Welcome to the International Justice Center's Web Site! The International Justice Center is a not-for-profit organization founded by Ian Hopkins and James Lucius, both past victims of the criminal justice system, to help educate the public about the flaws in this system, and to work with law enforcement officials, politicians, and those interested in criminal justice issues, to effect positive change in the system, both locally and on a national level.

To that end, the IJC has additionally established its Center for Judicial and Political Accountability, which will focus on among other things, prison reform and the nationwide epidemic of wrongful convictions and our ineffective and massively backlogged appeals system.

This section of our Web Site will focus specifically on the wrongful conviction of Fredrick Thomas "Mickey" Freeman, (AKA Temujin Kensu), whom has now languished in prison for almost 20 years, for a 1986 homicide he did not commit. Temujin, as he's known to his friends, has supporters in virtually all fields to include attorneys, law enforcement, (both city, state and federal, and both retired and active), at least one present judge and two former judges and prosecutors, several agents of the Michigan Attorney General's Office, polygraphers, (whom are also former law enforcement), innocence projects, reporters, filmmakers, and numerous private investigators, all of whom have worked pro bono (or free of charge), in the hopes that his story will be told, that the people actually responsible for this criminal abuse of the system will finally pursue the real killers, and with the noble intentions of seeing Temujin freed and reunited with his many friends, supporters, loved ones, family and his adoring wife A'miko, whom has stood by him now for almost 16 of his 20 years of incarceration.

For reasons of safety and confidentiality, some of the information regarding attempts to win Temujin's freedom and see justice done, cannot be revealed on this Site, but those involved in this effort will gladly provide additional information upon request and of course, stand willing to work with anyone interested in this issue, from virtually any perspective.

It is an undeniable fact that Temujin Kensu, an innocent man, has languished in Michigan prison for over 19 years for a crime he absolutely did not commit, owing to the duplicity of Michigan public officials, corrupt law enforcement looking to 'close a case', the political ambitions of former prosecutor and now federal judge Robert H. Cleland and the apparent indifference of the Michigan Attorney General's Office and Governors John Engler and now Jennifer Granholm.

There is an enormous amount of evidence of both the criminal police and prosecutorial misconduct which resulted in this conviction, and even more evidence of Temujin's complete innocence of this crime and the actual guilt of the true murderer and his accomplice. Still, the local police and prosecutor's office and now the Michigan Attorney General's Office, refuse to properly review or act upon any of this growing body of irrefutable evidence, or to even take the time to question this individual, whom had been identified by others, as early as a few days after the murder as the person responsible for the crime for which Temujin was wrongfully convicted!

Now a large group of skilled and dedicated professionals and lay-persons have come together, to protest this cruel travesty, and to petition the Attorney General of Michigan and the Governor, to see that justice is at last provided where it has been denied for so long; to this innocent man, to his friends and loved ones, to the victim and his family and to the Citizens of this State and this Nation. It is the sincere belief of this wonderful gathering of supporters, law enforcement and legal experts, (all of whom have donated their time and efforts without cost), that Temujin was not only 'railroaded' to help swiftly close this case, but that political influence and money helped ensure extensive delays in his receiving his trial transcripts, (in violation of Michigan law), along with his appointment of attorney, his appeals, denials of hearings, evidence, experts, forensic testing and results, critical alibi witnesses and evidence, and the eventual refusal of the Michigan Supreme Court to even consider his many appellate issues. We believe this misconduct occurred and the extensive proof of his innocence is being deliberately ignored, solely because of the influence of the victim's wealthy family and then-prosecutor Cleland, whom is now a notoriously abusive federal judge in the Eastern District of Michigan, and whom wields enormous political, financial and judicial power.

It is further believed that others are working to protect Cleland and themselves from investigation and possible prosecution for their criminal misconduct in the framing of this once young man, by not only hampering his appeals and exerting pressure on legal and media resources to halt all reviews of Temujin's case, but by also covering up additional evidence that proves Temujin's innocence and which would expose this tragic denial of justice.

It is thus our hope, that those of you whom read this, regardless of your political affiliations, will join with us to demand that this case be reviewed by both Michael Cox and the Office of the Attorney General, and Governor Jennifer Granholm, the same former Attorney General whom refused to act on this matter, even when two of her own Special Agents, expressed their belief in Temujin's total innocence of this crime! Temujin truly is a political prisoner convicted not based on one shred of guilt of his involvement in any aspect of this crime, but instead, because of his poor financial and social status, not having the influence or money required to obtain justice in Michigan's courts!

Included within are just some of the shocking and yet, true facts of this case and the reasons behind our petition to see that Michigan's Highest Law Enforcement Officials, (The Attorney General and the Governor), act immediately to see that justice is granted where it has so long been denied.

1) This case revolved around the election year murder of a local mayor's son, whom in turn was a large contributor to the campaign of Robert Cleland, the man whom framed Temujin for this crime and whom later became a protected federal judge. Cleland also ran for the Attorney General's Office twice and would obviously (as is apparent from the trial record, replete with thousands of violations), do anything necessary to secure this conviction and protect his "good name".

2) There were no witnesses to any aspect of the crime itself.

3) Temujin was never tied to the victim by any rational theory or evidence, nor were any required elements of the crime, (motive, forethought, planning, etc.) established.

4) The murder weapon was never found, or tied to Temujin and police admit finding no guns in his possession. (It is now believed that the actual murder weapon was seen in the possession of the real murderer, formerly of Croswell, whom later disposed of it).

5) Temujin was never identified by anyone as the actual killer, and no witness ever linked him to the victim and any hostility of any kind or any reason why Temujin should want to kill this man he did not know and had never met.

6) Not a single forensic test result tied Temujin to any aspect of the crime, and the only fingerprints found on the victim's vehicle and a nearby shot shell box, were not Temujin's.

