Mumia: A Case for Reasonable Doubt

Starring:Maureen Faulkner, Danny Faulkner, Mumia Abu-Jamal
Director: John Edginton
Studio: Fox Lorber
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Product Description
America's most "celebrated" death row inmate, former NPR radio journalist, activist and accused cop killer, Mumia Abu-Jamal, speaks on camera for the first time from behind prison walls. Contains new footage not included in the 1996 HBO special

System Requirements:

Runnig Time 74 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE
Amazon.com
Mumia: A Case for Reasonable Doubt joins the likes of The Thin Blue Line, Brother's Keeper, and Paradise Lost in its depiction of a justice system that is sometimes not conscientious about whom it convicts. Mumia Abu-Jamal had been on death row for 14 years at the time this film was made in 1996, following his conviction in the shooting death of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Yet the film makes a persuasive case that events, as told by eyewitnesses whose original statements are claimed to have been either coerced by the police or concocted to please the prosecution, did not unfold the way the investigating officers say they did. A "confession" the police claim they got from Mumia in the hospital (both he and Faulkner were shot) never happened, according to the attending physician who was with Mumia the whole time. Forensic evidence suggests the murder weapon was not the one carried by Mumia, who worked nights as a cab driver, and in any case the weapon had no prints on it. The judge on the case was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and had the largest murder conviction record of any judge in the country. On the other hand, Mumia, formerly a member of the Black Panthers, refuses to give a full account of what happened the night of December 9, 1981, when the murder occurred. The seeds of doubt sowed by this film should be enough to make anyone crave knowing what really happened. --Jim Gay

Average customer rating:

Have always known
This was interesting new material for me in this case
KRS-One "Free Mumia"
Zero stars...Don't support a cop killer
Lack of a "fair" trial does not equal innocence

Mumia: A Case for Reasonable Doubt
Starring: Maureen Faulkner , Danny Faulkner , and Mumia Abu-Jamal
Director: John Edginton
Manufacturer: Fox Lorber
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305228906
Release Date: 1999-02-26

Product Description

America's most "celebrated" death row inmate, former NPR radio journalist, activist and accused cop killer, Mumia Abu-Jamal, speaks on camera for the first time from behind prison walls. Contains new footage not included in the 1996 HBO special

System Requirements:

Runnig Time 74 Min

Format: DVD MOVIE

Amazon.com

Mumia: A Case for Reasonable Doubt joins the likes of The Thin Blue Line, Brother's Keeper, and Paradise Lost in its depiction of a justice system that is sometimes not conscientious about whom it convicts. Mumia Abu-Jamal had been on death row for 14 years at the time this film was made in 1996, following his conviction in the shooting death of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Yet the film makes a persuasive case that events, as told by eyewitnesses whose original statements are claimed to have been either coerced by the police or concocted to please the prosecution, did not unfold the way the investigating officers say they did. A "confession" the police claim they got from Mumia in the hospital (both he and Faulkner were shot) never happened, according to the attending physician who was with Mumia the whole time. Forensic evidence suggests the murder weapon was not the one carried by Mumia, who worked nights as a cab driver, and in any case the weapon had no prints on it. The judge on the case was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and had the largest murder conviction record of any judge in the country. On the other hand, Mumia, formerly a member of the Black Panthers, refuses to give a full account of what happened the night of December 9, 1981, when the murder occurred. The seeds of doubt sowed by this film should be enough to make anyone crave knowing what really happened. --Jim Gay

Customer Reviews:

Have always known.......2006-07-17

The only people who would disagree with this mans story..are those that are a part of the oppressive system of criminal justice..either in Philadelphia or elsewhere.As a current investigator it is easy to see the violations in this case..I can sense the racism and overall lack of fair play as it relates to wanting to keep a voice from being heard..
When one is as articulate as Mumia abu Jamal, it should be easy to understand how and why Pennsylvania wants to kill him..That police officer was killed by his own..and Mumia will be free..that is why he is still alive. gET OVER IT

This was interesting new material for me in this case.......2006-02-27

I found it disturbing to the number of questions about the philadelphia da's office in the proof which would lead to a death penalty sentance

