41 Year Old Been In Prison Since He Was 21 Years Old!
Harry Twiggs is 47 years old, a native of Philadelphia, and has been incarcerated 25 years for the following reason:
On Christmas Eve, 1971, when he was 21 years old Harry and an accomplice by the name of Poogie robbed a drug dealer of drugs, money and clothing. The drug dealer was not at home during the robbery, but was informed of what had taken place, and then he and three others went in search of Harry and Poogie.
He did not find them that day, but continued to look for them for a week, telling people that he would kill them if he found them. Two days after the robbery Poogie was shot dead. Five days later on New Year's Day 1972, Harry boarded a bus at 52nd and Pine St. enroute to his Aunt's house for a family reunion. The drug dealer, whose name was Thomas, was in a car along with another man, spotted Harry as he boarded the bus. They followed the bus for 18 blocks, and when Harry got off the bus, the drug dealer confronted with a drawn gun and jammed it into his stomach. Harry grabbed the barrel of the gun, turned it away from his body, just as the drug dealer squeezed off a shot. A life and death struggle ensued and Harry got a hold of the gun. In a moment the bullet hit the attacker in the head killing him.
At trial, I testified to all of the above, and stated how I feared for my life during the struggle, and that the killing was not planned but happened as a result of me being attacked, reflexes of fear, provocation, and self defense, and that I had no intention of killing anyone, in fact I had never in my life fired a gun until that day. The first trial ended in a hung jury. I was finally tried and convicted of first degree murder.
This was not a premeditated killing, even the one witness to this incident testified that I was attacked first. At the beginning of my first trial the court offered me a six to twelve year sentence if I would plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter. I thought it was best to go to trial with counsel. At the trial, there were numerous constitutional violations , including ineffective counsel, the judge told the jury that I had to prove I was innocent, and acted in self defense. The appellate courts agreed that my constitutional rights were violated, but they did not give me a new trial.
Now I am seeking a Pardon, and pray to be successful this time. I have finished high school, attended a number of colleges courses and earned credits in subjects as psychology, and business management. I am also earning an associates degree in Christianity. I have a 3.781 grade point average. I am currently involved in counseling youth, and I have received a certificate of achievement from the Youth Forestry Camp #3 at James Creek, PA., for my work with the youth there.
I am chairman of Narcotics Anonymous program at Huntingdon Prison, and am extremely active in the drug rehabilitation community, where I counsel others on the dangers of drugs and crime.
I am a tailor by trade and wish to pursue that line of work when I am released. I am truly remorseful for the crime. I am seeking commutation, and I am seeking any reporter, writer or journalist who would be interested in writing about my story in order to make the public aware of the equities of the criminal justice system that would keep a man like me locked up for 25 years because I killed someone in self defense. I hope to be a source to help young kids that may be headed to prison. My fiancée's name is Shyrel, we are both Christians and plan to marry as soon as I am released from prison.
Your help is needed; write to:
Pardon's Board;
P.O. Box 598,
Camp Hill, Pa. 17001-0598
Thank you!
[ Home | Just For Kids | Victims |
Prisoners
Prison
Stories | About Dark
Sorrow | Favorite Links ]