My brother Thomas Coke is currently incarcerated at Pelican Bay State Prison. He has been in Prison for 28 years. Thomas (only 18) shot a young man (only 19) in 1977. At that time Thomas thought that he had to defend himself. He was repeatedly harrassed by this person daily for many months. He was even threatened to be killed by him. James had threatened to kill Thomas on numerous accounts. He had also broken out one of our windows to our mobile home trailor we lived in. James brandished a revolver and threatened to kill him again. The young man and his brother would be drunk some nights and drive by our mobile home and throw empty beer bottles at the windows and doors yelling and cussing, telling Thomas he is a dead man. Thomas was 18 years old when this happened, and is now 46 years old. He has served his time. He has been locked up through both of our parents death, the births of many children and their children. He has so many neices and nephews he doesn\'t even know, or has never even seen. Thomas\' incarceration has caused the family so much emotional stress. My mother worried so often that she ended up dying from a massive heart attack due to stress. The Public Defender was new and lacking in knowledge and did not represent Thomas properly. The Public Defender would not let anyone testify on Thomas\' behalf. I feel he was misrepresented and deserves another chance with his life. He should have the opportunity to start a life and a possibilty to have a family of his own. Thomas realizes what he has done and would take it back if he could. He was just a child trying to be man protecting his family. Thomas is the oldest of (4) four children. There were three other children there when he was threatened and told he was going to die. Thomas thought he was going to be shot from James so he was just defending himself. Now after 28 years he has let God be his guider and is ready to come home and start a new beginning. Thomas has spent 2/3 of his life in Prison. HE HAS SERVED HIS TIME AND DESERVES ANOTHER CHANCE... That is my reason for this petition. PLEASE HELP ME GET HIM RELEASED! We need him home. Thomas needs to be home with his family.

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