Innocent American Jailed in Nicaragua

[Tickle Fiend]

This guy named Eric Volz was unfairly convicted in Nicaragua of killing his former girlfriend. He was two hours away when the murder took place and there's evidence that proves his innocence, yet he was convicted by a corrupt judicial system. He was given 30 years in jail, the maximum, and he has appeals coming up. The story aired on Dateline this past Sunday. I didn't see it but I watched it on their website and read about it also. Here is the link: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18264642/

Here is a link to a website that was created by his family and friends that provides facts about the case, among other things: http://www.friendsofericvolz.com/

And here is a link to a Myspace page dedicated to his release: http://www.myspace.com/freeericvolz

This story just really pisses me off and I hope justice prevails.

 

[subZer0]

Why is this sort of thing allowed to happen? If we know these systems are corrupt, why won't the government stand up for it's citizens? It makes me furious. Surely, if the evidence was overwhelming and points to innocence, the US has enough clout to say 'fuck you, we want him back'? And actually get their way?

Sorry peeps, it just pisses me off.

 

[Tickle Fiend]

Why is this sort of thing allowed to happen? If we know these systems are corrupt, why won't the government stand up for it's citizens? It makes me furious. Surely, if the evidence was overwhelming and points to innocence, the US has enough clout to say 'fuck you, we want him back'? And actually get their way?

Sorry peeps, it just pisses me off.

He's trying to have the US Embassy look into the parole precedings, but they were saying that there is nothing they can do.

 

[JohnnyB]

Why is this sort of thing allowed to happen? If we know these systems are corrupt, why won't the government stand up for it's citizens? It makes me furious. Surely, if the evidence was overwhelming and points to innocence, the US has enough clout to say 'fuck you, we want him back'? And actually get their way?

Sorry peeps, it just pisses me off.

In fairness, there are people in every country in the world that have been wrongly convicted and sent to prison. If he wasn't American, you'd never of heard of it.The exact same thing happened to an English fella in the US. There was clear evidence that he was nowhere near the crime (think it was killing his wife), yet it was a suppressed and he was sentenced to life.

Shit happens.

 

[Tickle Fiend]

In fairness, there are people in every country in the world that have been wrongly convicted and sent to prison. If he wasn't American, you'd never of heard of it.The exact same thing happened to an English fella in the US. There was clear evidence that he was nowhere near the crime (think it was killing his wife), yet it was a suppressed and he was sentenced to life.

Shit happens.

Yes, but this shit is ridiculous. There's evidence that proves he wasn't there. The media began printing stories saying he did it when he was arrested. Over there it's guilty until proven innocent. Then the judge doesn't believe a dozen or so people who say they saw Eric Volz in a city 2 hours away from where the murder took place. Instead she believes a self-proclaimed drunk who was the first person arrested for the crime, but was promised immunity by the prosecution for his testimony that placed Volz at the scene of the crime. Whenever he was in court there were angry people outside, some with machetes and other weapons, and the police couldn't control them. Eric Volz even had to run for his life once from the angry mob with handcuffs on after he came out of court. There are injustices in court in every country, but you'll never see anything like this in America.

 

[subZer0]

Yes, but this shit is ridiculous.

I concur.

In most civilised countries, my friend, you don't see this happen. Yeah, I know people are sent down wrongly, but at least those systems aren't corrupt, and the defendant has a fair trial.

 

[JohnnyB]

Yeah, I know people are sent down wrongly, but at least those systems aren't corrupt, and the defendant has a fair trial.

Bush. Iraq.


All systems are corruptable. It's a terrible thing and I hope that Voltz gets justice.

But remember that there is also another side of the story. There was a Liverpool football fan who was sent to prison for attacking a man in, I think Turky, after a football match. There were many witnesses who say that the guy was no where near the scene, but under scrutiny, it turned out that none of the so called witnesses could be believed or even verified. There was uproar in England, because they just assumed Turkey was a backward country with no morals, but from all the evidence, it really looked like the guy was guilty.

Basically, my point is, Voltz could be guilty. None of us were there and we can't know for sure. A Us citizen sent to prison for life in a foreign country is a good news story. Don't put 100% faith in what you see. If it happened on 9/11 then you'd never have heard the name Voltz.

 

[subZer0]

Bush. Iraq.


All systems are corruptable. It's a terrible thing and I hope that Voltz gets justice.

But remember that there is also another side of the story. There was a Liverpool football fan who was sent to prison for attacking a man in, I think Turky, after a football match. There were many witnesses who say that the guy was no where near the scene, but under scrutiny, it turned out that none of the so called witnesses could be believed or even verified. There was uproar in England, because they just assumed Turkey was a backward country with no morals, but from all the evidence, it really looked like the guy was guilty.

Basically, my point is, Voltz could be guilty. None of us were there and we can't know for sure. A Us citizen sent to prison for life in a foreign country is a good news story. Don't put 100% faith in what you see. If it happened on 9/11 then you'd never have heard the name Voltz.

I think those systems are less corrupt than maybe you think. Back in the fifties, yeah, very corrupt. But you said corruptable - every system is corruptable. not every system is corrupt. And I believe our systems are far less corrupt than others.

 

[Babbles]

Not acceptable.

For a while our system *was less corrupt than others...

And it is unspeakable that this happens ANYWHERE, and how easily it can happen if someone really wants to frame you...

Or if people just can't be bothered, are too comfortable, don't care
and/or are politically inconvenienced.

Our jails have far too many innocents in them here as well, convicted circumstantially
--- And if they're poor, or everyday middle class for the most part, no one knows the difference, as someone stated.

The fact that all sorts of assaults occur -- and are *expected to occur -- in our prison system is anathema.
---No one should equate jail with rape by other inmates, for instance.

We just assume it's part of the sentence, which is totally unacceptable. "Cruel & unusual."
ANY SHIT is intolerable.

Thankfully this guy has a loud support system of family & friends --Hopefully this outrageously corrupt Bush administration will be forced to act on his behalf (nevermind the thousands of innocents they've locked up & tortured...).

 

[lespieds]

Why in the hell do people date people from other countries?

I for one would never trust that a relationship with some woman who is not American wold ge well. And this guy was fucking around with some woman in a place like nicaragua?

I mean I cannot even imagine being in prison in a country that is not mine.

How do people just get accused of something they did not do? I imagine most prisoners say they did not do it, but how do genuinely innocent people get accused and convicted.

 

[Tickle Fiend]

Why in the hell do people date people from other countries?

I for one would never trust that a relationship with some woman who is not American wold ge well. And this guy was fucking around with some woman in a place like nicaragua?

I mean I cannot even imagine being in prison in a country that is not mine.

How do people just get accused of something they did not do? I imagine most prisoners say they did not do it, but how do genuinely innocent people get accused and convicted.

I think the fact that he was a successful American living in their country, dating a pretty girl is what most of this stems from. They referred to him as the "gringo," which is a foreigner. And it's not like he was going to marry the girl. At the time of her murder they were basically broken up and she told him that she met someone else. Not like he thought they would be together forever.

 

[JohnnyB]

Why in the hell do people date people from other countries?

I for one would never trust that a relationship with some woman who is not American wold ge well. And this guy was fucking around with some woman in a place like nicaragua?

Are you trolling or stupid? Do you ask for a complete family tree for any prospective partner to make sure they're full blooded Americans?

 

[lespieds]

Do you ask for a complete family tree for any prospective partner to make sure they're full blooded Americans?

Shit no but to go messing around with some hot woman in a country that someone is not from is just asking for problems. They probably felt the same way that a lot of guys do when we see some beautiful american woman with some gross immigrant.