Watch the videos here. Any one of these videos should be sufficient to reopen this case.

A troubled young boy, 17 years old, was shot to death late one night in May, 1982 in North West Philadelphia.

A second tragedy was in the making, the tragedy of Carmen Woods' life of wrongful incarceration.

Carmen Woods was in a nearby club and had fought with this boy (the murder victim) in the past. The real killer was never found. Carmen Woods, hated by the victim's powerful father, was an easy, convenient target and fall guy. Carmen, knowing he was innocent, walked down to the police station and turned himself in, trusting in a justice that he never found in a dysfunctional trial.

His trial lawyer, a known alcoholic working under the influence, badly bungled his case. Railroaded by a corrupt detective willing to twist the evidence, the prosecution was driven by the vindictive father of the murdered boy, a prominent and wealthy local gangster with a strong grudge against the innocent defendant. The DA was under great pressure for a quick and easy conviction. Carmen Woods headed for life in prison with all the speed of a run away train out of control. The fix was in.

This case has all the trappings of a really bad late night grade "C" prison movie. Unfortunately this is not a movie. This is real. Carmen Woods remains in jail. The fix holds fast, twenty seven years and counting.

Step up and speak out! All the evidence has not been heard in the case of The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania vs. Carmen Woods. Procedural rules forbid another appeal.

The new evidence in this case leads any unbiased party to a strong level of doubt. The family scraped together the money to mount an appeal that was, unfortunately, heard by the same judge that sentenced Carmen Woods back in 1983. This appeal was no more fair than the original trial because the prosecution's star witness was still lying. Mr. Homer Lane, the prosecution's star witness, has recanted his false testimony given at both the trial and the appeal. Look at his video statement on this website and see and hear it for yourself.

Now Mr. Gary Hawes, a new eyewitness at the scene of the murder has come forth after twenty seven years ready to testify to Mr. Wood's innocence. You can see and hear a brief statement from Mr. Hawes on our video page. This alone should be sufficient cause to reopen this case.

The Philadelphia Appellate Court will not entertain a new trial to reverse this unjust conviction of life in prison. They are bound by procedural rules that forbid them to reopen this case. No judge, jury or qualified trial lawyer has ever seen the videos and other evidence amassed on this website. Sometimes procedural rules need to be lifted when circumstances compel a re-examination.

The family has been trying for over 27 years to be heard and they have exhausted their resources.

We're looking for a higher power. Can you help?

Monies donated to the "Free Carmen Woods Fund" will be used to cover expenses in pursuit of his freedom. Regina Woods, Carmen's sister, will be leading this effort.