KRS-One "Free Mumia".......2005-10-24

Knowledge, where the people at?
Free Mumia!
Channel Live! (KRS-One, come and represent)
(The wisdom)
Hah hah hah hah hah hahaha!
Free Mumia!
Everywhere I look there's another house negro
Talkin about they people and how they should be equal
They talkin but the conversation ain't goin nowhere
You can't diss hip-hop, so don't you even go there
C. Delores Tucker, you wanna quote the scripture
Everytime you hear nigga, listen up sista
Verse One: Hakim, KRS, Tuffy
I met up with this girl named Delores, a prankster
I said I MC, she said, You're a gangster
But she was caught up, she hit the floor like a breakdance
Wrapped her up like the arms in a b-boy stance
Recognize moms I'm one of your sons I'm hip-hop
in the form of Channel Live and KRS-One
Representin MC's across America
She said, You're the one who be causin all that mass hysteria
Wisdom shall come out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
But you blinded by cultural ignorance and steady judging
But judge not, lest ye may be judged
For the judgment ye judge ye shall surely be judged, you gets no love
She said, I like it, that's why I jock it
Then I said, You only on my back because I fill brother's pockets
Got em drivin Benzes Jeeps and Rolls Royces
Attackin me will leave youth with no voices
The choice is yours not mine hang with me
I'll have you freestyle and bombin graffiti
We can cut it up like like wax
Claimin I cause violence but America was violent before rap, FACT

Chorus: KRS-One
Warner, Elektra, Atlantic equals WEA
Instead of fighting them why don't you go free Mumia
Warner, Elektra, Atlantic equals WEA
Instead of fighting them why don't you go free Mumia

Verse Two: Tuffy, KRS, Hakim
Wild recital, I kicks the vital, like the _Final
Call_ as I watch, Babylon fall
I had to Rush Limbaugh, get that pig with an axe
Tuffy dips to the side, buckin cannons that's phat
Because he censors the uses of the metaphor
You can get the dick bum up
Because it's you that brings the, real horrorcore
Expenditures forgettin, gut from the poor
Why sure! Back before we were born they sold us out
Yeah Dade Jackson we know what you about
Youse a Slave Mason, not a Free Mason
Before long the Goddess Tiamat through hip-hop you'll be facin
Don't start me, cause I be the, lyricist
At the nineteen ninety-nine millenium party held at Giza
Sayin he's a, fraud, oh my Goddess
Never in your life should you disrespect an artist
Instead, focus your attention on astronomy
And the up and coming, shift in the economy
If you can't do that, then heed the final call
To free Mumia, Abu-Jamal
Hate to be so rough, it could be the White Owls
House niggaz are full of crap, like my Colin Powell
Kickin vowels, is how we relieve the tension
Until we start to bounce white people like suspension (revolution)
You paint the pictures, the black man on the corner
But tell me, who blew up Oklahoma?
The City, ain't no pity, for the beast
It's Hakim that voice from the East

Warner, Elektra, Atlantic equals WEA
Instead of fighting them why don't you go free Mumia
Warner, Elektra, Atlantic equals WEA
Instead of fighting them why don't you go free Mumia

Verse Three: KRS, Hakim, Tuffy
Buck buck! Buck buck buck!
It sound like gunshots but it could be the plot
of a chicken, definition, is what you're missin and
listen to your children instead of dissin em
Senator Dole doesn't understand the young people
Like they be sayin want to, but we be sayin wanna
They gettin dumber every summer as they walk the rope
Maybe because they cannot understand the quotes
Word, in actuality, this Norman Bates mentality
always seems to represent, minus three-sixty percent
For degrees full circle, dead from the purple
rays of the sun I gots melanin so check it
Bag your nuts quick or get sick from being naked
Suspect it, was it a means for the end
For just a few to drive the Benz while you eat the pigskins
Turned you into mannequins, cause the trick of technology
A revelation, revalations
Sensation gives me inspiration of revolution
That's my solution, there will be no sequels
I'm audi hundred forty four thousand with my people
From Caligula to Hitler, now it's Schwartzeneggar
A lust for the violence is the science of their behavior
Who enslaved ya (it's the Devil) but the God of virtuosity
And of the world created, could it be mental sodomy
Got my mind twisted like the blades of fonta leaf
I sit in disbelief as he crawls underneath
the rock cock back the glock, cause I don't trust
the Devil I rebel until Babylon is dust

