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Death Row Briton pleads for her life by 'appearing' on the fourth plinth
Miranda Bryant and Emma Rowley10 Sep 2009
A British grandmother on Death Row in the US today "appeared" on Trafalgar Square's fourth plinth in an appeal to Londoners to save her from lethal injection.
Linda Carty, 50, was sentenced to death in 2002 for her role in the kidnap and murder of a 25-year-old woman but her trial has been criticised as "catastrophically flawed".
A life-size cut-out of Carty was placed on the plinth alongside a recorded message as part of the Antony Gormley's One & Other exhibition.
In the message, which started "Hello Trafalgar Square" and was recorded at her prison in Texas on Tuesday, she talked about the injustice of her trial, her background and her love of cricket.
Carty, who could be executed next May, said: "I'm sorry If I sound like a desperate woman. I am desperate, because the British people may be my last hope. If they ask for my life to be spared, maybe Texas will listen.
"Time is now running out and I appeal to every one of you and to the British Government to please help me," the former primary school teacher pleaded.
The plinth slot was won by Brian Capaloff, an opponent of the death penalty. He contacted legal charity Reprieve, which put him in touch with Carty. The charity's representatives were with him today.
Mr Capaloff, 46, a manager of a homelessness centre, from Falkirk, Scotland, held plaques with extracts of the interview in which Carty criticised her lawyer, and threw leaflets to watching crowds. "It was amazing. The response was excellent," he said. "I read up on this case and thought it was an excellent one to publicise.
"It would be amazing to speak to Linda. I don't think there's any evidence that proves she is guilty beyond reasonable doubt, and I am against the death penalty anyway."
Carty, a St Kitts-born British national, was jailed after being convicted over the abduction and murder of Joana Rodriguez, seized with her four-day-old son by three men in 2001. The baby was found unharmed but his mother had suffocated.
Sally Rowen, legal director for death penalty at Reprieve, said: "We want to raise people's awareness through this. We want people to write to Linda and the governor of Texas and show how strongly they're opposed."
'I was framed by kidnappers
On 16 May, 2001 Linda Carty and three co-defendants were said to have walked into the home of 25-year-old Joana Rodriguez in Houston, Texas.
The victim and her baby were kidnapped and Ms Rodriguez tied up and put in the boot of a car. She died from suffocation.
Carty claims she was framed by the kidnappers because of her work as an Drug Enforcement Agency informant.
But prosecutors said the men were hired by Carty who intended to "cut the baby out" and pass the child off as her own.
Reprieve says her defence should have challenged this, as the baby had already been born.
Reader views (34)
Regardless of whether she did it or not, the murderous ritual known as capital punishment is typical of nineteenth-century third-world caliphates such as Texas.
- Leigh Oats, Sydney, Australia, 11/09/2009 13:07
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you may be interested to know, the la times are running a video blog on the plinth today.
- Keith, bournemouth dorset, 10/09/2009 23:09
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You lot are forgetting, Brown just let the lockerbie bomber out......so what chance has this woman got???
- Robert Taylor, dagenham, england., 10/09/2009 21:49
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I fully back G McCoy's comment. I hope that those who have found it so easy to throw the first stones at anyone not of their gender, race, class or nation will receive more justice and mercy than that they are freely dishing out to those in less fortunate curcumstances than them. How will the world be changed for the good, If we continue this spiral of tit for tat murder/execution. It si possible to have justice and mercy without death.
- Tony, Auckland. NZ, 10/09/2009 20:46
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doesn't every convicted person have a story?
- Scotty, london, 10/09/2009 18:54
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"The fact is, the death penalty is all too much of a thrill for Americans and they're basically addicted to it." - Mike, you're projecting your usual knee jerk bias against the US I see. And btw, I am NOT a death penalty supporter.
"They just executed an guy who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, and now this woman" - and the connection is...? (other than they were both found guilty of capital murder)
"Isn't this also about another human being who, if innocent, deserves the help of all of us regardless of nationality and similar discriminating factors?" - and if she isn't innocent, as the evidence appears to have told us? Commit a crime where the death penalty comes into play and you have to accept the consequences. There is a protracted and multi-level appeals system that ALL are entitled to, and use (the darkly biased pessimistic viewpoint of Mike and Co notwithstanding).
They don't pull verdicts out of fortune cookies, people! Being found guilty isn't prima facia evidence of incompetent defence lawyers - it's usually evidence that they WERE guilty.
