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Leonard Coleman: Alabama Man Serving Life For Murder Fighting For Exoneration

Leonard Coleman was found guilty of murdering Kimberly Mixon in Mobile County, Alabama in December 2011 . He says the jury got it wrong and a new revelation may help his case.

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Leonard Coleman was convicted of murder but says he's innocent
Leonard Coleman

Leonard Coleman was found guilty of murdering Kimberly Mixon in Mobile County, Alabama on December 9, 2011.

Mixon, 36, was killed in December 2010 after an intruder entered her home, fatally shooting the woman.

Authorities said Coleman was the intruder who killed Mixon, the mother of his young son. That son, a then vulnerable 4-year-old, was the only witness to the crime and whose testimony would ultimately convict his father.

Leonard Coleman’s case

Authorities built a case around what the child said he witnessed and phone records that raised a few questions.

Prosecutors said Coleman called Mixon incessantly and lashed out in a fit of rage after Mixon denied his advances. Their relationship was done and she only wanted to co-parent. But authorities said Coleman didn’t want to accept that.

After Mixon was murdered, phone records show Coleman never called her again, leading prosecutors to surmise he knew she was dead, because he killed her.

But Coleman vehemently denies those claims saying he and Mixon were on good terms. That fateful day, he dropped off his son and never heard from the mother of his child again. Much to his surprise, he was now a prime murder suspect.

Leonard Coleman believes he was framed

During the course of the investigation, Coleman believes he was framed for a few reasons.

One, he claims a detective during interrogations told him “he would make the charges stick and he would become another Black statistic”. Two, he was the only person pursued in the case. Three, his defense claims the 4-year-old was coached and often repeated words due to a speech and developmental disability.

Witness testimony

During trial, the defense attorney for Coleman called in an expert witness to explain the child’s condition.

Kelli Rigney-Wolfe, a speech pathologist who worked with the boy for several months during the case, challenged the accuracy of a transcript of the child’s interview that officials provided the jury. She also testified that the boy appeared to exhibit signs during the interviews of a speech defect known as echolalia, a condition in which a person repeats words or phrases he has heard without any genuine understanding of their meaning.

Rigney-Wolfe ascertained that those mistakes could be evidence of the child’s speech problems.

During the interviews, when an officer asked the child if his brother or sister was in the house at the time of the shooting. He answered “yes” both times, although he was alone when police arrived.

“Looking at this transcript, it’s just an automatic response for him,” Rigney-Wolfe testified.

Throughout the tapes, the child is difficult to understand. At some points, his language is just unintelligible, reports AL.com. Rigney-Wolfe told jurors that such “jargon speech,” or gibberish, is another characteristic of his condition.

Jurors also saw a videotaped phone call that Coleman made in custody to his uncle. During that call, Coleman denied wrongdoing. “They’re trying to frame me,” he said on the call.

Based on the speech pathologist’s testimony, the defense argued the child’s testimony was simply not good enough.

But the defense’s position didn’t stick. A majority all white jury believed the child and convicted Coleman of murder on December 09, 2011. On January 5, 2012, he was sentenced to life in prison and is serving his time at St. Clair Correctional facility in Alabama.

Fighting for an exoneration

Leonard Coleman has been fighting for more than 10 years to clear his name of murder. He did it before after being charged in 2017 for a rape officials said happened in 2003. He represented himself and was acquitted of all charges. Can he do it again?

Outside of the prison walls, his wife has been on a crusade to prove his innocence. “There are just too many holes in this story,” said Mrs. Coleman.

Mrs. Coleman started a campaign on social media for Leonard’s defense.  She has successfully amassed more than 17,000 signatures on change.org and is speaking to anyone she can to get their voice heard.

They are fighting and a new revelation may help Leonard’s case.

In 2020, two men came to Leonard’s uncle and said the real perpetrator confessed to them of carrying out the murder. On October 26, 2020, they put their official testimonies on file, with M and M Investigations.

But there’s a dilemma, the alleged confessor is dead after taking his own life.