Warner, Elektra, Atlantic equals WEA
Instead of fighting them why don't you go free Mumia
Warner, Elektra, Atlantic equals WEA
Instead of fighting them why don't you go free Mumia

Zero stars...Don't support a cop killer.......2005-03-10

More lies from the Mumia followers. Don't support a convicted murderer by buying this. If you have questions go to www.danielfaulkner.com. Daniel Faulkner was the police officer killed by Mumia.

Lack of a "fair" trial does not equal innocence.......2004-03-19

As a hardcore progressive activist (involved in the peace movement, oppose the death penality, etc.), I've followed the Mumia situation for quite some time. However, I've been troubled, not by the pro-death penality advocates, but by the Pro-Mumia movement itself which has repeatedly relied upon lies and manipulation to make a case for Mumia.

There are claims made in this documentary that don't hold up to scrutiny.

The caliber of the gun "not matching" the murder weapon: This claim is based on a hand written note of the initial doctor who saw Faulkner's body who had very little training in ballistics. Afterwards this doctor retracted his statement and stated quite bluntly that he was just guessing. Those trained in ballistics have stated that the bullet that killed Faulker did indeed come from the gun owned by Mumia. It was in fact Mumia's gun which killed officer Faulkner. Did Mumia pull the trigger? We can't be 100 percent sure.

Mumia's brother has not testified on his behalf nor made ANY - EVER - public statement in defense of Mumia. And Mumia's brother was at the scene of the crime. Mumia activists state that the brother won't come forward because of fear of reprisals. This just doesn't make sense. Mumia has been on death row! Couldn't he make a video statement taped in another country which won't extradite him should there be any ramifications from his actions?

Mumia's confession: Pro-Mumia activists claim that the police officer who quotes Mumia confessing to the killing only came forward months after the fact. The argument is that a confession of this importance should have been reported immediately and that this kind of behavior indicates a possible fabrication given the delay. This seems to make sense on its face. However, there was another witness to this incident. A hospital security guard reported within a day or so that Mumia had confessed to the shooting. Pro-Mumia activists point out that the guard was a "friend" of Faulkner. OK, maybe that creates bias, but the fact of the matter is, the guard's statements destroys the attack on on the delayed police report - because there was no delay. This doesn't mean that no one is lying, of course.

The trial: There is in fact evidence to show that Mumia did not receive a fair trial. However, as pointed out by others, Mumia certainly didn't help his case by being disruptive. The man seemed almost intent upon angering the judge and doing everything possible to have himself removed from the court room.

Eyewitnesses: This is perhaps the most problematic portion of either side. Some say Mumia did it, some say he didn't. Some say there was a running man from the scene of the crime. Just about all the witnesses have ulterior motives and could be dismissed as lacking credibility.

Many people don't realize this, but Faulkner had on his body a driver's license which had not been called into the police department. The obvious conclusion is that this license belonged to a third suspect (Mumia, his brother, and someone else). Tracing this license, the police discovered that it belonged to a man with a solid alibi - but he had loaned it to another man who was a friend of Mumia's brother. Voila. Now you have the "running man." Unfortunately, this man has been dead for many years now, killed in an apparent gang shooting.

So did Mumia do it? And did he receive a fully fair trial? The evidence points straight to Mumia as the shooter. However, none of this means he got a fair trial or that the police didn't lie to make their case.

The problem is, Mumia has come to represent much more than a single event. Progressives of all stripes bring this case up as evidence of police lies and manipulation. This is unfortunate. Mumia's case is not as clear cut as activists make it out to be. Even worse, the constant arguing of his innocence damages the credibility of an entire movement which opposes the death penalty and the rampant racism within the US justice system. More than any other case, Mumia has come to represent to death penalty advocates the overall "lies" of the progressive left.

This documentary only contributes further to the damage.

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