7) Temujin produced 20 credible alibi witnesses, whom placed him in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, almost 500 miles away from the scene of the crime, from the night prior until the early morning just prior to the crime, to the exact time of the crime and until the late evening hours of the same day, covering virtually every moment of the day in question and the day prior.

8) Many other important alibi witnesses were not called by Temujin's alcoholic and crack-cocaine addicted trial attorney, fed to him by his persecutors. Both his trial 'judge', (James T. Corden), the police involved, (John Bowns, fired for misconduct and Harry Hudson) and prosecutor Robert Cleland knew that Temujin's attorney, (David Dean), was a drunk and a drug addict, whom worked for them as a prosecutor and whom had a criminal drug history. (This lawyer was later disbarred for drug use, lying, falsifying responses, stealing from clients and related misconduct. Some of his other shocking misconduct, included stealing the contents of Temujin's several storage bins and all, his life's possessions and selling them for pennies on the dollar, from a local bar he owned and practically lived in, to buy drugs including powder and crack cocaine. Several of his dealers have since come forward to admit to all of this.)

9) Temujin produced documents proving that he was at a K- Mart's and an auto parts store in Escanaba, (in the U.P.), confirming that his car was broken down, that he bought auto parts to repair it, and that he wrote checks for the same. He also produced managers from both businesses to confirm this, all of which occurred on the same day as the murder!

10) A coat, which the prosecutor knew was not Temujin's was deceptively entered as evidence (with the full consent of 'Judge' Corden), even though it was never identified, and nitrite tests showed that it did not have gunpowder residue on it and yet was dirty and had not been washed in quite a while, nor did it match the specific clothing described by one eyewitness to a possible 'suspect'. (Conversely, the real murderer wore such a jacket regularly.)

11) The alleged suspect vehicle, which was accurately described by one eyewitness to an 'incident' within seconds of the crime, (but not the actual crime), was never found or tied to Temujin, though Cleland falsely led the jury to believe that Temujin was in this 'suspect vehicle'. Conversely, such a vehicle was identified by an anonymous 'witness' several days after the murder, and was tied to the same small city where the victim and the real murderer came from. Still, the police refused to even interview the driver of this car. What are the odds, that an anonymous caller would identify the identical vehicle to the suspect vehicle and that it would be traced to the same small town as that of the victim and the real murderer? (It should be noted that Temujin knew none of these people, and lived nowhere near any of them!)

12) Though Temujin was willing to take a polygraph, (as were his alibi witnesses), and even filed a motion to take one, both the judge and prosecutor refused to permit this, and even canceled the originally scheduled test, in light of the growing evidence of his innocence. No other witness was polygraphed either, over his protests.

13) Temujin was denied the right to have any experts at his trial, to address any crucial issues in the case, to include a criminal defense expert, an eyewitness identification expert, an expert on hypnosis, (the prosecutor used a fake 'hypnotized' "witness" to place Temujin at the scene that day), or a private investigator to help unravel this complex case, (commonly permitted in such prosecutions). All of these denials were made by 'Judge' Corden, who took no action to protect Temujin's rights or to ensure that he had anything resembling a 'fair trial' as required by law.

14) Prosecutor Cleland's entire direct case, consisted of insulting and degrading character attacks, made for the most part, by three 'witnesses' whom claimed no actual knowledge of the crime, were exceedingly base in character themselves, and were called simply to insult Temujin and incite the jury against him. None of these witnesses could tie Temujin to this crime, provide any rational motive for it and by law should not have been allowed to testify at this trial. 'Judge' Corden and Cleland violated every single ruling on both a state and federal level regarding such illegal and prejudicial evidence. Even so, none of these so-called witnesses could testify to Temujin having either the means or a motive to commit this crime. One, Thomas Forde, Temujin's former roommate, admitted that he never heard a word from Temujin about the victim and lived with him just prior to the crime, and never saw him with a car similar to the suspect vehicle or the murder weapon. The other, a spurned girlfriend, Lori Cicarelli, whom had a mental health history and felony record, had not even seen him since a year prior to the murder! The third, was the main 'character witness' Crystal Merrill, whom was described even by the local chief of police in a resent interview as a 'real piece of garbage' among other negative things, along with calling her a 'liar, manipulator', etc.

15) Temujin's principal alibi witness, Michelle, whom was pregnant with his son Fredrick II, was threatened by the police, had her puppies taken and destroyed without warning or a hearing even though they were in excellent health, and was told if she testified, she would "lose her child and go to prison for perjury". She then ran in fear and hid. After the trial, learning of Temujin's conviction, she attempted to come forward and speak, but 'Judge' Corden would not permit her to do so, even though Cleland made deliberate references to her absence, trying to imply deceitfully that, Michelle and another female witness, Deanna were possibly dead, when in fact he knew exactly where both of them were and hid this information from Temujin and his lawyer! (Both are still alive and quite well.)

16) 'Judge' Corden barred the defense from telling the jury that the only 'direct' witness against Temujin had been 'hypnotized' changed his story several times, altered the description of the subject several times, gave 12 different license plate numbers (none of them legitimate), changed the description of the 'suspect vehicle' extensively and in make, model and color, (all the way from a 'Tannish' Mazda RX-7 to a 'Burgundy' Ford Escort Station Wagon!, and this 'witness' was a student in several college auto body programs!) Further this 'witness', thanks to help from the people whom framed Temujin is now himself a police officer, accused of regular misconduct! More amazing, a friend standing next to him, when he claimed to see the suspicious incident and vehicle and claimed to 'write down the plate number on a piece of paper' and 'got a long, good look at the driver' contradicted everything that he said, to include him never writing down a plate number, paying attention to any vehicle or incident, etc.! Even more disturbing is the fact that this individual, whom wanted to be a police officer and the 'star witness' in this case, knew two of the people in the lineup he attended, saw prior photos of Temujin, and thus could not help but pick him out after he described out loud, appearance features he 'knew' the police were looking for!

