MAY GOD HAVE MERCY A True Story of Crime and Punishment

Hardback, In 1982, in Grundy, Virginia, a young miner named Roger Coleman was sentenced to death for the murder of his sister-in-law. Ten years later, Coleman's case had become an international cause celebre as a result of the extraordinary efforts of Kitty Behan, a brilliant and dedicated young lawyer who devoted 2yrs of her life to gathering evidence of Coleman's innocence. Despite the mounting demands of the public, the media, and world religious leaders that Coleman's conviction be re-examined, the courts refused to consider new evidence because of a lawyer's mistake: years earlier, an appointed lawyer had filed a document one day late. The governor of Virginia offered Coleman only one chance for a reprieve - the opportunity to take a lie-detector test on the morning of his scheduled execution. The author explores the legal and moral complexities of this dramatic case with devastating impact. It is a book about guilt and innocence, about the search for truth, and about the courageous efforts of a young lawyer determined to save her client's life. In the author's telling, the Roger Coleman case is an emotional and unforgettable roller-coaster ride - a fascinating murder mystery that provides a chilling glimpse into the workings of the criminal justice system in the United States. Illus. + Map and Index. 358pp. lge. 8vo. h/back. From the library of true crime writer, Wilfred Gregg, with his personal b/plate. F. in Vg+ dw. A fairly heavy book which may require additional postage.