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Man freed, case dropped in deadly 1994 stabbing of NYC woman
New York: A New York man’s conviction was cleared after he spent more than a quarter-century behind bars for a deadly robbery, with prosecutors acknowledging witnesses against him – including a 10-year-old boy – weren’t reliable.
Jaythan Kendrick, 62, walked out of a Queens courthouse Thursday, free for the first time since his arrest in the November 1994 death of Josephine Sanchez, a 70-year-old woman who was stabbed twice in the back.
‘I´m very, very happy today because I never thought this would happen, although I hoped and wished that it would,’ Kendrick, 62, told the court.
‘I´ve just known one thing for the last 25 years: I did not commit this crime,’ he said. ‘Nobody really understands what it is to be in prison when you are innocent, and you know you´re innocent, and you´re behind that wall.’
Queens Justice Joseph Zayas apologized to Kendrick for what he called a ‘monumental’ miscarriage of justice.
‘It took way, way too long to discover, and you, sir, deserve better than that,’ the judge said as he overturned Kendrick’s murder conviction and dismissed the case. ‘We failed you.’
Kendrick, an Army veteran and former postal carrier who is also known legally as Ernest Kendrick, had been serving a sentence of 25 years to life after being convicted of fatally stabbing Sanchez in 1995 at the Ravenswood Houses in Queens.
His conviction rested mainly on the testimony of the 10-year-old – who had looked out at the crime scene from a third-floor window and identified Kendrick as the man he saw running away – and a second witness, a man who said he saw Kendrick running past him with a purse.
A black handbag was later found by police while searching Kendrick’s apartment, which he was sharing with a woman at the time, the New York Post reported.
But recent DNA testing – which wasn’t done at the time of the trial – showed there was none of the victim’s DNA on the purse, contradicting the idea that the bag belonged to her. Tests also found another man’s DNA, not Kendrick’s, under Sanchez’s fingernails.
The now-grown child witness, who had initially picked someone else out of a lineup, recanted his later identification of Kendrick in recent years. He admitted that he wasn’t able to see the suspect clearly enough to identify him at the time of the incident.
Kendrick’s lawyers raised doubts about the veracity of the second witness, noting that the witness had two pending criminal cases and incentive to give police the testimony they needed to arrest Kendrick, Freidman said.
Additionally, four other witnesses have since emerged with accounts that conflicted with the second witnesses’ testimony.
‘This is a textbook case of wrongful conviction exposing the worst flaws in our system,’ said Susan Friedman, Kendrick’s lawyer with the Innocence Project, which worked on his case with the WilmerHale law firm.
Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz said prosecutors now believe jurors would probably have acquitted Kendrick if they had heard all the evidence that’s now available.
In one of her first moves when she took office this past January, Katz created a Conviction Integrity Unit to review wrongful-conviction claims, and Kendrick’s soon became one of them.
‘This case is a prime example of why the CIU exists,’ she said in a statement Thursday.
Katz’s predecessor, Queens DA Richard Brown, had refused to consider the new evidence and insisted on Kendrick’s guilt. Brown died in 2019.
‘Too many police and prosecutors remain focused on securing and maintaining convictions at all costs,’ WilmerHale attorney Ross Firsenbaum said, while praising Katz’s office, according to the New York Post.
Firsenbaum donated his time to the Innocence Project to work on Kendrick’s wrongful conviction case.
Kendrick’s cousin, Clarence Hughes, spent the past 25 years advocating for Kendrick’s innocence, writing to the FBI, the Queens DA and ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’
‘The family is elated … Jaythan lost a lot of his family,’ Hughes said.
Hughes said that Kendrick’s mother and sister died while he was incarcerated, adding that ‘We don’t have that many of the family left.’
Kendrick told reporters that he was looking forward to a good meal now that he’s free – ‘Shrimp, flounder, lobster, crab, any of that’ – and said he’s looking forward to traveling and catching up on technology and other things he’s missed in prison.
‘As I was told, there´s a whole new world out there,’ he told reporters. ‘OK, let’s go.’
Kendrick’s advice to anyone who might find themselves in a similar situation as he was in, back in 1994, was: ‘I would tell them to ask for a lawyer, don’t say one word.’
He added that, ‘I trusted them, I trusted the police, I trusted they’d do the right thing and see that I was innocent. That was my mistake.’
As millions of Americans look forward to celebrating the joy of the Christmas season with family and friends, inmates across the country face the painful reality that they will spend it alone. Yet, one Virginia prison ministry is looking to spread a little cheer to the thousands locked up behind bars to let them know that Jesus loves them and they are not forgotten.
Good News Global, formerly Good News Jail & Prison Ministry, is hand-delivering 65,000 Hope Packs globally to men and women behind bars in 18 states and 20 countries this Christmas.
The Hope Packs include a Christmas gift, card, 2025 calendar, food, hygiene items, and the Gospel message.
For some, it is their first time receiving a gift like this. For others, it is the first time they will hear about Jesus.
For the past three years, Good News Global has given inmates a “Christmas Hope” package in the days before Christmas.