17) Cleland used a planted 'inmate snitch' whom Temujin was supposed to have 'confessed' to, even while constantly protesting his innocence to anyone whom would listen. When Temujin insisted on his innocence, the snitch was paid money, clothing, appliances and released from responsibility for a potential life-sentence for crimes as a habitual offender, in exchange for writing a phony note of 'concern' and claiming Temujin 'confessed' and later coming to trial and lying. Further, 'Judge' Corden lied to the jury and told them that this snitch (Phil Joplin) received no 'deals or special favors' when in fact, Corden himself, gave Joplin a special sentence and worked to have him released from prison and returned to the same corrections center he escaped from and committed many of his recent crimes from! Corden also oversaw an illegal and unrecorded 'hearing' with Joplin and documents attest to his personal influence used to release this 'witness'.

18) Two other prosecution witnesses picked out a man that looked nothing like Temujin and whom looked exactly like the actual murderer, (and in fact, whom knew this same murderer). At trial, both of these witnesses, whom also did not pick Temujin out from an illegal and counsel-less photo lineup, tried to change their testimony at trial, when they were informed they picked out the wrong man, (which they admitted the police hid from them).

19) Numerous prosecution witnesses were caught in deliberate and blatant lies during the trial, to especially include Detective Dave Hall, and Officers John Bowns and Harry Hudson, about everything from the content of falsified police reports, to personal conversations, but the 'judge' refused to censure any of them or to permit the defense to do so or to punish Cleland for using knowingly perjured testimony.

20) Cleland, knowing that he could not discredit the alibi testimony of some 20 people, not to mention other evidence of the impossibility that Temujin somehow drove to and from the murder scene in the time allotted, (to include closed roads, winter weather, his broken down vehicle, etc.), at the last second at rebuttal, brought in a police pilot to say that Temujin, near destitute, "could" have hired a private, chartered plane, flown to a 'secret' airport, obtained the suspect vehicle, laid in waiting, killed the victim, got away, dumped the suspect vehicle, changed clothes, got back on the chartered plane, flew up north to another airport, and gotten into a very different car he was seen in that morning with his son's mother and their puppies and kitten, to appear in town 456 miles away to be seen by at least 20 honest, credible, law-abiding people! As preposterous as this ridiculous and obviously deceptive fabrication was, 'Judge' Corden permitted it, regardless of the meager defense objections. Cleland was even permitted to bring a fake map he had made up of "possible secret airports and farm fields" onto which Temujin and his 'secret pilot' were to have landed on frozen ground in his 'secret plane' to kill a man he never met, for absolutely no known reason. Though it costs thousands to charter such a plane, and though this insane scenario would require a conspiracy among pilots, airport managers and air traffic controllers, Temujin's son's mother, and many of his alibi witnesses, (most of whom were local business people and not personal friends), Cleland was able to brush aside the fact that Temujin was unemployed, his son's mother was on welfare and they lived in a small $200.00 a month rental house in the middle of a small community far from any airports or airstrips!

21) The first jury vote was 8-4 for acquittal. Trapped in the sweltering heat of a small, un-airconditioned room, the jurors were heard to complain that they were not even being given water. Corden refused to sequester the jury, and told them they needed to 'come to the right decision and they knew what that decision was'. Unable to convict him, they were sent home for the weekend and later returned with an "unanimous" guilty verdict that left some jurors in tears. Several interviewed since have admitted that there was not a single piece of evidence to indicate that Temujin had committed this crime, but that "Cleland" used a lot of tricks to make them think he did it, though they could not say how or why"! It was clear that the jurors were confused when after later interviews one complained that Temujin did not testify, one commented on the shabby appearance and character of his drunk and drug addicted court-appointed lawyer and one said he was 'too cocky and arrogant' though they never heard him say a word and he composed himself perfectly while in court except for facial expressions of shock at some of the deceptions being used by Cleland, such as the 'secret plane' "theory". It should also be noted that the jurors illegally, saw Temujin being paraded around with armed 'shotgun escorts' with the police making huge scenes of "danger" and with him shackled and in jail uniforms, also illegal, but done deliberately to give the impression of "guilt".

22) Temujin's supporters believe that the phony 'hypnotized' eyewitness, may have been working with the police to help set him up, prior to his arrest. In particular, on the 14th of November, the Mt. Clemens, Michigan State Police Post, received an 'anonymous' call from a person claiming to have 'just seen' Temujin in the alleged suspect vehicle, the same Ford Escort Wagon described only by Rene Gobeyn, the 'hypnotized witness'. The caller claimed to know that Temujin was using an alias, (this had also not been released), yet claimed to also know his 'real name', information that could only have been gleaned from the police. Further, the caller claimed to know the victim's family, claimed that he was a criminal justice student and claimed the car was 'the one the police were looking for with the guy they want in it'. He said he saw this car traveling on I-94 minutes earlier. What he did not know, (because the police had not yet told him), was that Temujin was arrested the day before and was in the Troy jail at the exact time in which the 'anonymous' caller tried to place Temujin in a Red Ford Escort Station Wagon! Only Rene Gobeyn ever claimed to see such a car, and he changed his original description of a Tannish Mazda RX-7 only after talking to the police several times. Temujin never had access to either type of car. The Ford Escort was traced to a Theresa Grenon, whom claimed her 'son' was driving the car. Port Huron Police refused to even bother to interview this alleged 'brother' whom fit the description of the actual murderer. Theresa Grenon has since been linked to the actual killer and has been identified by police in the state, county and city where the real murderer now lives as being 'known to them'. It is likely that the real murderer was driving this car that day. All the 'information' provided by this 'anonymous' caller, was only possessed by Rene Gobeyn and he was a criminal justice student and friend of the family and in fact, his father worked in the same store with the victim!