- Rogan, Irving, 10/09/2009 18:50
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For those of you against the death penalty that is your right and I respect that, but in Texas we take murder very seriously and the punishment that goes with it. Joana Rodriguez and her baby were real people that are swept under the carpet while trying to free her killer, her selfish killer who wanted to steal her baby. If people do not want to be put to death for their crimes then they should avoid committing them in Texas. Cold and callous as it may sound I have no sympathy that there is one less future victim in the world because there is one less murderer on the street.
- Sandra, Fort Worth, Texas, 10/09/2009 18:50
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This woman, Linda Carty, was convicted in 2002 for this crime along with three men whom she knew. These men, who are accused along with Carty, have received a life sentence instead of the death penalty that Carty will receive in May. Carty claims that she met the three men while she was working undercover for the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) for 20 years and claims that these men framed her for the crime. If this was true, why didn’t anyone within the agency corroborate her story? She also alleges that, although, she lived in the same apartment as Miss Rodriguez and her child, she had never met or talked with her? In her original trial she suggested that two unidentified people could have corroborated her whereabouts, but they never came forward?
- Raj Kumar, Kent, London, UK, 10/09/2009 18:31
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Mike - I support the death penalty and I take great exception to the fact that you now think I'm no worse than a murderer. I've never even spent a 'night in the cells'. I have never discriminated against anyone because of creed or colour, never robbed or mugged or committed any kind of serious crime. I even hand purses full of money I have found to police stations. I'm pretty much a model good citizen BUT according to you am now no better than someone who murders. Yep, makes real good sense that statement. Also - how do you know the case is disgraceful - do you have an all-seeing eye?
- Rob, london, 10/09/2009 17:35
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I am about the 25th poster and have read that went before me.
I wonder how many of you who have posted are lawyers? If you are, do you know anything about the system of justice in the US? Well, I am and I do. I have no problem with the US, as a sovereign state, having the death penalty. I also know noting about this woman's case, so pass no comment on her culpability.
What people need to know is that whereas in this country, almost uniformly, a defendant in a murder trial will have a QC, in the States it's the opposite depending on their ability to pay. The poor get what they pay for as do the rich. Murders are not high-profile and oiften the representation is left to a novice lawyer, just out of law school. The fact that such a novice makes many mistakes is in my view entirely understandable but what goes with that is the presumption in law that the defendant had the best possible representation and errors at trial are not correctable on appeal. So, what you have is a nonsense that a better lawyer cannot on appeal make points that would throw doubt on the conviction - that's what is wrong with their system. So, if you have the death penalty surely you must give the defence an ooportunity to raise new evidence - but they do not. She's in Texas - rerettably if past events are anything to go by she will be executed.
As for Mr Burbridge - I know and have met Clive. He's a good man and your contempt is comtemptible. He strives to do justice. The US needs more like him.
- Captain Black Of The Mysterons, London, England, 10/09/2009 17:13
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I know what you mean, Caroline, but "Lb, London" has a point: if we're not careful next time I look at the news she'll be over here on the welfare gravy-train.
- Croyboy, Croydon, 10/09/2009 16:20
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Here we go again, always there is some do-gooder Brit going around the world like the Lone Ranger,insulting other countries' justice systems, by trying to get people off who are so obviously innocent simply because they are 'British'.In this case she isn't, and being a grandmother isn't proof of innocence.They must have proof, so let it go ahead.A lethal injection can't be a bad way to die, there are lots of people who die slowly and in great pain, and they are totally innocent.Think of the victim's family for once.
If this bleeding-heart liberal does get her off, for Pete's sake don't let her come & serve her sentence in Britain, although that is something that our disgustingly creepy government could do if they thought there were a few votes in it.
- Madge Blair, Cahors France, 10/09/2009 16:12
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Oh God. Now the whole world knows about our corrupt legal system and idiot government who let criminals off scott free. No doubt Clive Stafford Cripps, the man who represents the blindingly obviously guilty, will be on the case.
- Bob Burbridge, London, UK, 10/09/2009 16:07
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I dont care where she is from, she deserves a fair trial and doesnt seem to have had one. Id rather here about her case that watch some naked idiot sit on top of the plinth.
- Caroline, Croydon, 10/09/2009 15:23
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She was convicted because there were eye witnesses present.Perry Mason could not have gotten her off.
- Richard, Raleigh, NC, 10/09/2009 15:10
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Funny thing about some Britons like this one. Has never been to Britain in her life. Born in St. Kitts when it was a colony and emigrated to the states.
- Ciccio, Toronto, Canada, 10/09/2009 14:49
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Oh dear. NO. You got sentenced, obviously were involved in some way. Popele dont just get sentaced to DEATH accidentally, if it was her lawyers fault, then she should have got a better one. end of.
