Brian K. Roberson

In the wrong place

From Socialist Review, No. 185, April 1995.
Copyright © Socialist Review.
Copied with thanks from the Socialist Review Archive.
Marked up by Einde O’Callaghan for ETOL.

I was recently fortunate enough to view one of your magazines. It was in the possession of fellow death row inmate Gary Sterling.

I am a 31-year-old African American who has been sentenced, wrongfully, to death for a crime I didn’t commit, by one of the most backward and barbaric judicial systems existing. When you live in a society saturated with racial prejudices, what you have is what victimised me, i.e. Texas law.

It started approximately nine years ago when my friend Darryl and I were out clubbing one Friday night, on 30 August 1986. About 4 a.m. Darryl and I headed for home. On our way home we stopped and used the bathroom on a side street in our neighbourhood. Due to all the beer that we had drunk, there was the need to relieve ourselves on the way home and we did so, but while we were doing this and totally unknown to either of us, there was a murder being committed a few blocks from where we were using the bathroom. When we were through using the bathroom we continued on our way home. I was driven to my girlfriend’s house and Darryl went home to his wife.

The following day Darryl was arrested and subsequently charged with the previously mentioned murder. He was arrested because his truck was seen two blocks from the scene of the crime. Unfortunately for Darryl and later for me, Darryl died of a brain tumour. I never knew that Darryl was in jail until after his death. Since the police never let him use the phone, I later found out that he had been in jail for a whole day and a half without being allowed to call anyone, not even his family. The police later called his wife after he died. The police also told his wife how Darryl died and that he died while in custody.

It was soon discovered that I was out with Darryl also and this is what led to my later arrest. I was arrested the following Sunday morning and that was the beginning of the wrongful charge and subsequent conviction and finally being sentenced to death. The police claimed that Darryl and I were the ones who committed the crime. That was just the beginning of the many lies that were told in court.

The police and prosecutors also knew that because I am poor and black I could not mount an adequate defence against the charges, nor could I beat them in their court system, especially since the victims were white and having a black suspect is somehow appealing to the system. I didn’t think that an innocent man would be convicted, but then again I was ignorant to the ways of the ‘racist white American justice system’, which I am aware of now.

Now nearly nine years later I am struggling to save my life. It’s shocking and unreal, but it’s real enough because I was reassured of this reality last month by them mailing me an execution date. I did manage to get a modification that stayed the execution until 14 November.

I think they want this case finalised, because if they murder me it will be too late for justice then, and they know it. Through the years I still maintain my innocence and sanity hoping that I will find the pathway to return me to freedom. Anyone wishing to help emotionally, financially or spiritually is very welcome to do so. Even a letter of kind words that help comfort me in this place would be most appreciated. Thanks for listening to me.

Brian K Roberson
TDCJ #886
Ellis One Unit
Huntsville, Texas 77343
US

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