23) The victim was killed with a unique and not normally manufactured shotgun round. Where Temujin had no access to, (or possession of) such rounds or equipment, the real murderer was known to have special rounds made at a custom reloader! This was known to the police since 1986, but never revealed until recently.

24) The police and the Attorney General's Office refused to act on either an anonymous letter indicating whom the real killer was and sent to Temujin after several television specials focusing on his innocence, or on additional evidence of Temujin's innocence obtained during those shows. They also refused to respond to numerous letters sent by concerned citizens regarding their desire to see Temujin's case reopened and properly investigated by an independent body such as the Michigan State Police. (Several of Temujin's best supporters are MSP or former MSP.)

25) The police in this case knew that the victim was being stalked by two men that he himself knew up to six months prior to Temujin even living anywhere near the city where this crime occurred or he would have met anyone involved in it. Because of this, the people possessing this evidence, were never called to trial. Temujin had no 'crime partner' and yet the police knew that two people known to the victim were coming after him and refuse to even try to identify these two individuals or to find out why they were 'after' the victim. The police knew that Temujin was not one of these two people. It is suspected that the police are withholding further, similar information, which helps identify these individuals. One of these individuals was the real murderer and fits his description exactly, (also looking much like the man picked out of the lineup, and the other was likely his partner in the crime)!

26) The prosecution tried and failed to allege that Temujin killed Scott over a girl, the erratic character witness, Crystal Merrill, when in fact, he knew that Temujin dumped Crystal in front of a large group of people, told her he never wanted to see her again, told her to never come back to his home and never saw her again, (nor did he even call once), moved 500 miles away shortly thereafter with his son's mother and never returned to the area in which he originally met Crystal; obviously not the actions of a 'jealous boyfriend'. Tied with this was the fact that Scott told his friends that 'his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend was after him' during the period in which he was not seeing Crystal, but another girl! Crystal and the police knew this, but the police wanted to hide the truth and Crystal apparently wanted to be the girl that someone was 'killed over'!

27) Considering that Scott was being stalked before Temujin ever met Crystal, as admitted by his own friends and family, that he was being stalked when he was not seeing Crystal months later, by the same man, and was being stalked after Temujin had moved 500 miles away, (and in fact lived with the prosecution's own character witness Tom Forde whom claimed no knowledge of this crime, admitted that Temujin dumped Crystal and never mentioned her again, and obviously did not know the victim), Cleland persisted in his ridiculous and easily discredited 'theory' because he could come up with no other.

28) The police and prosecution knew that Scott's real killer knew what he looked like, where he lived, (the killer lived in the same small town, Croswell, nowhere near Temujin), along with knowing that Scott went to college and when, (he was killed at the college while skipping a class), what kind of car he drove, (he was killed next to his car), and where he worked, (the killer and his brother threatened Scott at work on several occasions). The police and prosecution knew that Temujin could not have known any of this, had never met the victim and didn't even know his last name! Further, the victim's friends made it quite clear that the victim knew his pursuers and he did not know Temujin, nor could he. It is also important to note that while much of this harassment was taking place, either Temujin had not yet met Crystal or even moved to the area where he met her, (Jeddo), or it occurred after Temujin had moved far away and never returned. Even Tom Forde admitted that Temujin never once left the Upper Peninsula by himself, thus Cleland knew from almost the beginning that Temujin was not and could not have been the victim's assailant!

29) Conversely the real murderer's own crime partner, admitted that the real murderer confessed the crime to him, bragged about the innocent guy in jail, (as did the recently deceased man from the jail), and that he killed the victim to silence him over his drug dealing. Both Bowns and Hudson refused to find or interview this suspect, even having this critical information in writing from Temujin! 18 years later this information was proven to be true, when the killer's partner was also identified!

30) Another witness, never called to trial, Arnell Hope, claimed that he was 'insulted' at a Northgate area Taco Bell, by several men, whom claimed that their 'friend' was 'f..cking his girls brains out'. Though the police tried to tie Temujin to this incident, he had never been to Northgate, could not possibly have known whom this Arnell Hope was, had no friends anywhere near that area, (he had just moved back to Michigan after four years in Washington State), could not have possibly had any friends whom knew who Arnell Hope was or who for that matter his 'girl' was, and Arnell did not recognize any of the men and confirmed that Temujin was not one of them. Conversely, Arnell Hope was from that same small town of Croswell, and knew the victim. It appears obvious that these were the friends of the real killer, who was also from that same small town, and that this girl was most likely, the same girl the victim and the killer were seeing. Again, this woman could not have been Crystal, as the police and prosecution knew, thus he was not called to trial and no proper investigation was done into this matter.

31) Even more amazingly, the phony 'hypnotized' witness's own father worked with the victim, and saw one of the incidents in which the two men came into the store to harass him, and later confirmed that Temujin was not either one of these men. This very important witness was also not called either by the prosecution, (whom wanted to hide this very important fact), or Temujin's "lawyer" the drunken and drug-addicted David Dean, whom Temujin and his supporters believe, deliberately 'sold him out' to please the prosecution, the judge and the mayor, the wealthy father of the victim and to protect himself and win favor, owing to his own criminal history and pending investigations into his drug use and other illegal behavior.

32) The incompetence and misconduct of Officers Bowns and Hudson included, not securing the crime scene, not gathering nearby evidence, not interviewing the victim's many classmates, not investigating any tips or clues that led away from Temujin, (there were none that led to him), calling many of his friends and ex-girlfriends, using his phone books, which they stole without a warrant, and trying to get them to 'talk bad' about him, until after numerous attempts they finally found four or five willing to do so, threatening witnesses and harassing others, participating in setting Temujin up with the phony inmate snitch, hiding evidence, threatening Temujin in and out of court, lying to the media to include planting false 'tips' claiming he had been charged with or was being charged with crimes that were completely unfounded, (in an attempt to prejudice the jury), making derogatory, demeaning and false claims about Temujin in the hallways of the courthouse, within earshot of the jurors, hoping they would 'overhear' these statements, implying things like he was 'sex fiend' that he was wanted for 'other murders' 'violent assaults' had a 'history of abuse and drug use', etc. In court they played with swords, knives, pornographic magazines, secret listening devices, and 'Soldier of Fortune' and 'Ninja' magazines in the sight of the jury, along with bringing guns into the courtroom, taken from the evidence lockers, in other cases, all in a disgusting, (though unfortunately effective), attempt to incite the jury against Temujin!

