Prosecution's Star Witness Recants, On Video, Under Oath:
In 1986, Homer Lane came forward to say he did not actually witness the crime.
In 1991, Homer Lane stated this under oath on video. (See videos & Lane Affidavit)

Newly Discovered Witness Willing To Testify To Carmen Wood's Innocence:
In 2006 after seeing a flyer put up by the Woods family a new witness came forward. Gary Hawes is willing to testify that he saw the shooter and that it was not Carmen Woods. (See Gary Hawes Affidavit)

Incompetent impaired Defense Counsel at trial gave NO JUSTICE to Carmen Woods:
Ronald Morrison, Carmen's trial lawyer, admitted to the PA Bar Disciplinary Board that he had a serious drinking problem and had been drinking since a family tragedy in 1972. After his divorce in 1976 it spiraled out of control. He further stated that he reached the peak of his alcoholism in 1982-84 (See Board Report, page 31). Ronald Morrison was Carmen Woods' trial attorney from May 1982 until the five day trial ended on November 20th 1982. After admitting to the Board that he had a greater caseload than he could manage Morrison stopped taking cases in November 1982 (See Board Report, page 8). The Board originally found this impairment (Alcoholism) did not affect his representation of clients; they later reversed this decision.

Prejudiced Trial Judge Ignored Jury Tampering, Vindictive Enemy of Defendant Manipulated Detectives and Trial Evidence: Chester Laws, Sr. (victim’s father) was caught communicating with a juror at trial
(See Transcripts -Lane Cross page 35). Judge Sabo the pro-commonwealth judge did nothing to remedy this matter. Chester Laws Sr. has a history of intimidation/coercion (See Criminal Record - Laws Sr. page 2). The detectives in this case did not find Homer Lane (the DA's star witness); Laws Sr. did (See Newspaper Article - A Father's Anguish).

Evidence Ignored:
On the night of the shooting a Mr. Hill called because he saw the shooter
(See Statements - Det. Rogers Notes). Why did Detective Twyman
(lead detective on the case) not follow-up on this information and take his statement? At the very least, he should have gotten an address & phone number. Note: Mr. Hill saw the shooter run toward Media Street not Lansdowne Avenue as stated by Homer Lane. Also, both Brian Ellison & Omar Ancrum mention the unidentified man who found the body; and was already on the scene when they arrived. This information was never followed up on.

Contradictory Testimony At Trial Ignored:
During the door to door survey to find potential witness to the murder, Homer Lane originally stated that his mother woke him after she heard commotion in the street and that he didn’t see anything which contradicts his latter statement of witnessing the murder (See Statements - Survey of Neighborhood).


Prosecution's Star Witness Was False:
Homer Lane went to Chester Laws Sr. and told him he had an idea of who shot his son, but did not know for sure who it was (See Transcripts - Lane Cross page 50). After speaking with Laws Sr. Homer Lane went to police and gave a statement saying that he witnessed the shooting.

Coroner's Expert Testimony Ignored:
Homer Lane stated that he saw Woods shoot Laws, Jr. in the back of the head. The coroner (Dr. Robert Segal) stated he was shot in the front of the head
(See Autopsy).

Preliminary Contradictory Evidence Ignored:
At the preliminary hearing, Lane stated that he came outside after hearing the shot (See Newspaper Article - A Father's Anguish page 4). At trial, he stated that he did not come outside (See Transcripts - Lane Direct page 10).

Additional Contradictions Ignored At Trial:
Lane tried his best to piece together what he heard regarding the murder of Chester Laws Jr. And although he was cohearsed, he still could not get the facts of this case right. Additional contradictions in Homer Lane’s statements/testimony are as follows:

1. Homer stated in his statement on May 19th that he saw Woods run from off the steps. In his May 29th statement, he said, "Woods jumped from some bushes."
2. On May 19th Homer Lane said the street light was out and Woods could not see him. Then on May 29th Homer Lane said the street light was on where Woods could see him.
3. Homer stated that Brian Ellison & Omar Ancrum were on the block before and during the shooting. He also stated that police came within five minutes of the shooting (See Statements - Lane). Both Brian Ellison & Omar Ancrum deny being on the block until after the shooting (See Statements - Ellison & Ancrum). Both of them say they found the body and called the police and said, "It took police a long time to get there".
4. Lane mentions Ellison & Ancrum in his statement; however, they do not mention him in theirs. Why is this? Because they did not see Lane anywhere near the scene when they arrived or when the police arrived.

Prejudiced Judge Also Denies Appeal:
Judge Sabo, the judge who presided over Carmen's travesty of a trial is the same judge who denied his appeal nine years after conviction. Not since the 1969 trial of the "Chicago Seven" under Judge Julius Hoffman has there been a clearer example of judicial prejudice and misconduct. Any impartial examination of the trial and appeal transcripts will illustrate the truth of this statement.

DA Solicits Testimony in exchange for deal:
For the first time in 27 years, On May 12, 2009 the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office "inadvertently" admits they made a deal to drop auto theft charges on Homer Lane PRIOR TO TRIAL: Something they did not share with the jury, court or Carmen Woods defense team. This proves that the DA solicited Homer Lane's false testimony in ex-change for his freedom (See Link for "Latest Legal Actions").