Judge Postpones Decision On Mumia Abu-Jamal's Appeal Attempt
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A judge is postponing a decision on another appeal attempt by former death row inmate Mumia Abu-Jamal.
Abu-Jamal wants his previous appeal attempts vacated so he can once again appeal his case.
Maureen Faulkner erupted in court — crying, begging Judge Leon Tucker to move along yet another appeal effort by Mumia Abu Jamal, the man convicted of killing her husband, Officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981.
The judge had Faulkner ejected for her teary outburst.
"I was very disappointed today. I really thought that Leon Tucker was going to make a decision today, and it was very emotional for me," said Faulkner.
Abu-Jamal's lawyers say his rights were violated because of the bias of then Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Ron Castille -- a former Philadelphia district attorney.
Joan Fisher, a life-long friend of Faulkner's, tells CBS3 reporter Joe Holden the outburst in court caps an undercurrent of white-hot frustration
"I think there's been so many years of this pent up and what appeared to be unfair and it was the straw that broke the camel's back — she is entitled to let them know, that she's been dealing with this her entire adult life," said Fisher.
Protesters, activists, advocates for prisoner rights and friends of Abu-Jamal demonstrated outside the Criminal Justice Center near 13th and Filbert Streets in Center City on Monday morning.
The judge delayed his decision for at least another month.