33) Officer Harry Hudson admitted in confidence to Temujin, that he did not see a single piece of evidence that indicated he committed this crime, but that he was ordered to pursue Temujin only by Robert Cleland. He also admitted that the police got many tips that 'did not make sense' and that indicated someone else killed the victim, but that Cleland ordered them not to act on them. In court, he admitted that he told Temujin that he did not see any evidence that he committed this crime.

34) Rene Gobeyn, now a police officer himself, and who had himself 'hypnotized' to ensure his place as the 'star witness' though using polygraphs against others accused of crimes, will not take one himself, and will not discuss this case. (A recent investigation indicates that he may no longer be an officer, as his department will not release any information on him or his status.)

35) The false inmate snitch witness, Phil Joplin, confessed that he lied at Temujin's trial to help set him up and get a deal for himself, that Bowns was 'dirty and took drugs as payoffs' that he was being 'killed' (being denied treatment for his fatal disease while in prison) for telling the truth at last, that he was threatened and coached by his own parole officer Mike Berro who was present with psychiatrist Bruce Duncan, all of whom helped complete the conspiracy to frame Temujin, (and which neither the psychiatrist or the parole agent will discuss to this day), that Judge Corden was part of the setup and used his influence to get him released, that the police including Bowns and prosecutor Thomas Houlihan lied about the secret deal, that he tried to back out several times, that Houlihan himself bought him clothing, food and a VCR all of which were on his credit card, that Temujin never confessed and that he was even willing to take a polygraph to attest to the truthfulness of confession. This was recorded both by Channel 7 ABC Reporter Bill Proctor, Private Investigator Allen Woodside and Temujin's wife, whom went to see Joplin to get any other available information. He also noted that he felt that Temujin's appeal lawyer, deliberately did not ask him the 'right questions' at the 1990 hearing, after he confessed the first time to having lied at trial to the State Appellate Defender's Office private investigator Linda Borus.

36) As noted herein, the real murderer's prior criminal partner, admits that the real murderer confessed to this crime just after it happened. It is believed that this individual knows a great deal more about the murder, but does not want to offer this information, until he is assured that he will not be prosecuted further, that the real killer will be arrested and that he will get some kind of deal for his cooperation.

37) It is obvious that Crystal Merrill must have known the real name of the killer, since she also used drugs and dating the victim when he was killed, the victim knew his assailants and regularly spoke of the harassment and problems he was having, but never once even hinted that it was Temujin, thus making Temujin's supporters suspect that Crystal had some unknown reason for claiming she 'thought' Temujin might be the killer, (such as her and the victim's drug use and dealings) not to mention because of the insane fabrications she told at his trial, where she spoke of 'killing police', steel throwing blades and 'poison darts', high-speed chases, secret bank accounts and a 'house of weapons', spies, 'ninjas', secret organizations, super human physical feats, psychic powers, CIA-type technology, torture, etc., not a a single claim of which could be confirmed by a single source or witness!

38) Officer Bowns and other officers from Port Huron, in direct violation of the explicit instructions given by a Delta County Judge, entered Temujin's home in Rock, Michigan in the Upper Peninsula, and spent about 6 hours in a destructive, completely illegal and warrantless search of Temujin and Michelle's home, after ordering Michelle to come out without coat or shoes, 7 months pregnant, on a below freezing winter day in November, and making her sit, again without any protective garments, in the back of an unheated police car on a plastic bench seat for hours while they engaged in this illegal search. During this search, the police destroyed property, cut locks off when keys were available, forced open vehicle trunks while keys were also available, pried open doors, and basically ransacked the entire premises. This illegal search revealed not a single piece of evidence tying Temujin to any aspect of this case. Further, the police stole a large amount of personal property, including rare collector's knives and related memorabilia, and did not produce a receipt for a single item. They later did the same with Temujin's storage facilities, finding nothing, but again, stealing expensive personal property items. Among the items reported missing were watches, clothing, hunting equipment, martial arts equipment, (Temujin is a highly skilled martial artist), and other valuable items.

39) Officer Bowns was terminated from the Port Huron Police Department after an investigation by the Michigan Attorney General's Office that among other things, found him to be in the presence of illegal gambling and numbers running operations. This termination took place before Temujin's arrest and prosecution. Though Bowns lost repeatedly on both appeals and compensation claims, "somehow" Bowns was again a police officer just a short while later during Temujin's case and was incredibly promoted to Detective Sergeant! Regardless, his incompetence and continued willingness to break the law was adamantly clear in the many false reports he filed, in the numerous times he lied and claimed that Temujin was 'identified' by people whom later noted they never identified him in any way, in his participation in the illegal and destructive searches, his personal misconduct towards Temujin, his misconduct in court which was almost without end, his perjury on the stand under oath, when he lied about the search warrant, about 'not remembering' how they found Temujin in the first place, his complaints about Temujin's desire to take a polygraph, (showing his clear knowledge of Temujin's innocence), his participation in the setting up of Temujin with the phony inmate snitch, (whom also noted that Bowns took bribes including drugs as payoffs), and much, much more, all a matter of record. Bowns also failed to disclose that he had been fired for criminal misconduct and dereliction of duty at Temujin's hearing in 1990, a fact also known to the prosecution and Judge Corden, (just as Cordon knew that Dean was on drug probation and was addicted to alcohol and cocaine during Temujin's case).

