John Thompson and Emily Maw

 John Thompson spent 14 years on death row before evidence came to light that showed he was innocent. It is one of the more bizarre stories to emerge from bungled death penalty cases in the US in recent years. The prosecutor at his original trial knew the foresnsic evidence that would have cleared Thompson was available, but decided to conceal it from the defence. Why would he do that? “Because,” says John, “all he was thinking about was his career.” I listened to John Thompson speak at the annual Life Lines conference last weekend – it was the only time I had ever been moved to tears by a speaker. Yet there was no bitterness in his words, no self-pity in his voice – just a passion to share his experience and to show us why the death penalty is so wrong. Five years after his release he campaigns with the same vigour and determination as ever. Through his organisation Ressurection after Exoneration he provides a voice for other exonerees whilst giving them the support and guidance they need to readjust to life after death row. I felt so privileged to sit on the same platform as John, alongside Life Lines founder Jan Arriens and director of Innocence Project New Orleans, Emily Maw. The Life Lines audience were magnificent in their warm heartedness. I attended the conference expecting to give a little of myself – but came away having gained more than I could have ever anticipated – almost overwhelmed by the sheer abundance of open handed humanity on offer.  (The Book Welcome to Hell: Letters and Writings from Death Row – edited by Jan Arriens is available here.)