“Hope Packs represent our greatest outreach to incarcerated persons ever,” said Jon Evans, president of Good News Global. “This Christmas, we will put hope in the hands of 65,000 receptive inmates. We believe that everyone has inherent worth in the eyes of God, and providing Hope Packs is a practical and tangible way to demonstrate that to the inmates and jail and prison staff members.”
The packs are assembled by volunteers, including individuals in local churches and jail administrators who are within the locations of the participating 150 jails and prisons.
Volunteers with the organization preach the gospel to over 400,000 incarcerated men, women, and young people, helping people of all faith backgrounds cope with life in jail.
“Your life is essentially over (in jail),” Chaplain Joe Kelty previously told CBN News. “If ever there was a time that you would turn to God, it’s probably when you’re going through something like that.”
“One of the most moving parts of the job is when an inmate finds out that a loved one has died on the outside,” Kelty added. “And here they are in jail, and they can’t be with their family. That’s some of the more difficult conversations but also the most meaningful.”
In the U.S., chaplains serve as the religious program coordinator for each prison facility. In addition, they are responsible for pastoral care, facilitation and accommodation of religious requests, coordination of clergy visits, and a host of other personal ministry activities.
Internationally, chaplains extend ministry to ex-inmates and families of inmates, providing emergency aid such as soap, detergent, toilet paper, lotion, food, and more.
Good News Global started distributing 500 “Hope Packs” in 2021 after a formerly incarcerated Chaplain remembered receiving a Hope Pack while incarcerated in Illinois.
Chaplain Richard Van Arsdale reached out to Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago to find out the contents of Hope Pack. They graciously opened the door to a partnership that has grown each year.
In 2022, Good News Global distributed 50,000 Hope Packs, and in 2024, it will distribute 65,000 worldwide.
“I want to say thank you so much for your Christmas bag and prayers,” one inmate wrote to the ministry.
“I have been a strong believer in God my entire life, but just last night, I was actually cussing the Lord. I almost had given up. I told him to show me a sign today or I feel like I couldn’t believe anymore,” the inmate explained.
“Then I read the card that a Good News Global volunteer gave me from the Hope Pack and it touched my heart so much I started to cry,” the inmate shared. “To hear and think that someone was thinking of me and praying for me helped me so much.”
More than 11 million people are incarcerated globally and Hope Packs is providing the opportunity to bring a gift and the gospel to inmates at Christmas–one of the loneliest seasons for those incarcerated.
“We believe that every person has inherent worth in God’s eyes and has a plan for each individual that can only be fully secured through faith in Him,” the ministry shared.
Sources:CBN News
us news
After Banning ‘Jesus Signs’ in Violation of Federal Law, HOA Reverses Course in Victory for Homeowner
The ACLJ took action against a homeowners association (HOA) in Texas after it informed our client that religious yard signs are not permitted even though the HOA permits various nonreligious yard signs.
Our client initially had a sign in her front yard and a banner in the backyard. The sign stated, “Pray for America,” and the banner stated, “Jesus is Our Only Hope.” Shortly after our client put up the sign and banner, she received a violation notice from the HOA that demanded our client “Remove ALL ‘Jesus’ signs—they are not allowed.”
Our client thought she had been told to remove the signs because the banner was too large and did not meet the HOA size requirements for signs. So, our client sought approval for the sign and banner with the HOA’s Architectural Review Committee (ARC). The ARC came back and stated the signs were political and asked if they met the size requirements. Given that the banner did not meet the size requirements, the client then purchased a smaller yard sign with the same message. Once again, she sought the ARC’s approval. This time the ARC came back and stated that the signs were not approved political signs.
Our client then sought clarification from a member of the ARC and learned that the true intention behind the denial was the religious content on the signs. The committee member told our client that religious signs are not on the list of allowed signs, thus admitting that other signs are permitted but religious signs are prohibited. The committee member also failed to mention that the committee has the discretion to approve signs that are not on the typical list of approved signs.
We fired off a demand letter informing the HOA of our client’s rights under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). Despite what many homeowners associations think, they cannot prohibit religious signs while allowing nonreligious signs.
As we explained in our letter, the FHA makes it illegal “[t]o discriminate against any person in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling, or in the provision of services or facilities in connection therewith, because of … religion.” Courts have also emphasized individuals are protected from discrimination before and after they acquire the property, including governance by HOAs. The FHA therefore prohibits HOAs from applying rules to an owner’s use of their property in a manner that discriminates against their religion.
Here, the HOA did just that. Various signs are permitted around the neighborhood, but our client’s signs were prohibited specifically because they are religious. Moreover, the committee had the discretion to approve other signs but specifically prohibited our client’s signs based on their religious content.
Because of this violation of federal law, we demanded the HOA cease all discrimination and allow our client to display religious signs. We were prepared to take further legal action if the HOA did not comply. However, shortly after the HOA received our demand letter, it reversed course. Our client received written assurances that she will be permitted to display her religious signs and that no further enforcement action will occur.