Despite this, the evidence was filed with the Mobile County Circuit Court, under District Attorney Ashley Rich, on April 20, 2021.

Rich filed a motion on August 10, 2021 to have the new evidence dismissed as hearsay. However, a judge denied the state’s motion and an evidentiary hearing will take place on July 29, 2022.

It is a beacon of hope for Leonard who just can’t comprehend why he’s behind bars for a crime he says he didn’t commit.

In 2021, in a two hour interview with FairPlay, Coleman recounts what he says what happened that day. It’s a striking tale, if you’re willing to listen.

No matter your position or what you believe, it’s still the responsibility for our justice system to seek the truth.

There are thousands of innocent people sitting in prison for crimes they didn’t commit, and everyday we see people, especially Black men, exonerated.

The Colemans believe that’s the case here and are speaking out to get their voice heard.

Mrs. Coleman sat down with Unheard Voices, speaking candidly on the case and the plight towards exonerating Leonard.

Check out the video:


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Unheard Voices is an award-winning news magazine that started in 2004 as a local Black newsletter in the Asbury Park, Neptune, and Long Branch, NJ areas to now broaden into a recognized Black online media outlet. They are the recipient of the NAACP Unsung Hero Award and CV Magazine's Innovator Award for Best Social Justice Communications Company.

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Interviews

Meet Singer TruSoul Davis

As an up & coming artist hailing from Cleveland, Ohio’s Morris Black housing projects, TruSoul Davis is adamant to keep love in music.

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TruSoul Davis
TruSoul Davis

As an up & coming singer hailing from Cleveland, Ohio’s Morris Black housing projects, TruSoul Davis discovered his affinity for music at a young age, singing in local choirs in his youth.

TruSoul Davis discovers his voice

In his later years, he began to take music more seriously, honing in on his gifts and finding his voice. TruSoul Davis went on to release multiple singles leading up to his first major release “The Tru Experience” to widespread local & international (UK) acclaim.

After a short promotional tour that included various radio station visits & shows such as “The FreeThinkers Tour”, “Indie Acoustic Soul Live” & “Song Wars 5” to name a few, TruSoul looks to make an impact in the R&B scene by “Bringing real R&B back”, as he says.

Unheard Voices had a chance to ask TruSoul Davis some questions on his journey.

Get to know the soul singer below and see why he’s Unheard Voices featured artist of the month.

Unheard Voices: When did you fall in love with music?
TruSoul Davis: At a very young age, probably about 5 years old. I can remember back when my mother used to bring home records from her job at the local record shop and let me just “dive” deep into her collection from artists like Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Al Green, etc.

Unheard Voices: How would you describe your style of music?
TruSoul Davis: Simply a touch of 90’s RnB with today’s twist.

Unheard Voices: What is the meaning behind your name?
TruSoul Davis: My name came from me and a friend of mine listening to music. I started to sing the song we were listening to with a lil bit more sauce then my friend was like ” man you sang that with some true soul ” so I just dropped the “e” and put it together.

Unheard Voices: What does your work aim to say?
Trusoul Davis: With my music, I sing songs to the hearts of women and the minds of men showing the up’s and downs of love and life, good and bad, and just trying to keep ” love” in music because we need it.

Unheard Voices: What or who have the greatest musical influences on you and your music?
TruSoul Davis: There are just too many to name. I can name a few to keep it brief; artists like Luther Vandross, Donny Hathaway, Johnny Gill, Dave Hollister, Michael Jackson just to name some ALL PLAY A GREAT PART IN MY MUSIC.

Unheard Voices: What has been the biggest challenge you have encountered during your journey with music?
TruSoul Davis: The biggest challenge I have encountered is being my own worst critic, and just trusting the process.

Unheard Voices: Where do you see yourself musically in five years?
TruSoul Davis: I can’t say but what I will say is “where ever hard work and consistency gets me”

Unheard Voices: What is next in the works for TruSoul Davis?
TruSoul Davis: Dropping a video to my latest single “Wildflower” ft my homie Big Trip. Shout out my shooter Logan Kyngston also some big shows coming this summer.

