Jermont Cox is a 38 year old black male born on April 29, 1971 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jermont was raised by his mother to respect others, love others and be honest. He was raised in the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jermont was baptized at the age of 10 and remained a part of the church for many years afterwards. Jermont was always a very ambitious young man and was eager in his teen years to learn many different trades. He did get caught up in drugs (using and dealing), but it did not last long. Jermont worked as a dishwasher, working his way up to a cook, moved to a nursing home job and expanded his experience. His aunt lost her life to cancer in March of 1996 and his father lost his life to cancer in June of 1997. He is currently housed on Pennsylvania Death Row and has been in prison now for 17.5 years. He was sentenced to death and is serving two life sentences. Jermont writes that God gives him strength to get through every day and he loves to write poetry. Jermont is on death row for a crime which he did not commit. On July 19, 1992, Jermont admits to putting his hands on a gun and killing a man. But it was not supposed to happen like that. That same year, August 1992 and November 1992, two more men were killed. Jermont has nothing to do with those murders yet he currently sits convicted of all three murders (two life sentences and a death sentence). On January 14, 1993, he was arrested for the July murder. He admits to pulling the trigger, but that it was an accident and at trial, was supposed to argue self-defense, but for some reason, it was never introduced in court. He was questioned about the August murder but said he had an alibi. He was then questioned about the November murder. Homicide detectives offered Jermont a private visit with his girlfriend and a promise to be transferred out of the prison he was currently residing in, in exchange for a false confession: Jermont saying that he saw the August 1992 murder. Of course, this was completely untrue, as Jermont had provided police with an alibi for that night. He agreed and they held up their end of the bargain. When Jermont was told that he was going to stand trial for the August and November murders, he feared that he would receive another death sentence and asked for a deal. He plead guilty to both murders for two life sentences. Jermont plead guilty to two crimes which he did NOT commit. He then made a motion to remove the guilty pleas and stand trial. The evidence against him in the November murder was a questionable statement/confession. The facts the police claim Jermont provided them with which lead to his arrest, did not match the timeline and events of the murder. So the District Attorney changed/falsified the facts in the statement, in order to make it match with the murder. There was also little evidence against Jermont in the August case. He proided two statements. One saying that he was not involved and the other false confession saying that he saw the murder and drove the getaway car. He provided police with an alibi in his first statement. The second statement was given by Jermont under a duress situation, of police coercion and bargaining. In exhange for the false statement saying that he saw another person murder the victim but that he was the driver, Jermont was given a private visit with his girlfriend and was transferred to a different prison. Jermont was manipulated into giving a false statement and because of that statement, he was convicted of murder. The jury was tainted and biased, as one of the jurors was friends with the judge and the district attorney. The DA along with inside help from one of the jurors, were able to manipulate eleven other jurors that Cox should be sentenced to death row for the actions of another man. The juror shared a relationship with all of the prosecuting parties involved and was highly biased, and therefore should have been excluded as a juror. There were three witnesses that could have proved his innocence but the trial attorney did not call on them. On April 11, 1995, the jury found Jermont guilty of two counts of first degree murder. Jermont Cox is an innocent man sitting on death row! The DA and homicide detectives falsified information and tampered with the jury to convict this man of crimes he did not commit. Jermont is a prose poetry writer, a skill he developed as an outlet for feelings and emotions that a man is not supposed to show in prison. Cox also enjoys writing, dancing, music, gardening, sports and home improvement. He dreams to be free, in love, to smell the night air and to be able to provide for his family. Jermont had no adult criminal record prior to his convictions and only two convictions as a youth for receiving stolen property and drugs. Cox has a son who needs love and support and guidance and being in prison on death row, Cox is unable to proide his son with the necessities of life. Cox and his family are victims of a racially biased, vengeful, inhumane, uncivilized, immoral and cruel justice system. Killing is always wrong, whether it is done by an individual or performed by the state in the form of an execution. Neither should be acceptable. Two wrongs don't make a right. Cox was discriminated against due to his race and inadequate legal representation. This man did NOT receive a fair trial and his case must be retried by an impartial and unbiased judge, jury, and DA.
