Legal Actions
In addition to the previously mentioned evidence on this website, which was rejected by the courts due to "TIME BAR" and supported Carmen's innocence; we are currently in court on the following evidence:

For the first time in 27 years, the DA made reference of their concealed deal with Homer Lane in a brief they submitted to the court in 2009 regarding their opposition of Carmen’s request for a second Habeas Corpus. In their belief they disclosed that prior to Carmen’s trial in 1982; the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office negotiated a concealed deal with Homer Lane, which discarded ALL auto theft charges against him. During the time of Carmen’s trial, that information was not communicated to the jury, court, or Carmen’s defense team.
1. THE CONCEALED DEALS
On May 12, 2009, the DA's Office submitted a brief opposing Carmen Woods' request for a second successive Habeas Corpus. In their brief, they complained about the series of appeals Carmen Woods already received during his incarceration. The DA also alluded to Homer Lane's 1986 affidavit in which he recanted his trial testimony. In a surprise admission; however, the DA also stated that Homer Lane's testimony was partly in exchange for the Commonwealth dismissing the auto theft charges. This was the first time the DA ever disclosed there had ever been any DA charges involved in Homer’s bargain.

As you read along you will observe that during the time of the trial there was absolutely no mention of a prior deal; however, there was a promise acknowledged by Homer Lane and the DA admitting that the DA would help him with the Florida charges only.

N.T. 194 (Direct examination by DA)

Q - And what promise have we made to you?
A - See if they could get/do anything about this matter me getting extradited to Florida.
Q - Has anything been done yet?
A - No Sir
N.T. 649 (Closing arguments by DA) "Ok he doesn't want to go down to Florida; I will do my best to keep them from taking him. I will write a letter if they take him though:”

Carmen Woods' trial began on November 15, 1982. Homer Lane's extradition hearing to Florida was January 24, 1983. During that time there was no mention of auto charges being dismissed, just a promise to help in the future. The Philadelphia District Attorney unlawfully concealed all deals given to Homer Lane prior to Carmen’s trial.

2. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE KNEW OF THEIR FRAUD AND PERJURY
The DA solicited perjury from their only alleged witness to link Woods to the murder of Chester Laws Jr. and they bolstered his perjured testimony to be credible. It's important to note that the only mention of charges being dropped was when Homer Lane signed his affidavit in 1986 (4 years after trial), recanting his trial testimony. Even then, Lane was only referring to gun charges and possible extradition to Florida about the stolen car. There was no mention of any of this prior to or during trial. For 27 years, the DA knew Homer Lane negotiated a deal prior to trial; however, they chose to keep this information concealed until recently. There were several opportunities for them to step up and correct this fraud; especially when Homer Lane did not show up for an evidentiary hearing regarding the perjury, he committed during his trial. The Evidentiary hearings were held on March 14, 1989 and April 12, 1989. The DA had a chance to "Step up and Speak out" in the face of a wrongful conviction. The DA had and still has an obligation to correct the record. Instead, they chose to conceal their corruption; yet, after years of thorough examination of testimony and court transcripts, the Free Carmen Woods Committee sought out their corruption. This is an injustice.

