COURT STAYS ZOLO'S EXECUTION DATE
On October 12, 2000, the Indiana Supreme Court granted Zolo Agona Azania leave to file his post-conviction petition alleging that his conviction was the result of perjured eye-witness testimony by a critical prosecution witness and stayed his October 25th execution date.
Fifteen years after his original trial, in the course of preparation of a court-ordered retrial limited to the issue of punishment, the main prosecution witness in the original trial admitted under oath that he had lied when he made an in-court identification of Zolo as the man he saw throw a weapon and wig into the bushes during a police chase after robbing a bank and killing a police officer. The witness admitted for the first time that prior to his entering the courtroom to testify, a police officer working with the prosecution told him exactly where Zolo was sitting in the courtroom and how he was dressed. Without this information, he would not have been able to make an identification. This testimony was consistent with other evidence uncovered after Zolo's trial which showed witness-coaching and coercion, as well as suppression and destruction of evidence. It also supports Zolo's claim that he was targeted for the death penalty because of his political activities for self-determination for Black people in the United States.
The Indiana Supreme Court order allows Zolo to put forward his claims before the trial court, but also directs the trial court to rule on these claims by February 12, 2001, an extremely expedited schedule which threatens Zolo's ability to fully put forward his evidence of misconduct. As to the other claims raised by Zolo which arise out of his retrial and include the systematic exclusion of Black jurors and the denial of effective assistance of counsel, the Supreme Court's order states that they are still under consideration. Supporters are asked to continue to write or call (317) 232-2550, the Indiana Supreme Court, Indianapolis, IN 46204.