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<font size=2>VICTORY FOR ZOLO AGONA AZANIA<br>
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10/17/08 Indianapolis, Indiana<br>
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On the eve of his third death
penalty trial the State of Indiana finally abandoned their 27 year
campaign to execute Zolo Azania. Dismissing all the death penalty
charges, the State agreed to have Zolo sentenced on his 1982 murder and
robbery conviction. Under the sentence imposed, with good time
credit, Zolo will now be released from prison in 7 years. He will
be immediately released from death row. Also, under the terms of the
agreement he will be allowed to challenge his 1982 convictions in federal
habeas proceedings.<br>
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This is a real victory for all Zolo's supporters and all of those who
oppose the death penalty.<br>
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Below is a statement released by Zolo:<br><br>
</font><font size=4><b>Media Press Statement by Zolo Azania<br><br>
</b></font><font size=2>i am glad that the State has finally offered me
this opportunity to plan a life on the outside. i can use that freedom to
work for justice for others, and, of course, to establish a way of
sustaining my life on my own.<br><br>
i feel that God has given me many gifts; and with these gifts then i
would be able to take care of myself and do good for others. i have
matured in many ways over these stressful 27 plus years. i see things
quite differently now than in that early stage of my life.<br><br>
i still resolutely maintain my innocence. By this agreement the State
gives up the death penalty request. My next course of action will be to
go on into the federal court system to expose the many injustices. i will
continue to contest my innocence in the murder. i am angry over the
numerous ways that i've been mistreated by the judicial sanction system.
i was illegally placed in this untenable position by the Indiana Supreme
Court when they took back my dismissal of the case for fast and speedy
trial violation, and authorized the prosecution to retry me for the death
penalty for the third time! Nonetheless, i will continue to contest my
innocence in this murder. i am angry over the numerous ways i've been
mistreated by the system that some call justice--a term of relativity.
Therefore, the protracted struggle continues!<br><br>
Thank you.<br><br>
Zolo Agona Azania #4969<br>
</font><font size=3>Indiana State Prison<br>
P.O. Box 41<br>
Michigan City, Indiana 46361-0041 <br><br>
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San Francisco, CA 94110<br><br>
</font><font size=3 color="#008000">415 863-9977<br><br>
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