information on my description , this was not shown to the jury either.
The judge denied my motion for a change of venue, he said “we think we can find an unbiased group of 12
persons”.
However at the time of my trial, 3 people were found guilty of 4 murders, 1 charged with the murder of a police
officer.
With this much media attention in a small community, I mean; 8 murders within a year, the change of venue
should have been granted.
The “Sixth Amendment” provides that the defendant shall have the right to a trial “by an impartial jury of the
state and district where in the crime shall have been committed “.
“every procedure which might lead him not to hold the balance nice, clean and true between the state and the
accused denies the latter due process of law” Estes v. Texas , 1965s.ct1319.
Other details:
The judge allows a witness to assert his attorney/client privilege in front of the jury, later he believes he made a mistake pursuant to Wis. Stat. 905.08
The D.A failed to show good cause on the latest disclosure of a witness, however the judge allows the witness to testify, against Wisc. Court Rule and Procedure 971.23,3 (A)
Juror Foreman and two other juror’s know testifying Police officers , and two others have family members who are Police officers. (like Det. Swetlik who testified at my trial, knew juror # 8 Jane Gau, and juror #11, and knew John Bartel since High School)
Witnesses who could help on my behalf were not called to the stand
Conflicting witness statements were not reviewed
My fingerprints were not found on the alleged murder weapon
Unknown fingerprints were found
No blood or DNA from victim was found on me or my clothes
Strong allegations that lead into the direction of my half brother John Arndt JR. and his friend Ralph Shipman being the true perpetrators.
Alleged murder weapon belongs to my half brother John Arndt JR.
DNA from John Arndt JR as well as from Ralph Shipman was not tested
Conclusion; my conviction was all based on “circumstantial evidence” and “Conflicting and lying testimony”!
Thank you so much for your time & attention,
Joel Ritchie
http://members.lycos.nl/justice_for_joe/
Please feel welcome to spread this message!!
Thanks for your help!
Jessie Metz