SEPTEMBER 2002
www.celtic-connection.com
Page 11
HOLLYWOOD STAR SUPPORTS SCOT'S DEATH ROW APPEAL
EDINBURGH - The Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon has called for the retrial of a Scot on death row in the United States. Kenny Richey, 38, from Edinburgh, was convicted in 1987 of an arson attack which killed a three-year-old girl in Ohio. He has persistently maintained his innocence.
Sarandon, who won the Academy Award for best actress for her role in the anti-capital punishment film Dead Man Walking, made her appeal after being approached while she was appearing in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe with her actor husband, Tim Robbins.
She said new evidence from Richey's defence team created doubts about his conviction. In a statement, she said, "I want to add my voice to the growing campaign to have the whole case reexamined.
"Individuals and organizations as
diverse as His Holiness the Pope, the European Parliament, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Amnesty International believe there is such a 'reasonable doubt' over the conviction that there should, at the very least, be a retrial.
"For the family of the victim of this crime -1 have nothing but the deepest sympathy. I call on the authorities in Ohio...listen to the voices around the world and look again at the details of the case."
Richey, who has always protested his innocence, left Scotland in 1981 to start a new life in America with his father. Weeks before a return visit to the UK in 1986, he was arrested for the murder of toddler Cynthia Collins. He was sentenced to death in 1987 and has been awaiting execution ever since.
The child died in a fire, and although it was acknowledged that
Richey had not intended to harm the child, the prosecutors argued that he started the fire in an attempt to kill his former girlfriend, the child's mother. Richey is adamant that he is innocent and has turned down a plea bargain which could have seen him free. He was issued a stay of execution in 1998 pending further review.
Eileen Richey, 57, Kenny Richey's mother, lives in Dairy, Edinburgh. She last saw her son two years ago and has expressed fears that she may not see her eldest son again due to her own ill-health.
Three years ago, Pope John Paul wrote to the governor of Mansfield Correctional Unit in Ohio asking that Richey be saved from execution. A spokeswoman for Amnesty International said, "We have serious concerns over the case of Kenneth Richey and many other European nationals on death row."
CANMORE HIGHLAND GAMES
'Bonnie' Day Despite Morning Downpour
CANMORE, Alberta - A heavy morning rain descended on participants at the twelfth annual Canmore Highland Games held September 1, but the games flowed right through it. As Chieftain of the Day Sandy Bunch said, "it would been called a 'Bonnie' day according to Scottish standards.
Over 300 Highland dancers, along with 21 pipe bands, and a dozen serious heavy sports competitors showed their stuff, including one sportswoman, Colleen Millar from Acton, Ontario.
Legendary Cape Breton musician John Allan Cameron was given a rousing welcome at the Evening Ceilidh. He performed along with other special guests Scantily Plaid from Hamilton, Ontario.
All three members of the group are artists in their own right, and each compose original music and lyrics. They have been receiving rave reviews and released their first joint CD entitled Just Checking In last year.
JOHN ALLAN CAMERON from Cape Breton Island performed at the annual Canmore Highland Games.
COLLEEN MILLAR of Acton, Ontario was the sole female competitor in the heavy athletic events. photos: Pam Doyle,
The Canmore Leader
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