Temujin's Supporters include:

* Temujin's own trial judge whom has since come forward to speak

* A former judge and prosecutor with 40 years legal experience

* Members of the local and national media

* Documentary film makers experienced in criminal justice issues

* A Michigan circuit court judge

* Numerous members of law enforcement, retired and active

* 2 special agents of the Attorney General's Office

* Several members of the Michigan State Police

* Every private investigator who examined this case

* The State Appellate Defender's Office

* 2 former highly respected and decorated members of the FBI

* Several celebrities

* Numerous lawyers, innocence projects and criminal justice groups

* Law schools and criminal defense experts from around the nation

1) During trial Temujin was denied competent counsel, and appointed a drunken and drug-addicted former prosecutor whom left office owing to his addictions.

2) Temujin was denied all requested experts and forensic testing including a polygraph.

3) In violation of the res gestae rule, the prosecutor refused to help find several critical witnesses.

4) The prosecution and police withheld an enormous amount of evidence indicating Temujin's innocence of the crime and identifying the other suspects.

5) Temujin was not allowed to take the stand and testify and his lawyer (working more for the prosecution than for Temujin), threatened to quit if he did. This same lawyer refused to call his most important alibi witnesses, or to obtain many of the documents and other evidence that would contradict the prosecution's knowingly false case. When he attempted to protest this, the judge refused to listen to him or to let him speak.

6) When his most important alibi witness came forward from hiding and offered to testify, Judge Cordon refused to let her do so, even though she was with him, at the exact moment of the crime, and even though the other alibi witnesses testified they saw her with him.

7) Judge Corden denied every motion and request for assistance that Temujin required to defend himself against the deceptive and misleading attacks made by Prosecutor Robert Cleland, not one of which had any foundation in the truth.

8) The prosecutor, a personal friend and political ally of the victim's father, used his influence and power to have Temujin treated inhumanely while in jail, including writing 'special orders' to keep him from bathing, shaving, (to modify his appearance and make him look haggard), tried to bring in a professional barber to change Temujin's hair to look like the suspect's, had him placed in a special 'Hannibal Lector' isolation cell, and had him barred from possessing a Bible and most reading books along with recreation, jail religious services, health care and all other jail programming, often even interfering with his visits.

9) On Cleland's orders, all of Temujin's attorney calls were not only illegally monitored, but a jail officer sat within two feet of him, writing everything discussed on note pads which were then given to Cleland or one of the officers in charge of the case, blatantly violating the 'Attorney-Client Privilege Rule'.

10) Cleland ordered that Temujin be forced to walk with a large 'shotgun' escort, to and from the jail, across the courthouse and jail parking lot, in heavy shackles, with extra officers and jail greens, in the hopes that the public and the jury would see him being displayed as a 'mad dog' and a 'serious threat' and to give him the appearance of guilt.

11) During trial, Cleland falsely claimed that he 'learned of an escape plan involving Temujin'. Not only was this a blatant lie, but Temujin was locked in isolation during this time, had no contact with other prisoners, was not receiving visits, and his phone calls as noted were being personally monitored. Cleland used this fabrication to try and justify the abusive treatment he was subjecting Temujin to, in the jail itself. When pressed, he could not produce any details of this alleged, 'escape plan' or even any discussion of such.

12) Where Michigan law requires the production of trial transcripts within 90 days, it took Temujin over a year to get his. One of Cleland's many excuses was that 'the stenographer was on vacation in Hawaii'! Temujin had to make numerous requests and have many people, including attorneys call on his behalf to get the transcripts so he could begin an appeal.

13) Though Temujin filed an immediate, timely Notice of Appeal, it took him over a year to get a lawyer appointed, and two lawyers originally assigned to the case, later refused to handle it, (most likely fearing Port Huron, the evident misconduct in the case, and the requirement and backlash of having to expose this criminal misbehavior). Eventually, again after numerous complaints, letters and protests, Temujin was finally given a lawyer from the State Appellate Defenders Office.

14) This lawyer, Ralph Simpson, though admitting Temujin's innocence even in the first brief, refused to participate in any media events regarding this case, including those focusing on his innocence, only visited Temujin once in his six years on the case, and refused to raise any of Temujin's most meritorious, (and obvious) issues, such as "Actual Innocence" "Prosecutorial Misconduct" "Insufficient Evidence" "Ineffective Assistance of Counsel" etc.

15) In 1990, Temujin was sent back to Port Huron for a hearing on appeal issues. During that hearing, Judge Corden lied about his involvement with the inmate snitch Phil Joplin, Joplin himself was repeatedly threatened not to recant his false testimony, and worse, Ralph Simpson refused to question attorney Dave Dean about his drug and alcohol use, (even though he had been punished yet again for the same) or to question Officer John Bowns about his extensive misconduct record, thus, never learning that Bowns had already been fired for criminal activity including helping run a mob-related gambling and numbers-running operation. Many prisoners and drug dealers have also claimed that Bowns was a 'dirty cop' and took both bribes and drugs as payoffs, to include the prosecution's own phony inmate snitch, Phil Joplin!

16) Conversely, another defendant from Port Huron, Randy Overton, in the same court, raised the issue of Dean's drunkenness and cocaine addiction and his case was immediately reversed, just shortly after Temujin's hearing! Mr. Simpson refused to question either Dean or Bowns even though he had both under oath, claiming it would, 'upset the judge'. Meanwhile, Judge Cordon was permitted to rule on his own misconduct and that of the same former prosecutor whom he personally knew to be a drug addict and alcoholic. (Port Huron has a very small courthouse, with all the offices next door to each other.) Corden knew Dean when he was a prosecutor, as Chief Prosecutor Cleland obviously did, and both knew Dean was on probation for cocaine possession during Temujin's case. Dean was also hospitalized for drug use twice during the time of Temujin's trial preparation! Both Corden and Cleland knew this also as did Officers Bowns and Hudson. They also knew Dean was under investigation by the Drug task Force!