The State of Pennsylvania plans to execute Jermont Cox on July 22, 2010. Please take action now!
Commute the death sentence of Jermont Cox
Greetings, Ed Rendell (Governor of Pennsylvania)
We, the undersigned, together with the family and friends of Jermont Cox, urge Governor Rendell to commute Cox's death sentence.
Cox was convicted of three separate murders in 1995 and received two life sentences and a death sentence. Jermont admitted to killing one man in July of 1992 but claimed it was an accident and at trial, was supposed to argue for self-defense. That same year, in August and November, two more men were killed. Jermont has nothing to do with those murders, yet he currently sits convicted of all three murders on Pennsylvania's death row.
For the August murder, Cox gave police an initial statement saying that he was not involved in that murder and provided police with an alibi. But homicide detectives persisted and offered Cox a private visit with his girlfriend and a promise to be transferred out of the prison he was currently residing in, in exchange for a false confession from Cox: confessing that he witnessed another individual commit the August murder and that he drove the getaway car. The second statement was given by Cox under a duress situation of police coercion. Jermont was manipulated by police. It was not a voluntary statement and is a false confession. This is police misconduct and is unacceptable. This MUST be excluded from evidence. Jermont Cox did not commit this murder.
For the November murder, the evidence against Cox was a questionable statement/confession. The facts police claim Cox provided them with which ultimately lead to his arrest, did not match the timeline and events of the murder. The District Attorney then changed/falsified the facts in Jermont's statement in order to make them match with the murder. This is prosecutorial misconduct and is completely unacceptable. This falsified statement must be disregarded. Jermont Cox is innocent of this murder.
The jury was also tainted and biased in Cox's trial. One of the jurors was friends with the presiding judge and the District Attorney. The DA, along with inside help from that juror, were able to manipulate eleven other jurors into sentencing Cox to death for the actions of another man. This juror shared a relationship with all of the prosecuting parties, which is extremely biased. This juror should have been excluded from jury duty.
Jermont Cox is an innocent man sitting on death row, for two murders which he did not commit. There evidence of his innocence in these murders, is overwhelming and staggering. Information was falsified and the jury was biased and tampered with, in order to convict this man of crimes which he did not commit. Cox has a son who needs his father's love, support and guidance. Jermont Cox and his family are victims of a racially biased, vengeful, inhumane, uncivilized, immoral and completely cruel justice system. Cox was discriminated against due to his race and inadequate legal representation. He did not receive a fair trial which is why his death sentence should be overturned. Killing is always wrong, whether it is done by an individual or performed by the state in the form of an execution.
We sympathize with the family and friends of the three victims in this case, but feel that another death will neither heal not resolve this tragedy and it will not bring peace to the families.
Action petitioned for: We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who urge Governor Rendell to overturn the death sentence of Jermont Cox to life in prison with the chance of parole for the one murder for which he did commit. We appeal to the PA Parole Board and Governor Rendell to grant clemency to Jermont Cox for the other two murders, which he did not commit.
Email Governor Edward Rendell
Dear Governor Rendell,
My name is Brittany and I advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. I urge you to end the execution of Jermont Cox in Pennsylvania on July 22nd. Jermont was convicted for two murders, which he is innocent of. This case involves a false confession from Cox as a result of police manipulation and duress. This was involuntary and must be excluded as evidence. Police also falsifed Cox's statement for the second murder, because his version of events did not match the actual timeline of the murder. This falsified statement must also be disregarded. This case involves police misconduct which is completely unacceptable. It also involved a biased jury as one juror was friends with the presiding Judge. Cox did not receive a fair trial. Jermont Cox is an innocent man sitting on death row. No society should ever take the risk of executing an innocent individual. If you allow this execution to go on, the blood of this innocent man, is on your hands. Please do the right thing and end the execution of Jermont Cox!
