Yesterday, CEC For Life, along with Rev. Rob Schenck and Rev. Pat Mahoney of the Ten Commandments Project, co-hosted a private Fellowship Breakfast, followed by a press conference regarding the urgent situation of death row inmate William “Billy” Kuenzel.
Sam Waterston, award-winning actor and star of NBC’s Law & Order, spoke at both events, first addressing local clergy and ministry leaders of Birmingham at the breakfast, and then several important media outlets at the press conference. He was joined by actress Joanna Merlin (Law & Order: SVU), a long-time friend of Waterston who asked him to get involved with Billy Kuenzel’s plea for justice. Merlin’s husband, an attorney, was the first person to investigate the possibility of Kuenzel’s innocence, of which he became thoroughly convinced years and years ago.
Kuenzel’s legal team also spoke at the events, as well as Rev. Robert Schenck and local leaders Natalie Brumfield of Bound4Life Birmingham and Fr. Mark Finley of Church of the Reconciler Fairfield.
The purpose of the breakfast and press conference was to establish support from leaders within the state, ministry leaders especially, for an Amicus Brief that Keunzel’s legal team hopes to put forward when they are finally given a hearing. Keunzel’s attorneys report that the man’s innocence is unquestionable, and they are asking the Alabama court for a new trial to review new evidence that will prove it. It is Keunzel’s last chance to be saved from execution.
For more information on the Amicus Brief, trial, and facts surrounding Billy Keunzel’s conviction, please visit www.albamaforjustice.com.