by Eric Ture Muhammad
Staff Writer

ATLANTA (FinalCall.com)�Issues of fairness and justice remain the core concern for family, supporters and activists in the case of Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, the former Black Panther once known as H. Rap Brown. Now in its second week, Mr. Al-Amin is on trial for the murder of Fulton County Sheriff Deputy Rickey Kinchen and the wounding of his partner, Sheriff Deputy Aldranon English, in a gunfight that occurred in the West End section of Atlanta nearly two years ago.

Mr. Al-Amin, 58, says he is innocent and that his trial is a result of a government conspiracy. If convicted, he faces the death penalty.

The trial opened on Feb. 19 with tearful testimony from Mr. English, who identified Mr. Al-Amin in the courtroom as his shooter. The court also heard from 28-year old Damien Gordon, who, the night of the shooting, was renovating a rental home nearby and ran over to investigate after hearing gunshots. He said he found Deputy English lying in a field, bleeding and still pleading for his life.

"He was saying, �Please don�t shoot me anymore,� and repeating that phrase over and over," Mr. Gordon testified. Mr. Gordon said he then called 911 from his cell phone. He placed a second call to 911, after hearing the slam of car doors. He identified for dispatchers a dark-colored "Cadillac" or "an '82 Impala" as driving away from the scene.

Mr. English, who testified as being shot running and later again face down, said that only one car other than the squad car was on the scene, a Black Mercedes-Benz and that Mr. Al-Amin was the lone gunman.

Supporters of the imam contend that the account from Mr. English points to another gunman and not Imam Al-Amin.

Since the fateful night of March 16, 2000, facts surrounding the case have been marred in debate. Strict gag orders placed on the imam, his attorneys, and the prosecutors leave many questions unanswered. The court has not established whether Mr. Al-Amin was on the scene the night of the shooting.

The latest to join the fray is Mrs. Corretta Scott King, widow of slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

"I want to express my concern about fairness and justice in the trial of Mr. Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin," read a statement by Mrs. King released Feb. 22 from The King Center for Social Change in Atlanta. "

All of the inconsistencies that have emerged in this case must be thoroughly explored and fully investigated, and a clear and unequivocal motive must be established for the verdict to have the credibility needed for closure," she said.

Her statement drew criticism from the Kinchen family. "I think the State has gone out of its way to make sure that he has the best legal team to remove any doubt that the results are fair," said David Kinchen, Deputy Kinchen�s brother. "That is why we�re so baffled that Corretta would come out and suggest that Mr. Al-Amin is not getting a fair trial."

Questions surrounding original reports from Mr. Kinchen before his death as well as Mr. English regarding the wounding of their assailant and his description also drew controversy. The Imam, when captured four days after the shooting, was uninjured. The Emergency 911 operator log, the night of the shooting, reported a man seeking hospital attention apparently suffering from a gunshot wound not far from the West End shooting. In addition, police reported blood evidence near the scene.

There is also the controversy surrounding the confession of Mr. Otis Jackson--though since recanted, apparently prove consistent with known facts of the case.

"The canons of western jurisprudence, generally speaking, are that a confession is only as good as the evidence that can support it," said Mauri Salaakhan, director of the Maryland-based Peace and Justice Foundation. "In the immediate aftermath of the March 16 tragedy, many conflicting and contradictory reports were disseminated by the mainstream media. But as the dust settled, and certain facts began to emerge, a more accurate picture of the tragedy has begun to take shape.

"Only Allah knows what really happened the night of March 16, and who all was involved. We can only speculate. Increasingly, however, it has become clear that information surrounding this case has been seriously flawed from the start; and it also appears that persons in high places are attempting to make the water even murkier," he said.

Prosecutors have not yet established a motive in the case, nor are they required to. "It would be inappropriate for us to comment at this time," Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard told reporters when questioned concerning the case. "Judge (Stephanie) Manis has strenuously worked to see that the facts and circumstances of this case are determined in the courtroom and not through exchanges in the media. We will stand by her order," he said.

Supporters who witnessed jury selection, however, feel that the gag orders and the handling of defense attorneys, particularly of Black attorney Michael Tarif Warren, leave the issues of fairness and justice in turmoil. Several exchanges between Mr. Warren and Judge Manis nearly left Mr. Warren with contempt of court charges.

At one point, Ms. Manis clearly stated that though Mr. Al-Amin has four attorneys, he could do just as well with three. Many viewed her comments as a threat to Mr. Warren. The Imam�s other attorneys are Jack Martin, Bruce Harvey and Tony Axam.

"If Jamil says he didn�t do it, he didn�t do it. He�s not going to tell me something that is not true," said Ed Brown, older brother of Imam Al-Amin.

With the younger sibling silenced, Mr. Brown has become the public face of his brother�s defense, monitoring court proceedings and defending the imam to the press.

He told The Final Call that police have targeted his brother since his radical youth and wonders if a Muslim cleric dressed in traditional robes and married to more than one wife can receive a fair trial in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on America.

The 12-member jury consists of nine Blacks, two Whites and one Hispanic. There are alternate jurors. The trial is expected to last three to five weeks.