The Reggie Clemons Interview: ‘I Know I’m Innocent’

Today, in the third part of “Death Penalty On Trial”, its multimedia examination of the Reggie Clemons case, The Guardian features an interview with Reggie himself.  In it, he maintains his innocence, discusses his version of what happened the night the Kerry sisters died, and describes the alleged beating he took at the hands of police.

“If you believe that somebody’s willing to beat you to death, while they’re beating you they can just about get you to admit anything.”

Watch for yourself:


That alleged abuse, and the confirmed abuse of Thomas Cummins, who at first was a suspect and then became a star witness for the prosecution, was just the beginning of a deeply flawed pursuit of justice that will be the subject of an unusual “Special Master” hearing on Sept. 17.

To learn more about Reggie Clemons, read Amnesty International’s report and fact sheet …  and take action.

AIUSA welcomes a lively and courteous discussion that follow our Community Guidelines. Comments are not pre-screened before they post but AIUSA reserves the right to remove any comments violating our guidelines.

14 thoughts on “The Reggie Clemons Interview: ‘I Know I’m Innocent’

  1. Death sentence should be abolished, apart from the question whether someone is guilty or not.

  2. Well that does it Case closed! The convicted murderer said he is innocent in an interview by an anti-capital punishment "jounalist". Wow — perhaps a new trial is in order and the jury should watch this unsworn – non-cross examinated "testimony" that contradicts eye witnesses. Good job AI. LOL

  3. And the USA claims to be a Christian country?? What happened to "turn the other cheek"?
    To kill yet another person NEVER brings back a loved one to life, it just causes more people grief and sorrow. Banish the death penalty, it's nothing else but murder!

    • I agree with you in regards to the death penalty, but the USA is not a "Christian" country. The USA is a conglomeration of many cultures, races, and religions. In fact, the forefathers purposely separated church and state. John Quincy Adams was sworn in using a book of law instead of a bible because he wanted to maintain the separation of church and state. Julie and Robin Kerry (raped and thrown off a bridge) were anti-racism activists who were strongly opposed to the death penalty. Reggie Clemons was there. He was one of the two larger and older of the four accused. Three witnesses, including the girl's cousin, say he raped and pushed those girls off the bridge. I do not understand what Amnesty is doing with this case, when there is so much injustice in the world toward truly innocent people.

      • How come then, Kyrie, our paper currency denotes this statement – "IN GOD WE TRUST?" Whose God is it? Can a Muslim truly pay with currency that has that denotation on it? What about government – do you remember the Bush era? Did we have sepration of sepation of Church and State? In the realm of today, this separation you refer to, is a farce. Just thinking out loud. LOL.

  4. I don't know anything about this case, other than what I've just read and listened to here but, what about DNA evidence? If not him, then who? What about the other people he was with on the bridge?

  5. We will not consider the USA as a civilized place, no matter what they manage to do in other fields, until the death penalty is completely abolished. Citizens should feel ashamed being part of such mentality.

    • I write this with the assumption that you live in the United States of America:

      United States of America affords liberties to all kinds of individuals beyond your wildest imagination. Our nation intervenes and supports humanitarian initiatives abroad, tons of dollars going to various causes. This country allows for individualism to flourish. And what do you do to thank the US? You condemn it for having devised a criminal justice system that has capital punishment for those who murder but do not consider all these other aspects that make this country an emigration dream for millions (even ones from nations that spit on us).

      I am a product of a socialist nation and came here at the age of 14. Have you experienced other political systems? Do you know anything beyond your nose and this so-called activism, which you are not even informed about? Apparently not, since you diminish the very nation that embraces democracy and invididual liberties and provides us with the tools to develop our fullest potential.

    • Response cont:

      Advocate for abolishment without condemning and insulting because it will not get your cause an inch of movement. Support your activism with merit and not imagined ideals, the world simply does not work that way. Provide constructive criticism with solutions to this nation's crime/murder rate and incarceration dilemma. Back up your rhetoric with factual information. Do not be like a hot balloon – full of air and short on substance… LOL

  6. Are you kidding me? You have the eye witness testimony of three people who say he robbed, raped, and pushed these young people off the bridge. Obviously he was beat up by the police, obviously that was wrong. It doesn't change what he did. Don't make a murderer/rapist your poster-child for fighting the death penalty. Do you really think he had nothing to do with it? I don't think you are going to further your cause by marching around with a banner for this guy. Address the death penalty for what it is.

  7. This is not right! It feels horrible when one is not guilty of anything and "justice" makes us guilty of wherever they trying to charged us. I have been victim of such injustice. Someone used my name in a traffic infraction and stayed in my record. Months later, I got arrested because of such ticket. Police should be doing their job and investigate and stop accusing innocent people just because they think their are the law. They just criminals hiding themselves in a uniform.
    Also, I want to make a point clear that we can find professional police who do their job. I respect such polices.

  8. There is NO physical evidence against Reggie Clemons and the legal system in Missouri still wants to give him the death penalty! This is a perfect example of flaws in our legal system and the use of coercive power.

  9. Incredible series by The Guardian. So happy to see Reggie's story getting the attention it deserves. I'll be keeping my eye on the trial next month and hope that justice for Reggie and the victims' families can come soon. Great work Amnesty!

  10. I think that AI is hanging onto the concept of inappropriate circumstantial evidence, but from my perspective, the lack of physical evidence in this case DOES NOT negate the collaborated testimony of three unrelated individuals. And thus, the circumstantial evidence outweighs anything else.

    Also, a side note to AI: to post an article with the headline "Bias, Misconduct and Error: Reggie Clemons and Missouri's Tragically Flawed Death Penalty" w/o any solid facts to back this up (and only Clemons' claims) – diminishes any credibility you may have won with the more educated reader…

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