Killing Time: An Investigation Into the Death Row Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal

Needed this for a class. Good to see other side of the story and still believe that the man did the crime. Still always want to be fair and see both sides of a story.

Beyond the protests and the politics, the celebrity involvement and the media hype, what do you know about the death row case of Mumia Abu-Jamal? Most of us would answer, "Very little." In Killng Time, Dave Lindorff compiles existing information from court records, police and media reports, as well as conducting new interviews in the hope of finally making sense of this confusing case. He thoroughly analyzes all the pieces, including the questionable motives of many key players, in an attempt to find the truth and expose the numerous inconsistencies. He makes no assertions regarding Mumia's innocence or guilt but makes a strong case for police corruption and judicial irregularities that have kept Mumia on death row for 20 years without yet having the benefit of a fair trial. This objective, investigative reporter questions the police, the judge, the prosecution, the defense, as well as the defendant and his supporters. Lindorff works hard to maintain objectivity in the face of overwhelming evidence of mistakes, poor legal strategy, lies and deals. Killing Time gives us raw facts along with thoughtful analysis, including that which has been suppressed, ignored or misinterpreted. I am grateful for finally getting the facts behind this case. Killing Time is interesting and well written. One's views of our justice system will be challenged. After Chapter 2, I had read enough to realize that justice was not served. Lindorff continues with startling revelations and clear insight for the next 10 chapters. It is fascinating, yet also disturbing, when one realizes that a man's life is in the balance in this case. Reading this book helped me to better understand the actions of Governor Ryan of Illinois who recently commuted the death sentences of 167 people because of "the demon of error" in the judicial system. If the system in Illinois is anything like the Philadelphia system described in this book, it makes his actions understandable, perceptive and heroic.

I have heard Mr Lindorff talk about the good and bad sides of American justice on CNN and network television and was astonished at his reporting that the US Government Terrorism hotline is answered by staff at the television show "America's Most Wanted". In "Killing Time" Mr Lindorff has sensitively balanced the needs for fairness and closure in the tragedy of the murder of a young policeman followed by the assignment to death row of one of Philadelphia's most promising broadcast journalists.Susanna J Dodgson, PhD, Publisher, Emerald Pademelon Press.

Investigative reporter Dave Lindorff has earned a reputation as an independent thinker and thorough researcher. This book is a testament to those skills, and anyone who has followed this long running case should read Lindorff's book. It busts through conventional wisdom and corporate media spin to find the truth about what has always been a controversial case whose story has been told most often through the eyes of political and personal views, rather than through the hard facts alone. Buy it, read it, learn from it.