I also started a petition on change.org, detailing my arguments even further. I urge you to read it over.
http://criminaljustice.change.org/petitions/view/commute_the_death_sentence_of_jermont_cox
Cox was convicted of three separate murders in 1995 and received two life sentences and a death sentence. Jermont admitted to killing one man in July of 1992 but claimed it was an accident and at trial, was supposed to argue for self-defense. That same year, in August and November, two more men were killed. Jermont has nothing to do with those murders, yet he currently sits convicted of all three murders on Pennsylvania's death row.
For the August murder, Cox gave police an initial statement saying that he was not involved in that murder and provided police with an alibi. But homicide detectives persisted and offered Cox a private visit with his girlfriend and a promise to be transferred out of the prison he was currently residing in, in exchange for a false confession from Cox: confessing that he witnessed another individual commit the August murder and that he drove the getaway car. The second statement was given by Cox under a duress situation of police coercion. Jermont was manipulated by police. It was not a voluntary statement and is a false confession. This is police misconduct and is unacceptable. This MUST be excluded from evidence. Jermont Cox did not commit this murder.
For the November murder, the evidence against Cox was a questionable statement/confession. The facts police claim Cox provided them with which ultimately lead to his arrest, did not match the timeline and events of the murder. The District Attorney then changed/falsified the facts in Jermont's statement in order to make them match with the murder. This is prosecutorial misconduct and is completely unacceptable. This falsified statement must be disregarded. Jermont Cox is innocent of this murder.
The jury was also tainted and biased in Cox's trial. One of the jurors was friends with the presiding judge and the District Attorney. The DA, along with inside help from that juror, were able to manipulate eleven other jurors into sentencing Cox to death for the actions of another man. This juror shared a relationship with all of the prosecuting parties, which is extremely biased. This juror should have been excluded from jury duty.
Jermont Cox is an innocent man sitting on death row, for two murders which he did not commit. There evidence of his innocence in these murders, is overwhelming and staggering. Information was falsified and the jury was biased and tampered with, in order to convict this man of crimes which he did not commit. Cox has a son who needs his father's love, support and guidance. Jermont Cox and his family are victims of a racially biased, vengeful, inhumane, uncivilized, immoral and completely cruel justice system. Cox was discriminated against due to his race and inadequate legal representation. He did not receive a fair trial which is why his death sentence should be overturned. Killing is always wrong, whether it is done by an individual or performed by the state in the form of an execution.
We sympathize with the family and friends of the three victims in this case, but feel that another death will neither heal not resolve this tragedy and it will not bring peace to the families.
Action petitioned for: We, the undersigned, are concerned citizens who urge Governor Rendell to overturn the death sentence of Jermont Cox to life in prison with the chance of parole for the one murder for which he did commit. We appeal to the PA Parole Board and Governor Rendell to grant clemency to Jermont Cox for the other two murders, which he did not commit.
Email Governor Edward Rendell
Dear Governor Rendell,
My name is Brittany and I advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. I urge you to end the execution of Jermont Cox in Pennsylvania on July 22nd. Jermont was convicted for two murders, which he is innocent of. This case involves a false confession from Cox as a result of police manipulation and duress. This was involuntary and must be excluded as evidence. Police also falsifed Cox's statement for the second murder, because his version of events did not match the actual timeline of the murder. This falsified statement must also be disregarded. This case involves police misconduct which is completely unacceptable. It also involved a biased jury as one juror was friends with the presiding Judge. Cox did not receive a fair trial. Jermont Cox is an innocent man sitting on death row. No society should ever take the risk of executing an innocent individual. If you allow this execution to go on, the blood of this innocent man, is on your hands. Please do the right thing and end the execution of Jermont Cox!
I also started a petition on change.org, detailing my arguments even further. I urge you to read it over.
http://criminaljustice.change.org/petitions/view/commute_the_death_sentence_of_jermont_cox
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