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Frame-Up of Lawton Clear in Third Trial

By VVAW

The third trial of Gary Lawton, a Black community organizer and VVAW/WSO member, began in late February in Riverside, California. Lawton is accused of the "ambush" slayings of tow riverside police officer in April, 1971. Two previous trial, both ending in hung juries, and three lie detector test have failed to establish Lawton's involvement in the shooting, but they have shown that the government will resort to any slimey tactics to obtain a conviction--resorting to lies, bribes, and physical attacks to create the string of farces known as the prosecution's so-called "case" in the 3 trials of Gary Lawton. To date, the government has spent over 3 million dollars on this and two other futile attempts to frame Gary Lawton, Zurebu Gardner and Nehemiah Jackson. During the first two trials charges were dropped against Gardner and Jackson for a "lack of evidence." This, only after the three men had spent nearly 2 years in jail awaiting trial.

On March 6th, the prosecution began its case against Gary Lawton after Ronald Smith, the prosecutor, was exposed for jury tampering in late February during jury selection. No new evidence of any significance was introduced by the prosecution in this third trial; it has put forth the same lies that the government has fruitlessly maintained throughout the first two trials.

In the week of April 21, the defense called a series of witnesses, mostly police officer, with whom the defense has established a time framework that clearly proves that Gary Lawton could not have been present at the scene of the shooting nor could the Riverside cop, Officer Lund who is the chief witness for the prosecution. Other witnesses have been summoned by the defense to expose the lies this railroading of Gary Lawton is based upon.

One recent development in the trial occurred on April 21st when the prosecutor, Ronald Smith, and one of the court reporters were discovered attempting to alter Officer Lund's description of the crime in the trial transcripts in an effort to get his lies from previous testimony to match those in his current story. To the surprise of no one, the judge of Lawton's case, Ed Siederly, refused to take action on this event, another outrage in the history of Gary Lawton's struggle.

The defense is expected to rest its case in early May and the trial is expected to last until June. After exposing to the people the lies, underhanded tricks, and blatant racism of the government, the Riverside Political Prisoners Defense Committee feels very optimistic about the possibility of a complete acquittal for Gary Lawton. The RPPDC and VVAW/WSO have continually built support for the trials by demonstrations, leafleting, petition campaigns and providing physical support at the trials on a daily basis.

The struggle of Gary Lawton and RPPDC members has been a continual fight since May, 1971 when Gary was arrested in connection with the shooting. In the three years that VVAW/WSO has been working with the trial of Gary Lawton, the understanding has grown that only through the unity and solidarity of people across the country and around the world will be able to free Gary and all political prisoners. The power lies with the masses of people and not with the courts, cope or ruling class. FREE GARY LAWTON--FREE US ALL!!

Contributions and messages of solidarity should be sent to: RPPDC, P.O. Box 244, Riverside, California 92502.