Learn more about your rights regarding homeowner associations and housing complexes in our Know Your Rights resource. If you have experienced religious discrimination by your HOA, the ACLJ may be able to help. Please contact us at ACLJ.org/HELP.
Sources:BREAKING CHRISTIAN NEWS
ന്യൂഡല്ഹി : ഇന്ത്യക്കാരായ വിദ്യാര്ഥികള്ക്ക് അനുവദിച്ച യുഎസ് വീസ ഈ വര്ഷം ഗണ്യമായി കുറഞ്ഞു. ജനുവരി മുതല് സെപ്റ്റംബര് വരെ 64,008 വീസയാണ് അനുവദിച്ചത്. 2023ല് സമാന കാലയളവില് ഇത് 1,03,495 ആയിരുന്നു.
വിദ്യാര്ഥികള്ക്കുള്ള എഫ്1 വീസ 2021 ല് സമാന കാലയളവില് 65,235 ആയിരുന്നു. 2022 ല് ഇതു 93,181 ആയിരുന്നുവെന്നും രേഖകള് വ്യക്തമാക്കുന്നു. കോവിഡ് വ്യാപിച്ച 2020 ലെ ആദ്യ 9 മാസത്തില് 6646 എഫ്1 വീസയാണ് ഇന്ത്യക്കാര്ക്ക് അനുവദിച്ചിരുന്നത്. യുഎസില് ഉപരിപഠനം നടത്തുന്നവര്ക്കു വേണ്ടിയുള്ള നോണ് ഇമിഗ്രന്റ് വിഭാഗത്തില്പെട്ടതാണ് എഫ്1 വീസ.
ചൈന ഉള്പ്പെടെയുള്ള രാജ്യങ്ങളിലെ വിദ്യാര്ഥികള്ക്ക് അനുവദിച്ച വീസയിലും കുറവുണ്ടെങ്കിലും ഇത്ര വലുതല്ല. ഈ വര്ഷം ആദ്യത്തെ 9 മാസത്തില് 73,781 എഫ്1 വീസയാണു ചൈനീസ് വിദ്യാര്ഥികള്ക്ക് അനുവദിച്ചത്. കഴിഞ്ഞ വര്ഷമിത് 80,603 ആയിരുന്നുവെന്നും ബ്യൂറോ ഓഫ് കോണ്സുലര് അഫയേഴ്സിന്റെ വെബ്സൈറ്റില് വ്യക്തമാക്കുന്നു.
Sources:nerkazhcha
UPF ഷൊർണ്ണൂർ,ഏകദിന യുവജന സമ്മേളനം ഡിസം: 21 ന്
ഷൊർണ്ണൂർ യു.പി. എഫിൻ്റെ ആഭിമുഖ്യത്തിൽ ഏകദിന യുവജന സമ്മേളനം ഡിസം: 21 ന് ശനിയാഴ്ച രാവിലെ 9 മണി മുതൽ വൈകിട്ട് 4 മണി വരെ ചെറുതുരുത്തി...
Good News Global Gives ‘Hope Packs’ and the Gospel to 65,000 Inmates Worldwide
As millions of Americans look forward to celebrating the joy of the Christmas season with family and friends, inmates across...
After Banning ‘Jesus Signs’ in Violation of Federal Law, HOA Reverses Course in Victory for Homeowner
The ACLJ took action against a homeowners association (HOA) in Texas after it informed our client that religious yard signs...
ജനുവരി മുതല് സെപ്റ്റംബര് വരെ ഇന്ത്യന് വിദ്യാര്ഥികള്ക്ക് യുഎസ് അനുവദിച്ചത് 64,008 വീസ
ന്യൂഡല്ഹി : ഇന്ത്യക്കാരായ വിദ്യാര്ഥികള്ക്ക് അനുവദിച്ച യുഎസ് വീസ ഈ വര്ഷം ഗണ്യമായി കുറഞ്ഞു. ജനുവരി മുതല് സെപ്റ്റംബര് വരെ 64,008 വീസയാണ് അനുവദിച്ചത്. 2023ല് സമാന...
നൈജീരിയയിൽ ക്രൈസ്തവ കൂട്ടക്കൊല തുടരുന്നു; 19 പേരെ കൊലപ്പെടുത്തി
നൈജീരിയയിലെ പ്ലാറ്റോ സ്റ്റേറ്റിൽ ഫുലാനി തീവ്രവാദികൾ 19 പേരെ കൊലപ്പെടുത്തി. മുൻപ് തീവ്രവാദികൾ തട്ടിക്കൊണ്ടുപോയ വ്യക്തിയും അതിൽ ഉൾപ്പെടുന്നു. ഡിസംബർ ഒന്നിനാണ് ആക്രമണങ്ങൾ നടന്നത്. ഫുലാനി തീവ്രവാദികളെന്നു...
‘Always in Prayer’: Ronald Reagan’s Son Explains Father’s Beliefs About Faith and Church
President Ronald Reagan made an indelible impact on America — and his family. His son, Michael Reagan, recently told CBN...
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