a986: Press Release: Haitian Coalition Calls On U.S. Attorney's Office to Examine All Options for Retrial of Officers (fwd)

[Bob Corbett <corbetre@webster.edu>]

From: Dina Paul Parks <DPParks@nchr.org>

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

				Contact:  Dina Paul Parks
				      212-337-0005

Haitian Coalition Calls on U.S. Attorney's Office to examine ALL options for
Retrial of Officers
in Louima Case

NEW YORK, February 28, 2002 -- The National Coalition for Haitian Rights
(NCHR) is deeply troubled by the decision taken today by the 2nd U.S.
Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn the convictions of former New York City
police officers Charles Schwarz, Thomas Wiese and Thomas Bruder.  These
officers, along with Justin Volpe, whose conviction was not affected by
today's ruling, were convicted for the torture of Haitian immigrant Abner
Louima inside a Brooklyn Police precinct bathroom in August 1997.

NCHR is urging the U.S Attorney Alan Weingard, whose office prosecuted the
officers, to probe the ruling thoroughly to determine if there is sufficient
evidence or opportunity to retry the case.  In the event that there is not,
his office should explain to the Haitian community and the public at large
how their case unraveled under scrutiny from the appellate courts.  More
importantly, the U.S Attorney's office needs to explain what steps they will
take to ensure that cases like the Louima incident are successfully
prosecuted and upheld in the future.

"This ruling re-opens deep wounds in our community," added Ms. Paul Parks.
"We need some answers, and we need to be reassured that what seems to be a
pattern of the miscarriage of justice - Amadou Diallo, Patrick Dorismond and
Georgy Louisgene among them - will not amount to a wholesale culture of
impunity for the NYPD."

NCHR is also concerned that this decision has the potential of destroying
the progress that has been painstakingly made in dialogues started between
the police department and the community.   This decision presents yet
another unfortunate opportunity for the new Bloomberg administration and
Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly to reach out and explain what they believe
are the long-term implications of this ruling for relations between the
Haitian community and the NYPD.

NCHR is also appealing to the Haitian community to remain calm and allow the
justice system to take its full course.

_______________________________

Dina Paul Parks
Acting Director
National Coalition for Haitian Rights
275 Seventh Avenue, 17th Floor
New York, NY 10001
ph:  212-337-0005
fx:  212-741-8749
email:  dpparks@nchr.org
www.nchr.org