A plea for help . from Terri Been, Jeff Woods sister

Hello everybody, I am writing to give a brief update on Jeff Wood’s case.

Currently, Jeff’s competency is being evaluated by professionals hired by his lawyers. Just a few days ago Jeff's lawyers were able to get a 60 day extension for filing his petition and the results from the competency “evaluation”.

So our new deadline is March 23, 2009; at which time the courts will determine if a competency hearing is necessary. If the tests conclude that he (Jeff) understands that he is going to be murdered for a murder he did not commit, then another execution date will set. If the doctor determines that he doesn't understand that he will be killed, then a hearing will be set where a jury will determine whether they think he is competent enough to be killed. (What I'd like to know is what innocent person can truly come to terms with the fact that they are going to die for something they didn't do?...but that’s just me.)

Continued support is desperately needed and we have been urged to continue looking for mass public support!!! WE NEED PETITION SIGNATURES!!! Jeff has just over 1300 signatures on his newest petition, and we need around 20,000 to make any kind of difference…so we have a long way to go!!!! (The last petition we did for Jeff got less than 3000 signatures, and the BPP did not take it seriously, but this can be accomplished as Reginald W. Perkins currently has over 17,000 signatures…so I know it is possible!)

We also need letters of support for Jeff, and we need you to contact the Texas Law Makers about the Law of Parties…especially now since there is a BILL up for review to end the death penalty as it applies to the law of parties!!! (But we can’t do this without your help or support.) We need these lawmakers to hear our voices and our concerns!!! One of the problems that I see with the law is that it will NOT be retroactive; so it will NOT help those who have already been convicted under the LOP (my brother for instance); BUT I have been informed that there is a possibility that someone could make an amendment to that bill to “cover” the retroactive…if there was public support for it…SO PLEASE CONTACT THE TEXAS LAWMAKERS!!!

I am also starting to collect letters once again in support for Jeff. It does NOT matter if you have previously written…we need more as we had to “start over”. I ask that you not send them directly to the Board of Pardons or Paroles as of yet. Please send scanned copies of your letters with your signature(s) (and your city/state or country under your signature) to my personal e-mail  at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  (address it as Clemency Letter for Jeff in the subject Box and I will make sure that Jeff’s lawyers have these for the hearing and the future clemency package). I do ask however that you please keep a copy on file so when it comes closer, you can directly send your letter to the Governor via the webform on Rick Perry's website http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact, in addition to our submitting it by paper!

Below is a sample letter you may use as a guide. Thank you so very much for your help in this urgent matter; it is greatly appreciated!!!

Sample letter:

Attention: Governor Perry and the Board of Pardons and Paroles

In the interest of justice, I appeal to you to grant clemency for Jeffrey Wood.

Jeff Wood was sentenced to death, under the Law of Parties, in 1996 for the murder of Kris Keeran; a murder he did NOT commit, plan or know would even happen. This Murder was actually committed in 1996 by Daniel Earl Reneau who was executed in Texas on June 13, 2002.

I am particularly concerned that Jeffrey Wood may be executed despite serious concerns regarding inadequate legal counsel and lack of mitigating evidence presented.

The death of Kris Keeran was extremely tragic, and I in no way seek to deny the amount of pain and suffering the Keeran family has endured. But Wood’s jury issued him a death sentence without hearing any mitigating evidence, even though such evidence was readily available.

The fact that Wood’s jury did not hear this important evidence has not been corrected by the courts, and executive clemency exists to intervene where the courts cannot. I strongly urge you to demonstrate your respect for justice and human life by doing everything in your power to commute the death sentence of Jeffrey Wood, a man who is in deed innocent of murder. Thank you for your time and attention to this serious matter.

Sincerely
Terri Been
Lampasas, Texas