P R E S S   R E L E A S E
from
F L O R I D I A N S   FOR   A L T E R N A T I V E S
                    TO THE DEATH PENALTY   (FADP)

16 December 2004

CONTACT: Abe Bonowitz: 561-371-5204 (Cell phone)

ACTIVISTS/SUPPORTERS TO DEMAND A FAIR TRIAL FOR ZEIGLER!
29 Years Later, Hearing Could Spell Freedom For Wrongly Convicted Winter 
Garden Man.

Just days before the anniversary of the 1975 "Christmas Eve Massacre" in 
Winter Garden, activists and supporters will hold several events in Orlando 
leading up to Monday's evidentiary hearing on the DNA test results in the 
case of William Thomas Zeigler, set for December 20-21 before Judge 
Whitehead in Orlando, Florida (State of Florida 9th Judicial Circuit).  The 
hearing will determine if Zeigler is to be granted a new trial based upon 
recent DNA test results.  Activists and supporters plan to attend the 
hearing in large numbers.

The events include a film screening and a press conference featuring, among 
others, Vernon Davids, one of Zeigler's original trial attorneys.  Event 
details are below.

CASE DETAILS
Much more information on this case is available at 
http://www.fadp.org/Zeigler/zeiglerisinnocent.html

The State was successful in its motion to prevent the hearing from 
addressing the mountain of other post-trial evidence of innocence by 
claiming that the evidence is procedurally barred because it was introduced 
too late.  Only the DNA test results are to be evaluated.  The DNA test 
results, which were completed over two years ago, are totally consistent 
with Zeigler's description of events the night of the murders and 
inconsistent with the State's version. The DNA tests show that the blood of 
Zeigler's murdered father-in-law, Perry Edwards, was on Charlie Mays, not 
on Zeigler. The blood on Zeigler was the blood of Charlie Mays, whom 
Zeigler has always claimed jumped him, resulting in a fight almost to the 
death.

For 29 years the State has claimed that Mays, who was found beaten to death 
with a linoleum roll crank, was a hapless victim of the crime. Now, in the 
face of the DNA test results, the State is attempting to redefine Mays as a 
co-perpetrator of Zeigler who was then killed by Zeigler.  The State's 
obvious problem is that if Zeigler didn't kill Mays, then the 
co-perpetrators in this horrible massacre are still walking around free, 
possibly right in Orange County, Florida.  Instead of acknowledging that 
reality, the State is pressing forward with new theories of how the crimes 
might have occurred with Zeigler being responsible.


EVENT NOTIFICATION

Event #1 - Film Screening and Case Update - Sunday, 12/19/04 at 7:15pm
Event #2 - Pre-Hearing Press Conference - Monday, 12/20/04 at 8:30am
Event #3 - TOMMY ZEIGLER HEARING IN ORANGE COUNTY - DEC. 20 & 21

Event #1 - Film Screening and Case Update - Sunday, 12/19/04 from 7:15pm to 
9:30pm

FEATURING
a screening of "A Matter of Life & Death," the nationally broadcast "trial" 
hosted by John McLoughlin

AND

A case update by one of Zeigler's original trial attorney's, Vernon Davids, 
and others.

DATE:  THIS SUNDAY, 12/19/04
TIME:  7:15pm to 9:30pm
LOCATION:  Damascus Room in the Family Life Building at St. Margaret Mary 
Parish in Winter Park.

DIRECTIONS
A) Consult your map to get to the Orlando area
B) Exit I-4 at Fairbanks, go East on Fairbanks toward Winter Park
C) Turn LEFT (North) onto Park Ave.
D) Go past the shopping area/park, the church is on the RIGHT.
E Turn RIGHT (East) onto Swoope to access the parking lot.

526 N. Park Ave. in Winter Park.  A map is at:
http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?ed=Ryk6Yup_0To1T5H79rsbndUqYo_WeN4-&csz=32789&country=us&cat=

*****************

Event #2 - Pre-Hearing Press Conference & Rally - Monday, 12/20/04 at 9am

December 20, 2004
9am press conference
10am hearing
at the Orange County Courthouse in Downtown Orlando.
425 N. Orange Ave.
For a map and directions, please visit 
http://www.ninja9.org/courts/courthouses/orange.htm



***********




SENT BY:

Abraham J. Bonowitz
Director

           Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (FADP)

           800-973-6548    http://www.fadp.org    <fadp@fadp.org>
                 PMB 335, 2603 DR. Martin Luther King Jr. Hwy
	                      Gainesville, FL  32609

Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty works for restorative
justice in the form of effective alternatives to the death penalty.  It
does so by
     # supporting and coordinating the work of organizations and individuals
     # educating and energizing the general public and state legislators
     # supporting the many persons affected by capital crime and punishment
     # advocating specific legislative improvements