I realize that you are extremely busy people. I would really appreciate it if you would at least read this letter and possibly assisting me in my legal endeavors. My name is Charles Wakefield, Jr. I am an inmate housed in the South Carolina Department of Corrections. I was wrongfully convicted of murder over 24 years ago.

I was tried and convicted on February 23, 1976, of robbing and murdering two Caucasian males. On January 31, 1975, two people were robbed and killed in an apparent robbery attempt. I was picked up charged with assault and booked. I was then questioned extensively for five days concerning the Looper murders. That evening a paraffin test was issued to determine if I had fired a weapon that day. The results of that test were negative.

On October 27, 1975, a bench warrant was issued for my arrest. November 5, 1975 I was indicted for murder. On November 13, 1975, a warrant for my arrest was issued and served. As a result of my being improperly indicted. Judge George Coleman, held that I would be re-indicted, that occurred on December 11 1975, or December 14, 1975. Also on December 14, 1975, Judge Coleman also ordered that Mr. Pete Partee of the public defenders office of Greenville would be assigned as counsel. Almost two weeks later he suffered a heart attack and was unable to continue as counsel.

I was without representation until January 28, 1976, When a hearing was held. That is when Judge Frank Epps, did appoint Mr. Grover Parnell, Mr. Larry Cooke, as counsel. I requested from the judge that I be allowed an opportunity to confer with counsel. He granted me two one-hour conferences with my attorneys before my trial.

There were a number of motions that were filed. One was for a continuance of my trial date, that request was denied. Another one was for a change of venue, that one was also denied. I was tried in the same courthouse that the alleged victims worked every day. My attorneys were not given an opportunity to examine any of the state's evidence, nor view any statement of any witness that would testify against me. My attorney said that he only had knowledge of just one witness who would testify against me. When that witness was approached by my attorney, the witness told him that he was instructed by the states' attorney not to tell him the truth about his testimony against me.

I submitted a list to my attorneys of over 15 alibi witnesses. A large number of them didn't testify. When my attorney was questioned about that fact, he simply stated that they were not credible witnesses. The investigator for the defense didn't testify, nor was there a report for him issued.

The state is required to give a competency hearing to a defendant who is charged with a capital offense. I was not given that evaluation. I was at the time considered functionally illiterate and unable to understand basic reading and writing materials. I only had an 8th grade education.

My trial began February 23, 1976, less than 30 days after I was assigned counsel. There was never any weapon ever found. There was no fingerprints, footprints, or any other physical evidence to place me at the scene. The three main state witnesses who testified against me each received special deals and other monetary considerations from the lead investigators and the states' attorney in exchange for their testimonies. The lead investigator did not testify in this case, in fear that he would have had to answer questions concerning these deals that he help orchestrated. During the cross-examination of the mother of the victims, my attorney disclosed that he was a personal friend of victims, and he in fact went to school with him.

On February 26, 1976, my trial ended with me being found guilty and being sentenced to die.

A direct appeal from my conviction was instituted March 1977. It contained 13 exceptions.

In the October 1977, term of the U.S. Supreme Court1 they held that the South Carolina Death Penalty Law as it stood was unconstitutional. See Furman v. Georgia

On March 15, 1978, an opinion # 20607 was issued affirming my conviction and remanding my case back to a lower court for resentencing. I was subsequently sentenced to life.

After being resentenced on March 1978, I was placed in general population. I then had an opportunity to attend a special learning unit where I retained enough writing skills to attempt to inquire into the status of my case. I have since 1978, written all the parties involved in this case, and also any organization that could possibly assist me.

On March 16, 1991, with the help of another inmate I filed an PCR application. I had wrote the many agencies involved in my case informing them of my intentions, none of them afforded me with any documentation to assist me in formulating my appeal.

The Respondent made its return on June 10, 1991, requesting a hearing. I did on number of occasions tried to confer with my appointed attorney Ms. Manigault. I also inquired into the possibility of receiving my transcripts. I had only one conference with her for one hour before my hearing. A hearing was held at the Greenville County Courthouse on February 24, 1992. I was at this point forced to present my exceptions without ever having access to my trial transcripts. The Honorable Larry Patterson issued an order of dismissal on March 30, 1992.

I asked Ms. Manigault directly following my PCR hearing in front of three witness of my intentions to appeal the dismissal of my case. I inquired in writing to the clerk of court, S.C. Supreme Court, and Ms. Manigault as to the status of my pending appeal. I was told by the above stated agents that I didn't have an appeal pending. I inquired from Ms. Manigault about this matter again. She wrote and told me that she didn1t remember me making such a request.

I then contacted the South Carolina Appellate Division inquiring as to my next course of action. I was told to file another PCR application against my former PCR attorney claiming ineffectiveness of counsel. That application was instituted on October 28, 1993. A hearing was ordered and held February 1, 1995, At the Greenville County Courthouse. Ms. Sue Coe was assigned to the case. I presented a number of witnesses and documentation confirming that I indeed contacted her a number of times concerning his matter. The Honorable Judge Danial Martin denied my request orally and issued an order of dismissal dated October 2, 1995. At that I requested that a notice of appeal be instituted, that was done so by Ms. Sue Coe.

A writ of certiorari was instituted by Ms. Coe in the S.C. Supreme Court on January 1 1996. The S.C. Supreme Court issued the following opinion #24456. It was stated that CURIAM: We grant

A writ of certiorari to review the denial of my application for PCR. We dismiss the writ as improvidently granted.

An appeal was filed in U.S. District Court, Greenville Division on July 15, 1997. That request contained fifteen exceptions. U.S. Magistrate Judge Catoe issued a motion for summary judgment. Mr. Sol Blatt, Senior U.S. District Judge for S.C. issued judgment October 13, 1998.

On October 26, 1998, the petitioner filed notice of appeal in the fourth Circuit County of Appeals. The U.S. Court of Appeals dismissed the request and issued an unpublished per curiam opinion January 21, 1999, which they denied my request.

I desperately need someone who has expertise in the following areas to assist me. I need someone who has knowledge of 4th Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court Procedures. I need a law firm, or law school to accept my case into their pro bono program. I also need an investigative team to adequately investigate my case. I need medial involvement of any kind. I am actively seeking a group or a medial organization to publicize my case.

The following information is available upon request. A chronological statement of facts surrounding my case, statement of the history of my case, post-conviction applications, and trial transcripts.

If a group or an organization seek additional information about my case my family and I will be more than glad to assist anyone who is serious about seeing justice done in this case.

My contact person is Ms. Sarah Whitener 140 Irby Drive Winnsboro, S.C. 29180 PH ( 803-635-4137 ).

The Wakefield appreciate any response. If you and your organization can't assist me please forward this information to someone who can, or forward their address to us. The Wakefield family and I would just like to thank you for your prayers, assistance, and consideration.

Sincerely,

TO BE CONCERNED IS NOT ENOUGH.

TRUE JUSTICE WILL NEVER BE ACHIEVED

UNTIL THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN INJURED

BY AN INJUSTICE ARE AS OUTRAGED AS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN.

1