17) Continuing the pattern of deliberate delays, Judge Corden waited almost a year to issue a double-spaced 14 line opinion, denying Temujin's appeal, calling Dean a 'highly competent lawyer' (whom incredibly was found to be incompetent by a fellow judge in the same court as well as being repeatedly found guilty of criminal violations by the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission), and Corden called himself the 'neutral and impartial trial judge' while hiding the truth of his personal involvement in the framing of Temujin with the phony inmate snitch witness. Corden would not release this ruling until he received warnings from the appellate courts about his unwarranted delays. In the Overton case, (also a shotgun murder in which Mr. Overton did not challenge his guilt and only challenged the effectiveness of counsel), his case was reversed just based on Dean's drug and alcohol use, which his own witnesses testified was the worst in "January of 1987" the time of Temujin's trial preparation! Still Corden, knowing all of this continued the conspiracy to keep this innocent man from receiving even a modicum of justice!

18) On November 15, 1989, over two years after Temujin came to prison, (an unheard of delay) his appeal brief was finally filed, (not containing one of his most obvious and meritorious issues as agreed upon by every legal expert whom has reviewed this case). After the hearing in the summer of 1990, in Port Huron, it took Judge Corden until July 17, 1991, to issue his short denial! He obviously did this just to ensure that Temujin spent another year in prison, before any possibility of his case being heard by an appellate court, in the hopes that the furor over his wrongful conviction would die down and slowly be forgotten!

19) It took the Michigan Court of Appeals another 2½ years even with the claims of innocence, to deny Temujin's appeal, writing a deliberately unpublished 'opinion' filled with factual errors and contradictions. There was no proper review of the transcripts or any facts of the case. Another year later, the Michigan Supreme Court refused to even consider his appeal, and Temujin was the only case in that series suspiciously denied oral arguments! His case was 58,000 behind the cases being heard which the Clerk of the Court claimed she 'could not explain'. An immediate "Motion for Reconsideration" was filed and was almost as immediately denied without review right after Temujin had a five-part special on ABC/Channel 7 Detroit, focusing on his complete innocence of this crime and during which he perfectly passed a polygraph with eminent expert Chester Romatowski attesting to his complete innocence! Whom was wielding the reins behind the manipulation of Temujin's appeals? Most are convinced it was federal judge Robert H. Cleland, appointed by President Bush in 1990!

20) To this day, Port Huron refuses to release any of the prosecutor's files in this case, and to produce any of the physical exhibits in the case, or to release those items illegally seized and belonging to Temujin, which were not used as 'evidence' to include expensive collector's items, clothing, etc. Further, the prosecutor's office has denied FOIA requests for a variety of illegal reasons, including claiming that 'people' were requesting these materials for Temujin! Most recently the Chief of Police refused to permit a former agent of the FBI to even see the police reports in this case, claiming they had been 'released once in the past and would not be released again'. (This is illegal and there is no law there permits them to deny these files to anyone, especially because they had allegedly been released in the past.)

21) The County Jail refuses to release many of the records that contain the abusive orders of Robert Cleland, in a further effort to protect him and themselves from litigation, even though this abusive misconduct is addressed in the trial transcripts and is attributed to Cleland by sheriffs. This includes repeatedly denying FOIA's such as denying all requests for information on the man whom was in the county jail in 1987, bragging that he knew Temujin was innocent, until after this man died mysteriously! Prior to this, they refused to even release the records on the cell this man was in! Many suspect Port Huron Sheriff Dan Lane was covering for Cleland.

22) Other evidence, such as the suggestive lineup in which Cleland used the phony 'hypnotized' witness Rene Gobeyn, (whom knew two of the people in this lineup) and included a short, red-haired, 'Irish looking' man, (Temujin is 6ft. tall with brown hair and eyes), was not properly recorded and as early as the summer of 1990, the photos of this particular and highly illegal lineup, came up 'missing', as did the oversized photo of Temujin that Officer Bowns was illegally taking around and showing to people in a 'counsel-less lineup' forbidden by Michigan (and federal) law. It is of further significance, that Rene was heard to comment out loud that he 'knew' the police were looking for a man with a 'mustache and brown hair' (leaving only Temujin).

23) To the day of his death, Officer Bowns would not discuss his complicity or incompetence in this case, and prior to passing complained that he was 'tired of all these people asking about the case'. When confronted with the fact that Temujin passed a polygraph by a highly skilled member of the Michigan State Police, Bowns offered only that "Well, he's (Temujin) a shady character". What Bowns did not know, was that Temujin's principal alibi witness, Michelle, also passed polygraphs, both with Chester Romatowski and William Lanfear, the former polygrapher for Port Huron and the same man whom was denied the chance to test either Temujin or Michelle in 1986, thanks in part to Bown's own intervention!

24) Reams of letters including reviews by legal experts and former law enforcement, all attesting to Temujin's complete innocence have been repeatedly ignored by former Attorney General's Frank Kelly, Jennifer Granholm and now Mike Cox.

25) Both Governors Engler and now Granholm have also deliberately refused to act on numerous public and legal requests to have this matter investigated or to permit the Michigan State Police to reopen and investigate this case, which Temujin's supporters believe to be part of a continuing pattern of 'politicians protecting politicians'.

26) Former prosecutor Cleland and until recently, former judge Corden also refused to discuss any aspect of this case, to include the enormous record of their criminal misconduct and duplicity in permitting this illegal and malicious prosecution to take place. They also will/would not discuss their extensive knowledge of Dean's drug and alcohol addiction, his atrocious trial performance, and his failure to provide Temujin with a proper defense, or to call his most important witnesses, or obtain his most important evidence, though Corden himself chastised him for failing to do so later and yet, still denied Temujin's request for a new trial!

