NCADP - The National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty

Farley Matchett, TX September 12, 2006

Do Not Execute Farley Matchett

September 12, 2006

Texas

Farley Matchett and his supporters continue to claim self-defense as his Sep. 12 execution date approaches. Matchett, a 43-year-old black male, was convicted of the July 1991 robbery and murder of Uries Anderson in Houston. According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Matchett murdered Anderson in order to steal money for crack cocaine. He was arrested while attempting to cash a forged check and sentenced to death.

Matchett’s supporters maintain that there are other important factors to this sequence of events that many, including the jury, never heard.

Matchett claims that he killed Anderson in self-defense. According to Matchett, he went to the victim’s home in an attempt to settle an 8-month debt. As the situation escalated, Anderson became angry and attacked Matchett, eventually threatening him by holding a knife against his throat. Matchett says that only at this point did he become violent, and he killed Anderson in self-defense. Matchett then called the paramedics for help, but Anderson died in surgery shortly after.

Matchett calls his trial “a mockery of justice.” He claims that upon arrest, he was beaten by police for more than 36 hours until he confessed. Then, the state incarcerated him for 19 months before he stood trial. Matchett cites ineffective assistance of counsel as a flaw of his trial, noting that his defense attorney called only two witnesses during the punishment phase of the trial and failed to make necessary objections. Additionally, his attorney failed to fully investigate and present a complete and accurate mitigation defense and did not challenge the admissibility of some questionable testimony. Instead, the attorney urged Matchett to plead guilty, thus forfeiting his right to challenge the legality of his arrest and the admissibility of his confession on appeal.

The state of Texas will execute Farley Matchett on Sept. 12, despite the numerous trial errors and his continuing claims of innocence.

Please write to Gov. Rick Perry on behalf of Farley Matchett

November 22, 2009

Subject:

I wish to appeal to you on behalf of FARLEY MATCHETT, who is due to be executed on September 12. My sympathies go out to the family and loved ones of Uries Anderson, and I agree this was a very tragic event that cannot go unpunished. However, the death penalty—which is employed disproportionately against the poor and people of color who often lack adequate legal representation—is not the right punishment for FARLEY MATCHETT. Matchett claims that he killed Anderson in self-defense. According to Matchett, he went to the victim’s home in an attempt to settle an 8-month debt. As the situation escalated, Anderson became angry and attacked Matchett, eventually threatening him by holding a knife against his throat. Matchett says that only at this point did he become violent, and he killed Anderson in self-defense. Matchett then called the paramedics for help, but Anderson died in surgery shortly after. Matchett calls his trial “a mockery of justice.” He claims that upon arrest, he was beaten by police for more than 36 hours until he confessed. Then, the state incarcerated him for 19 months before he stood trial. Matchett cites ineffective assistance of counsel as a flaw of his trial, noting that his defense attorney called only two witnesses during the punishment phase of the trial and failed to make necessary objections. Additionally, his attorney failed to fully investigate and present a complete and accurate mitigation defense and did not challenge the admissibility of some questionable testimony. Instead, the attorney urged Matchett to plead guilty, thus forfeiting his right to challenge the legality of his arrest and the admissibility of his confession on appeal. The state's case against FARLEY MATCHETT is extremely weak. FARLEY MATCHETT was convicted and lost his appeals largely because he has not received adequate counsel throughout his trial and appeals process. In view of the above mentioned information, I urge you to act quickly to correct this situation and stop the perpetuation of a state-sanctioned system of injustice. Please find it in your hear to spare the life of this human being. Thank you for your time and consideration in this important and urgent matter
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