Unheard Voices: What do you like to do in your free time (outside of music)?
TruSoul Davis: Outside of music I love spending time with loved ones, working out, and doing something proactive for those around me friends and strangers alike.

Unheard Voices: In closing, I would like for you to leave the Unheard Voices readers words of encouragement and inspiration, especially for those pursuing a career in music and entertainment.
TruSoul Davis: Some words of encouragement for those grinding just like me “keep ya head down stay focused stay sharp rock with the people that rock with you just like that and TRUST THE PROCESS stay consistent and results will come”.

Check out him on Reverbnation.


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Missin Peace holds police accountable with national misconduct database

Missin Peace is the only national police misconduct database that collects formal civilian complaints against law enforcement.

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Missin Peace national police misconduct database
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Missin Peace is on a mission to connect the dots when it comes to police misconduct.

For decades, many Americans have suffered various forms of brutality and injustice at the hands of “bad” law enforcement officers.

With the upsurge of cell phone cameras, citizens are finally able to document their interaction with police. The unfortunate murders of
Daunte Wright, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and many others have galvanized the masses to demand justice.

Police officers are intended to be public servants, but what happens when the officer is accused of misconduct?

Sometimes, a civilian puts in a complaint in a step towards holding the officer accountable. But only a small percent of complaints result in the officer being disciplined —partly because the accusations are hidden.

Records of misconduct are filed away and rarely seen outside of their department.

Investigators can’t take action against corrupt officers if they are missing the pieces of the puzzle regarding stories of misconduct.

That’s where Missin Peace comes in.

How Missin Peace works

Missin Peace is a national police misconduct database that collects formal civilian complaints against law enforcement.

Missin Peace organization

 

Released in 2017, the registry offers two type of accounts.

One, it enables civilians to put the formal complaints they filed against the officer on record. Civilians are able to submit the official civilian complaint along with pictures, videos, and other accompanying documentation.

Two, the database also serves as a portal for investigative journalists, hiring managers, and civil rights attorneys to conduct research. For this type of account, users must contact Missin Peace to be granted access.

Currently, Missin Peace is the only national police misconduct database that allows citizens to follow and find any police officer’s history of complaints. The organization’s goal is to increase awareness on the database to be used as a tool for police accountability.

Check out Unheard Voices interview with Missin Peace founders:

For civilians who file their complaints on the database, personal information is stripped from the complaint, assuring complete anonymity.

The intent is to put on record police misconduct without fear of retaliation.

Traditionally, corrupt law enforcement officers have been allowed to transfer from one department to another and avoid the repercussions of their actions. To circumvent the recycling of corrupt cops, the American public and politicians finally understand the need for a centralized database of citizen complaints.

Missin Peace is here to fill in that void.

How to submit your complaint(s) in the database

If you have filed a complaint against a law enforcement officer, Missin Peace encourages you to put your complaint in the database to fill in the missing pieces. It doesn’t matter how old the complaint is, as long as it’s official.

To visit Missin Peace, check out their website and spread the word with your loved ones.


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Interviews

Rapper Chad Watson Is Poised To Become LA’s Next Rising Star

Chad Watson is a lyricist, songwriter, producer, and classically trained pianist based out of the Los Angeles area.

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Rapper Chad Watson
Chad Watson

Chad Watson is a rapper, songwriter, producer, and classically trained pianist based out of the Los Angeles area.

Who is rapper Chad Watson?

His roots began in the church at a young age where his love for music manifested. But it was only a few years ago that he started taking music seriously and he’s never looked back since.

His deep appreciation of acts like Andre 3000, transcends into his own style. He is the quinessential artist that is poised to become one of the biggest acts in the country and he’s well on his way.

With his growing buzz, he has appeared on various media platforms and now Unheard Voices.

We had the chance to chat with Chad Watson, asking the music artist questions on his journey.

Check it out below and click here to listen to his music on YouTube.

Interview


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