27) When Temujin filed complaints against his drunken and drug-addicted lawyer, Dean, including for not letting him testify, not telling him about important witnesses he knew about, and for stealing tens of thousands of dollars of his possessions by forging signatures and having friends of his clean out Temujin's storage bins, Dean, in the hearing of others, threatened to falsely accuse Temujin of the crime and never release his files! It took Temujin five years to get this 'lawyer' to release these files, and only after threats of charges by his appellate attorney and repeated complaints to the Attorney Grievance Commission. Dean also threatened Temujin if he exposed his drug and alcohol addiction, and claimed that Temujin was 'just lying to win his appeal' when in fact, numerous other clients had made the same claims already, and when some of them noted that they themselves sold Dean drugs! (Dean used this same ridiculous defense with other clients even after he was caught frequenting a crack house, and had cases such as Overton's already reversed for his incompetence due to his addictions and mental instability.) Still, the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission refused to act on any of Temujin or his supporters well-documented complaints against Dean, all of which were supported by a detailed record and evidence, yet acted on the complaints of dozens of others! Who was manipulating the AGC? Was it the powerful federal judge Robert H. Cleland?

28) In November of 2000, the Michigan Attorney General's Office, owing to the impeccable reputation of Temujin's former lawyer, Jonathan Maire, finally agreed to meet with him and discuss this travesty of justice. Jon and Temujin's wife A'miko, attended this meeting, which was supposed to take place with Criminal AG Robert Ianni, but whom passed it to Assistant AG Mark Blumer. Originally, Blumer admitted that there appeared to be an enormous and compelling amount of evidence of both Temujin's innocence and the criminal misconduct that resulted in his wrongful conviction. Subsequently, two Special Agents of the AG, (also MSP), whom also knew one of the former police whom supported Temujin and his associates, reviewed the case, later came to see Temujin in prison and acknowledged his complete innocence of this crime and were willing to conduct full investigations. Incredibly, Mark Blumer and Jennifer Granholm, (both running for office at the time), had the entire investigation shut down without giving any legitimate reason and refused to discuss it further! More politicians protecting politicians!

29) Based on a host of newly discovered and shocking evidence, including the identification of the real murderer by a former member of the FBI whom serves as a consultant to several national media networks, and an admission of guilt from the crime partner of the real murderer, along with other important information, Attorney Maire respectfully petitioned the new Attorney General Michael Cox, to take immediate action to help investigate this case, use his police powers to interview those witnesses and involved participants whom were only willing to speak to law enforcement and to see that this matter was property assigned to either the AG's staff or the Michigan State Police, (as is proper under Michigan Law), but Cox, through his Agent Thomas Furtaw, refused to take any action whatsoever on this matter, and as with past denials, falsely implied that the Attorney General's Office did not have any 'authority' to perform those exact some duties with which they are specifically charged, to include the "investigation and prosecution of crimes, including the misconduct of public officials in the State of Michigan"!

30) Temujin's legal and media supporters are now considering a variety of actions against both the Attorney General's Office and possibly the Governor herself, for their dereliction of duty, misuse of authority, abuse of discretion, willful failure to investigate or prosecute, conspiracy, collusion, and related indifference and criminal duplicity in this matter, to include public exposure, protests, litigation and several media sources have promised to help us tell this story in detail, regardless of the negative pressure that these offices will, (and have in the past) exert upon them. (For example, after Temujin's first specials detailing his innocence, both the station and even the polygrapher himself admitted that they received a 'flurry of complaints' from Port Huron and related individuals, whom wish to keep this matter concealed and forgotten.)

It is our sincere hope that you will consider the enormity of the information contained within this release, and that you will assist us in both telling this tragic story, and demanding that those in power own up to their responsibilities and abide by the oaths of office they took to uphold the law and honor the public trust. We ask that you call, write, send e-mails, join us in public protests, attend any future hearings of Temujin's and let the powers-that-be, know that you will not accept this injustice, either for Temujin or for yourself!

Let your voice be heard in this election year. Ask questions. Demand answers. Insist upon the justice that our Founding Fathers fought and died for and the freedom from tyranny that so many have sacrificed in the defense of. This issue does affect you. If these heartless, cruel, wealthy politicians are permitted to get away with this, they will not only continue to destroy the lives of the innocent, but they will inspire new generations to do the same thing, to you, your children and your children's children! Now is the time to act! Stand up for your rights and in the process, we can win justice for this once young and still innocent man!

Bonnie Bucqueroux and the Victims and the Media Program, at the Michigan State University’s School of Journalism, hosted a wrongful conviction seminar on November 18, 2004, at the Clara Bell Smith Student Athlete Academic Support Center. The focus of the seminar was Temujin Kensu’s wrongful incarceration. The seminar featured Bill Proctor from ABC-Channel 7 in Detroit, former FBI Special Agent Harold Copus, Los Angeles documentary filmmaker Dean Mongan and Joe Viola, Lansing attorney, former prosecutor and judge Jon Maire and A’miko Kensu, Temujin's wife. In attendance were the students from St. Clair County Community College Journalism and Legal Justice programs, Cooley Law School Innocence Project and Legal Justice students, MSU Journalism students, participants from Mexico's influential Grupo Reforma, several private investigators, attorneys, former Michigan State Police Detectives, the Detroit Free Press and other journalists. It was a well received and informative meeting and our heartfelt thanks goes out to all involved in making this such a success!

We would also like to give our thanks and support to the band High Water from Detroit. The group was so inspired by Temujin’s plight that they wrote a song about it and will soon be in the studio recording. Please check out the band and their great sound at www.highwaterdetroit.com

You can also contact us at our e-mail address: IJC@ijconline.org

If you are not familiar with our group and your first contact with us is online: We would be pleased to hear from you! Please let us know, we will be more than happy to respond.

In brief, you should know the following about us: Our group was established in 2000. Our specialty is in the area Judicial and Political Accountability. Our main address is PO Box 320223, Flint, MI 48507.