US Death Penalty Exonerees and Uzbek Women's rights's rightss rights's rights's rights's rights Against The Death Penalty - 'East Meets West'

Amnesty International UK, Reprieve and Amicus have organised a special event bringing together three former death row prisoners from the USA - all since declared innocent - and two anti-death penalty campaigners from Uzbekistan. The public event will take place on Tuesday 19 October.

The group, who will be meeting parliamentarians and members of the Foreign Office, will tell their own moving stories of their years on death row and time spent trying to prevent the secret execution of their loved ones.

The campaigners will be joined by British-born death row lawyer, Clive Stafford Smith.

NICHOLAS YARRIS Nicholas Yarris spent half of his life on death row for a crime he did not commit. Aged 21, he was convicted in one of the shortest murder trials in Pennsylvania history. Yarris was the first death row prisoner in the USA to request DNA testing to prove his innocence. After a 15-year legal struggle and nearly 22 years on death row, he was exonerated in 2003. In January this year he was released, becoming the 112th death row prisoner to be freed.

RAY KRONE Ray Krone, former Air Force sergeant and mailman, spent 10 years on Arizona’s death row for a murder he did not commit. In April 2002, he became the 100th death row prisoner in the USA to be exonerated when DNA evidence proved his innocence.

WILLIAM NIEVES William Nieves spent six years on Pennsylvania’s death row for a crime he did not commit. In October 2000 a jury unanimously acquitted him and he was released. He is currently on the board of directors of Pennsylvania Abolitionists United Against the Death Penalty.

TAMARA CHIKUNOVA

In 1999 Tamara’s son, Dmitry, was accused of murder and sentenced to death in Uzbekistan. There are allegations that he was tortured into a false confession. In July 2000 Tamara went to Tashkent Prison for an authorised visit to see her son. She was told she could not see him but should come back the next day. When she returned she was told that Dmitry had already been executed. He was 28 years old.

DILOBAR KHUDOBERGANOVA

Dilobar, from Uzbekistan, has devoted the last two years to trying to save Iskandar, her brother, accused in 1999 of 'terrorism' and sentenced to death in 2002. Dilobar receives regular threats and has been harassed by the authorities.

Where

Thatcher Room, Portcullis House, Victoria Embankment, London SW1

When

Tuesday 19 October, 3.30 - 4.45pm

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