Justice Gone Wrong--The Debra Milke Story

When former Phoenix's Channel 10 news director Dave Howell and producer Jim Lemay asked me to interview a murder suspect at the Maricopa County Jail in December of 1989 they did not have to tell me to record the conversation.

In Arizona the law is that only one party to a conversation needs to be informed or consent to record that conversation. Back in 1989 I made a hidden microphone out of a ballpoint pen that I could plug into any recording device. I used the surreptitious microphone to document what was said and take the guesswork out of just what who said what to whom.

The murder suspect was a woman accused of murdering her four year-old. I assumed she was probably guilty and was hoping to catch some incriminating statement to share with TV viewers. I had an exclusive story that night that included the taped statement.

The woman had no lawyer or even contact with family or friends to advise her not to talk to me. Had the young woman a lawyer he'd have never let her talk to me. But without a lawyer she talked and answered questions. She surprised me with a solid denial of involvement in the murder and wanted to know when she see the lawyer she asked for hours earlier.

I'd find out that a Phoenix police detective, Armando Saldate would later file a report claiming that she confessed to him just a few hours earlier than her denial to me. He had no tape, signed statement or a any evidence of this alleged confession.

The jury chose to believe the cop over the suspect and the young woman went straight to Death Row. Debra Milke has been there ever since.

I've become a freelance investigative TV news producer as a result of being conscripted by news organizations. I began this case with one news outlet but I have assisted and produced this for three Arizona TV stations, Three German TV networks, Swiss TV and several print publications over the years.

I was contacted by a Swiss film producer at Le Flair Productions and assisted them with a film that was shown in Geneva last March at the Human Rights Film Festival. I was brought twice to Europe as a result. The European interest in this story is because Debra Milke was born in Berlin, Germany. Europe is still reeling from massive overuse and abuse of the death penalty by the National Socialist and Fascist governments. The death penalty is viewed as a tool for government tyranny and has been outlawed there.

Jacques Secratan is a Swiss producer/writer who asked me to shoot and edit a short in Phoenix last week. With the miracle of modern technology, a great camera and Apple's Final Cut Pro X I was able fill that request. Secratan has written a book and wanted the short for his website.

Secratan is hoping somehow to get Debra Milke a fair day in court and her freedom.
I will continue to welcome and assist any news producers or documentary filmmakers to get the facts of the travesty of justice that wrongfully put Debra Milke on Death Row. I believe every American must insist that our government follow the rules and be fair to people accused of crimes.

This was Jacques Secratan's video that he wants people to see everywhere.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Debra Milke
• Armando Saldate
• Paul Huebl
• Jacques secretan
• Death Row
• Arizona
• death Penalty
• Mark
• Milke
• renate Milke
• Phoenix Police
• Injustice
• murder
• James Styers
• Roger Scott
• Noel Levy
• C Kenneth Ray
• police misconduct.

[JustKilltheMessenger]

She has no business sitting on death row...you cant use a "confession" thats done illegally..

[trishrobinson81]

she sounds just the same, i love you debrah. 

[CleoCact2009]

@TheShortiss: please connect yourself to her facebook page: Free Debra Milke.

There are a lot of associations to contact. Thank you!

[TheShortiss]

how can I help her? are there some petitions, or something like that? I wrote her a letter and she answer me, but she's very sad and not in the constitution to write me longer, because she's waiting for a decision from the court! I can't believe the whole story!!!!! Let us fight for her!!!!! she is definitely INNOCENT!!!!!

[ManagerGuy1]

Excellent~! Well done.