Krishna Maharaj
Death Row Florida
Conviction 1987: Commuted to Life 2002 – present day
For British
businessman, Krishna, and his wife, Marita, a trip to Florida in
1986 turned into a nightmare. Convicted of the murder of a Jamaican
man and his son and sentenced to death, Krishna has spent the last
22 years in prison.
A BBC news
investigation has uncovered very significant evidence to support
Krishna’s innocence claim. Most of this evidence has not been heard
in court because of Florida’s judicial procedures, which restrict
the admission of evidence not submitted at the original trial. In
2004 a judge refused Krishna’s application for a retrial, saying,
"Newly discovered evidence which goes only to guilt or innocence is
insufficient to warrant relief."
During the initial
trial the judge was arrested for taking bribes and the replacement
judge processed the death penalty order before the guilty verdict
was announced.
In 2002 the death
penalty conviction was commuted to life (50 years) due to
irregularities in the initial trial. In 2008 Krishna lost his final
plea for clemency leaving him to spend his final years in prison.
This despite 300 British politicians sending a petition to State
Governor, Jeb Bush, highlighting the “astonishing flaws” in the case
against him.
Marita devotedly drives immense distances to visit Krishna and I
joined her on one of her fortnightly visits. Meeting Krishna was one
of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Not just because of the walls
of razor wire, the intimidating guards and personal body searches.
Not because of the petty ways that the guards undermine and
humiliate the families but because of his sheer desperation. This
proud, ex-millionaire businessman struggled to hold back his
emotion. He snapped his answers to my questions and his wife’s
platitudes. But gradually over 3 hours he relaxed and told us his
story, eventually even laughing with us over funny incidents in his
past life in England.
Kris told me that even now he could plea-bargain and receive his
freedom in return for confessing his guilt, but he refuses.
Click here to see the next painting ....