3. THE PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE COMMITTED OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE!
The records legitimately reveal corruption! Homer Lane was a fugitive from the law for the same stolen car he alleged Carmen Woods and Michael Jones used to shoot at him. Since March 24, 1982, Lane was considered a fugitive from the Florida criminal system. However, local authorities failed to extradite him back to Florida upon his detainment here in Philadelphia. Lane was interviewed at his Philadelphia residence on May 16, 1982 and again at The Philadelphia Round House Homicide Division on two (2) different occasions: May 19, 1982 and May 29, 1982. Upon questioning, Lane showed the investigating detectives the stolen car and in exchange a deal was negotiated. Upon negotiations Homer’s charges were expunged and he was released without the authorities informing Florida that he was ever detained. This was an Obstruction of Justice! As law enforcement agencies both the investigating detectives and the DA should have been mandated to turn Homer Lane over to Florida authorities because of his fugitive status; however, their failures to comply with the law relating to fugitive capture resulted to an obstruction of justice. Bottom line is, Homer Lane should have been charged for auto theft and he should have immediately been extradited back to Florida, as a result of his fugitive status!!!
4. THE PHILADELPHIA DISTRICT ATTORNEY's OFFICE HARBORED A FUGITIVE
For four months, the DA harbored Homer Lane, a Fugitive from the Florida Justice System. During the trial, the DA stated Homer Lane was arrested on September 11, 1982 and not in May 1982. Additionally, the stolen car the Philadelphia Police initially recovered from him on May 19, 1982 as evidence of an auto theft was given back to him. NT 25 Opening by DA: "And the police go and get the car he was driving and take it to the police garage." After all court proceedings, this car should have been returned to its rightful owner Alamo Car Rentals not Homer Lane.

5. FAILING TO CORRECT PERJURED TESTIMONY
Homer Lane was never arrested when he met with investigating detectives. He conjured up his version of a story, explained his fugitive status, and was given immunity in May 1982. Philadelphia authorities harbored Homer Lane up and until he was arrested for driving, the same stolen car four (4) months after it was alleged he had been arrested for it back in May 1982. Homer Lane was pulled over in the West Oak Lane section of the city on September 11, 1982 and arrested for the first time. At trial Homer Lane and the DA stated “the arrest for this stolen car was in May 1982” after Homer Lane was allegedly shot at by Woods and Jones; this was perjury.

Prior to trial, the DA and investigating detectives negotiated a deal with Homer Lane in exchange for his perjured testimony and even allowed him to keep a stolen car until he was arrested four (4) months later while driving in another section of the city. The Philadelphia District Attorney and Detectives obstructed justice by not reporting Homer Lane to Florida authorities, who had a fugitive warrant for him, since March 24.1982. The District Attorney's Office worked a second deal with Homer Lane to drop charges only because he was caught and arrested for the same car. Lane was arrested in September 1982; charges were dropped on October 26, 1982; 19 days before Woods and Jones’ trial, which was on November 15, 1982. The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office allowed this corruption, perjury, and fraud to go on without correcting the record for 40 years. Homer Lane was never arrested when he met with detectives on May 16, 19, or 29, 1982;

The District Attorney's Office worked a second deal with Homer Lane to drop charges only because he was caught and arrested for the same car. Lane was arrested in September 1982; charges were dropped on October 26, 1982; 19 days before Woods and Jones’ trial, which was on November 15, 1982. The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office allowed this corruption, perjury, and fraud to go on without correcting the record for 40 years. Homer Lane was never arrested when he met with detectives on May 16, 19, or 29, 1982; the car was taken and then given back. He continued to joyride in the car with immunity for four (4) months, until he was pulled over in the West Oak Lane Section of Philadelphia on September 11, 1982.
  1. A. So the DA lied when he alleged Lane was arrested when he went to the police.
  2. B. The DA and investigating detectives negotiated a concealed deal with Homer Lane and never arrested him in May.
  3. C. Homer Lane was given the stolen car back as part of the concealed deal.
  4. D. The Philadelphia District Attorney and detectives obstructed justice by not reporting Homer Lane to Florida authorities, who had a fugitive warrant on him.
  5. E. The Philadelphia District Attorney and detectives harbored a fugitive for four (4) months.
  6. F. The Distinct Attorney's office allowed this to go on without correcting the record for 40 years.
  7. G. The DA also dropped charges on Homer Lane for the stolen car on October 26, 1982. Woods and Michael Jones went on trial November 15, 1982. Homer Lane was given immunity in May 1982 for the stolen car.
The jury did not hear all the evidence and we ask you to join us and write The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office and demand that justice be served and they correct the record as well as support an evidentiary hearing and new trial.
WE DEMAND THE PHILA DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE STEP UP AND SPEAK OUT!!!