Da'Ron Cox Legal Defense Fund
Seeking Justice for an Innocent Man
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“I saw somebody come out of the cut with a hood on and his face
was exposed. It was Little Roland,” said Dwayne Jackson, a
convicted murderer currently serving time in the same prison as
Cox, the State Correctional Institution Huntingdon.
According to court documents, Roland Cephas, a.k.a Little Roland,
and the deceased were feuding after Roberts implicated Cephas in
a cocaine possession case. Roberts was killed 10 days later.
Jackson further testified the prosecution’s sole witness, Raishei
Smith, called him from a juvenile detention center to confirm who
was present during the murder.
“He wanted to know what happened at that shooting, he wanted to
get out of that juvenile center,” Jackson said in a comment that was
struck from the record by Manning.
Jackson said Smith was not present at the shooting and didn’t
arrive until after he heard the shots.
Since Cox’s confession, Innocence Projects all over the world have
researched confessions by teens, children and the mentally ill and
report they are often unreliable.
Cox’s confession contradicted many of the facts of the crime.
Cox and his family believe he was targeted because he was a low-
risk scapegoat. Cox had just moved to Homewood and was given
the nickname “Chicken” because of his small frame and easy-going
demeanor.
Smith testified at Cox’s trial in exchange for reduced jail time and
relocation.
Jackson, who received nothing in exchange for his testimony, said
he hadn’t come forward up until August 2006 because it was too
dangerous to talk about homicides before.
Cox and Jackson both testified they’d been incarcerated together
for approximately two years and knew each other from Homewood,
but were not friends.
Both said they never spoke about the case prior to or after August
2006 despite being on the same cellblock for a few months.
When asked how this was possible by Assistant District Attorney
Ronald Wabby, Jackson simply replied he did not see it as
necessary. He said he approached Cox while incarcerated and
stated he had information in his case. Cox told Jackson to speak
with his previous attorney, John Knorr.
Two other Homewood men have signed affidavits on behalf of Cox
stating he was not present at the murder. Neither testified in court.
Wabby also pointed out Cox did not meet his January 31, 2007
deadline for filing the hearing petition.
Wabby questioned why Cox couldn’t have drawn up his own
petition, as he’d previously done.
Cox stated he didn’t file the petition because John Knorr
represented him.
Cox’s new attorney, Michael Healey, will file a brief within 30 days
followed by a brief from the prosecution.
The judge is expected to issue an opinion on the case in about
three months.
In the meantime, Rick Morris, Cox’s advocate, is planning to get
more publicity for what he calls an unlawful conviction and
imprisonment. To learn more about the case and ways to help, log
on to www.daroncox.org.
was exposed. It was Little Roland,” said Dwayne Jackson, a
convicted murderer currently serving time in the same prison as
Cox, the State Correctional Institution Huntingdon.
According to court documents, Roland Cephas, a.k.a Little Roland,
and the deceased were feuding after Roberts implicated Cephas in
a cocaine possession case. Roberts was killed 10 days later.
Jackson further testified the prosecution’s sole witness, Raishei
Smith, called him from a juvenile detention center to confirm who
was present during the murder.
“He wanted to know what happened at that shooting, he wanted to
get out of that juvenile center,” Jackson said in a comment that was
struck from the record by Manning.
Jackson said Smith was not present at the shooting and didn’t
arrive until after he heard the shots.
Since Cox’s confession, Innocence Projects all over the world have
researched confessions by teens, children and the mentally ill and
report they are often unreliable.
Cox’s confession contradicted many of the facts of the crime.
Cox and his family believe he was targeted because he was a low-
risk scapegoat. Cox had just moved to Homewood and was given
the nickname “Chicken” because of his small frame and easy-going
demeanor.
Smith testified at Cox’s trial in exchange for reduced jail time and
relocation.
Jackson, who received nothing in exchange for his testimony, said
he hadn’t come forward up until August 2006 because it was too
dangerous to talk about homicides before.
Cox and Jackson both testified they’d been incarcerated together
for approximately two years and knew each other from Homewood,
but were not friends.
Both said they never spoke about the case prior to or after August
2006 despite being on the same cellblock for a few months.
When asked how this was possible by Assistant District Attorney
Ronald Wabby, Jackson simply replied he did not see it as
necessary. He said he approached Cox while incarcerated and
stated he had information in his case. Cox told Jackson to speak
with his previous attorney, John Knorr.
Two other Homewood men have signed affidavits on behalf of Cox
stating he was not present at the murder. Neither testified in court.
Wabby also pointed out Cox did not meet his January 31, 2007
deadline for filing the hearing petition.
Wabby questioned why Cox couldn’t have drawn up his own
petition, as he’d previously done.
Cox stated he didn’t file the petition because John Knorr
represented him.
Cox’s new attorney, Michael Healey, will file a brief within 30 days
followed by a brief from the prosecution.
The judge is expected to issue an opinion on the case in about
three months.
In the meantime, Rick Morris, Cox’s advocate, is planning to get
more publicity for what he calls an unlawful conviction and
imprisonment. To learn more about the case and ways to help, log
on to www.daroncox.org.
Press...
DCLDF ~ P.O. Box 61292, King of Prussia, PA 19406 ~ 610-354-0863
Convict gets chance to prove innocence
By Cynthia Levy, New Pittsburgh Courier
December 13, 2007
Daron Cox has been waiting 11 years to prove his innocence. While
restrained, the then-18 year old confessed during a
six-and-a-half-hour interrogation that he killed a Homewood teenager.
By Cynthia Levy, New Pittsburgh Courier
December 13, 2007
Daron Cox has been waiting 11 years to prove his innocence. While
restrained, the then-18 year old confessed during a
six-and-a-half-hour interrogation that he killed a Homewood teenager.
Last Wednesday, Judge
Jeffrey A. Manning heard
evidence during a
Post-Conviction Relief
hearing that said Cox was
not involved on the night
Brian Roberts was gunned
down on Fleury Way in 1996
.
Jeffrey A. Manning heard
evidence during a
Post-Conviction Relief
hearing that said Cox was
not involved on the night
Brian Roberts was gunned
down on Fleury Way in 1996
.
