My name is Ricardo Marsden. I am a son, brother , friend, uncle, Husband and father to be . I was  baptized in New Jerusalem baptist church and I've been a member since the age of 12. Some of you may know my mother Sandra Weir who has been a member of NJBC for over 15 years. Some of you may know my fiance' Makini Bruce and her beautiful mother the late Rev.Marlyn Hanes Bruce.

I had a promising  future and the potential through the grace of God to be anything that I set my mind to.I had hopes of going to college and dreams of pursuing a carer in business. I must admit that I was not always so perceptive. As smart as I was growing up, I was a stubborn and troubled youth . Because of this I often found myself in bad situations. I got caught up Hanging out with the wrong crowd and even getting suspended from school. No one is perfect ,Jesus said "He who is without sin cast the first stone."We all made mistakes and bad choices in life, however it is the lessons that we learn from our mistakes and how we apply them that defines who we are.  

         

On January 2,2007 Approximately 8 days after turning 18 yrs old , I was arrested for the murder of Peter Jones a man I did not know. Shortly after my arrest , I was coerced by 3 homicide Detectives after 22 hours of a long intense interrogation.These detectives were very cunning, veterans of "IN-TERRO-GATIONS' they deprived me of sleep and food over an extended period of 22 hrs using interrogation "trickery." These detectives knew that the effects of such tactics would make a person more susceptible to coercion. (this is a scientific fact ). Still that wasn't enough, I was beaten and denied a phone call for 18 hours. I was only 18 yrs old . Despite their efforts I never confessed wrote or signed any statements.

I know some of you may watch C.S.I. and other shows, you may even think stuff like  this doesn't happen , believe me it happens more than you think. INNOCENT people go to prison all time. Recently aired was the story of Khaleef Browder, a teen wrongfully accused of stealing a back pack ,who was jailed on Rikers Island for 3 years before finally being released.He committed suicide shortly after.

Aside from D.N.A. evidence used to exonerate the wrongfully convicted , there are many cause where detectives coerced individuals into admitting to crimes they never committed, falsified statements and even lied to secure convictions. Marty Tanklef was accused of killing his parents, coerced into conessing to the crime when in reality he was innocent.after 17 years of incarceration Mr. tanklef was exonerated by D.N.A. evidence and it was suspected that a business acquaintance of the father actually committed the crime.Derrick Hamilton and three others were also exonerated after it was discovered that the same detective who worked on their cases had falsified statements and police reports to secure a conviction.

Wrongful convictions are being exposed more frequently now more than ever. Individuals have been exonerated after serving 10 and even 20 years in prison. What can you say to an innocent man who lost 20 years of his life for a crime he didn't commit?

Some get paid after suing the state fro wrongful imprisonment, but money can never atone for the time stolen.

I,ve been incarcerated for the better part of 10 years, WRONGFULLY CONVICTED! I missed the birth of my little sister, birthdays, graduations, etc. I've  lost my aunt and god mother to cancer. I've lost also lost my Grandparents.Never permitted to attend their funerals. I was unable to attend my Fiance's mothers funeral who was a mentor to me. No amount of money can make up for these things.

There was no eye witnesses, No gun, No D.N.A., No fingerprints, No signed written statements or confessions. the time of death was ruled to be "unknown."I was arrested several months after the victims body was discovered which poses the question of how can i be the perpetrator of a crime  when the courts are unaware of when that crime took place?

On my first appeal the higher courts overturned the jury's decision dismissing the 3 top charges including one of the two murder counts. The courts reasoning was that the prosecutor did not prove that i committed those crimes. The remaining charges should of been dismissed for being legally insufficient, but nothing about this justice (just us ) system is just.

People go to college graduate law school pass the B.A.R exam only to have to p"practice" Law or work in a Law Practice. which brings me to this point. After all those years of studying they have to practice it ? My opinion is due to it's complicated nature, so after years of studying they have to practice it through application of it to gain the basic experience knowing this, the sme court turns around and expect a jury- ordinary working folks - who never studied law much less practiced it to gain enough understanding of it to judge and convict someone.

Case in point : I was convicted of several different charges by a jury. The higher courts than overturned  three of those same  convictions stating that in all actuality the prosecutor failed to prove that i committed those crimes, Which raises the questions: if there was no evidence  produced to substantiate  those  allegations ,what exactly did the jurors base there decision to convict me on ?  

There are many inconsistancies and reasonable doubts in my case, so much that every lawyer who ever looked into my case was shocked that i am incarcerated.

Novo Law Firm along side my attorney Justin Bonus are working with the innocence project to get my conviction overturned. My attorney whole heartedly believes in my innocence so much that  He is also raising an "Actual innocence claim,"

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