WBAI report on Sabo denial of Mumia motion for new trial

From Prison Activist Resource Center, 15 September 1995

WBAI REPORTER: Judge Sabo denied Mumia Abu-Jamal's appeal in which the radio reporter sought to have his conviction overturned and obtain a new trial. This is sort of piece together out of little bulletins that have been coming in a sentence at a time.

This is a quote from District Attorney Lynn Abraham. "We prevailed. We are confident that our evidence will disprove each and every one of the allegations that the defense put forth." That was from William Daval, who is a spokesperson for Lynn Abraham. Abu-Jamal contends he was framed and had an incompetent trial attorney. His death sentence has become a rallying crime for supporters worldwide as everyone who listens to WBAI knows, we have been following the case of Abu-Jamal very closely at WBAI. It has been a major topic of discussion, and we probably devoted more time and attention to his case than any other news station or outlet in the country. We have been, in a good part, responsible, for bringing the wordlwide attention to Mumia's case. I got a call today from a teacher in Rutgers University who assigned her students to listen to WBAI to compare the coverage in the mainstream media and WBAI in the OJ Simpson trial, compared to the Mumia Abu-JAmal case.

AMY GOODMAN: You might say this is a tremendous setback for Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was convicted in 1981 of killing Daniel Faulkner, a Philadelphia police officer. Clearly his case, the first trial he was subjected to, what did Cornell West call it, a "Jim Crow" trial. This is no surprise because Albert Sabo the judge who just issued the refusal to have a new trial for Mumia Abu-Jamal was the judge in the original case. He is the reason that Mumia Abu-Jamal is charging that the trial was unfair. This comes as absolutely no surprise, the lawyers were expecting this and they plan to go onto a higher court to appeal it.

WBAI REPORTER: In some ways, this is probably a relief or break for the defense in this case, as Judge Sabo has not issued rulings in this case so far. He has taken everything under advisement. He hasn't ruled on anything, he hasn't given them anything to appeal, until now. And now, they have something that they can take to a higher court.

AMY GOODMAN: Judge Sabo has rejected Mumia Abu-Jamal's appeal for a new trial, this news just out of Philadelphia. Not a surprise, the lawyers for Mumia, absolutely expected this. They plan to appeal it to a higher court.

Remember this is the judge, Judge Albert Sabo, who many called the prosecutor in robes, who has put more people on death row than any single judge in the country. This is the judge who has trouble staying in the courtroom. At the beginning of this hearing for a rettrial, Judge Sabo would wander out of the room. And wander back in, which would send the court officers into a flurry of activity, because when a judge leaves, you have to shackle the prisoner, who is sitting there. And then Judge Sabo would stroll back in. Sometimes he would be incoherent. Peopl couldn't hear what he was saying. Even the New York Times commented on this. So this is the Judge Sabo who says he conducted a fair trial. This is an indictment of his judicial prowesses. We have to be very clear about this, if he were to grant a new trial.

WBAI REPORTER: This is the same Judge Sabo who was a longtime member of the Fraternal Order of Police which hsa been activeley and vocally lobbying for the execution of Mumia Abu-Jamal.