- James, London, England, 10/09/2009 14:44
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Why should we get involved we have enough to worry about in our own country. I do not agree with the death penalty due miscarriage of justice, but I do think life should mean life and 10 years should be 10 years we are far to lenient in the UK.
- Barnet, Herts, 10/09/2009 14:05
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I am shocked and amazed at the negative comments from people listed here questioning people's nationality, status and other irrelevant matters (under these circumstances) with such a vile lack of compassion. Surely it's this about looking at this woman's appeal for her possible innocence first? I remember seeing a young man on the news last night after a so called 'legal process' took away 4 years of his life. Isn't this also about another human being who, if innocent, deserves the help of all of us regardless of nationality and similar discriminating factors? I am not sure who I pity more, this lady on Death Row or the arm chair cynics who would be doing exactly what she's doing now if they, God forbid ever found themselves in such a diabolical predicament.
- G. Mccoy, Skipton, UK, 10/09/2009 14:01
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A heinous crime deserves a heinous punishment
- Ereed, Bournemouth,UK, 10/09/2009 13:11
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What's it got to do with us. Does this country always have to try and bail out lame ducks all over the world.
- Sue, Orpington, Kent, 10/09/2009 13:02
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I am against the death penalty and hope that if there is some kind of mmiscarridge of justice, that its over turned but how exactly is this Britain's problem?
She isnt British
But i wouldnt be surprised that under New Labour, i will see her walking down Peckham High Street in the near future with a brand new council house and 300 quid a week burning a hole in her pocket
- Lb, London, 10/09/2009 12:39
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How is it that all British people are innocent abroad?She is not British ,but a British passport holder. Why is she not asking her own country for help. Why should Britain intervene if she has been found guilty of a crime and sentenced? This is why we will never see capital punishment here regardless of the crime.TOO many do gooders who believe every one is innocent. What about the victim?Let other countries carry out the sentence as they deem fit.
- Allan Clarke, Brasil, 10/09/2009 12:35
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They just executed an guy who was a juvenile at the time of the crime, and now this woman... what a screwed up country, its becoming like China, they should just bring out the firing squad, or the guillotine...
- Mike, London, 10/09/2009 12:27
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Do we(the UK)really think we are the arbiters of moral rectitude for the whole world? This has nothing to do with us and I don't think the Americian judicial process is going to take a tourist side-show on Trafalgar Square as a reason to grant a reprieve..
- Evan, london UK, 10/09/2009 12:24
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If being 'British' means you're a cut above the rest then god help us.
- Steve, London, 10/09/2009 11:40
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EDITED by admin @ 12.48 on September 10 2009
Breach of community guidelines
- Kedge, wilts, england, 10/09/2009 11:37
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As a supporter of the death penalty i do accept that the conviction has to be 100%,(not beyond achieving with modern forensic science) safe,and having read and learned about this woman's case i don't believe it is.I don't believe that there is any conflict with putting a person to death humanly for the crime of taking another life,in fact i believe to not do so is to cheapen and devalue life.
- Kev, London-UK, 10/09/2009 11:36
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So someone that had worked as an informer for the U.S D.E.A and has (from the radio interview this morning) a very defined American accent has not lived here for decades, is allowed access to our consulate and foreign services et al becuase she has a British passport?
How can we accuse the U.S of involving themselves with our judicial decisions (Gary McKinnon etc) when try to do the same ??
- Hansel, London, 10/09/2009 11:13
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People who support the death penalty are no better than the murderer themselves. This case is disgraceful, but I doubt the USA or Texas will take a blind bit of notice of our entreaties. The fact is, the death penalty is all too much of a thrill for Americans and they're basically addicted to it.
- Mike, London UK, 10/09/2009 10:31
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I'm a little confused. If she is a grand mother I assume that at some point Carty has had a child. Therefore why did she have to have some one abducted to cut out her baby? All seem a little odd!!
- Karen, London, 10/09/2009 10:17
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I thought the Fourth Plinth was all about "art"? If this is allowed to go ahead, then what next? We'll have all the usual nutters up there. This latest plinth project has been even more silly, precious and boring than the others, but if we are to allow people make "statements" from the plinth then it becomes another political platform.
- Ken, Bexleyheath, 10/09/2009 09:15
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I have followed this case and I sincerely believe the woman is innocent of Murder. There was a lot wrong with her representation. And should be more closely looked at.
- Themanoftruth, United Kingdom, 10/09/2009 08:33
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"A British grandmother on death row in the US will..."
Is the fact that she's a grandmother relevant? And are you suggesting that being a grandmother at 50 is somehow admirable, and that those who choose not to produce more mouths for the world to feed are less deserving of sympathy?
- Croyboy, Croydon, 10/09/2009 08:22
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