Charles Mamou had a fifteen to forty-five minute window to do what the prosecution said he did, according to their witness, Howard Scott. By everyone’s account, Mamou was on Lantern Point Drive at approximately midnight on December 6, 1998. Scott testified he was back at his apartment on Fondren between 12:15 and 12:45. Could he have murdered the victim in forty-five minutes or less?
At midnight that evening, there was a drug deal on Lantern Point Drive in Houston that ended in gunfire. The majority of the witnesses testified that Mamou’s driver, Samuel Johnson, pulled away when the shooting began, leaving Mamou behind. Mamou then jumped in the running vehicle left behind by the individuals he’d just had a shoot out with.
After that – the stories differ. Mamou testified he realized Mary Carmouche was in the car after he fled the scene. He also says he saw her for the last time after they both exited the car at the apartment on Fondren, where the vehicle was later found by police. Mamou also said there were several other people at that location who had contact with Miss Carmouche.
The drug deal took place at approximately midnight. The drive from Lantern Point Drive to Fondren is 9.3 miles and 18 minutes. When the police later recovered the Lexis at the apartments, one of the tires was completely flat and partially off the rim. Howard Scott testified that Mamou arrived at his apartment between 12:15 and 12:45 that evening.
The state presented a different version of events. The prosecution claimed Mamou, who lived in Louisiana, left Lantern Point Drive after the shooting and drove to a deserted home on Lynchester Drive, located 17.9 miles away. They say he then took Mary into the backyard, forced her to perform oral sex and shot her. No explanation was offered as to how Mamou may have been able to locate an abandoned home on Lynchester.
There was no evidence introduced in the courtroom regarding a sexual assault – not a hair, not a semen sample, no DNA. After the shooting, Mamou would have had to drive from the house on Lynchester to the apartments on Fondren and park the car where it was found. The drive from Lynchester to Fondren takes thirty minutes.
That scenario would have taken an hour and five minutes in driving time, not taking into account the condition of the tire, locating a deserted home, a sexual assault and murder. The travel time to get to the crime scene was never addressed during the trial.
The Mamou case is riddled with questions. For many, it calls into question the concept of ‘innocent until proven guilty’. Among the areas of concern:
Although the jury was told Mamou sexually assaulted the victim, he was never charged with sexual assault and there was no physical evidence to support that claim.
Each of the parties involved in the drug transaction testified against Mamou, and it appears none were charged.
The only witness who came close to putting Mamou near the crime scene testified that Mamou confessed to him. That same witness later wrote a letter to Mamou while he was incarcerated stating, “I’m glad you didn’t tell me shit about that cause I don’t wanna know shit, I feel better off that way.” The jury never saw that letter.
The state’s witnesses all contradicted themselves and each other throughout the trial, as well as all testifying to lying at various points of the investigation.
Mamou, who had no prior charges of violence, was described as ‘vicious’, ‘ruthless’ and ‘cold-blooded’ during closing statements. He was also accused of murdering other individuals during the prosecution’s closing statements.
Autopsy photos and testimony were presented to the jury, as well as victim impact statements from victims of crimes Charles Mamou was never charged with.
Charles Mamou was never charged with any crime connected to Anthony Williams who died months before. The prosecution told the jury more than once, “And he murders Anthony Williams.”
Charles Mamou has maintained his innocence for over twenty years.
TO CONTACT CHARLES MAMOU:
Charles Mamou #999333
Polunsky Unit 12-CD-53
3872 South FM 350
Livingston, TX 77351
Related Articles: What Does It Take To Get On Texas Death Row;
Texas Death Sentence Clouded By Irrefutable Doubt;
Awaiting Execution – “Have You Ever Felt Like You Can Taste The Future?”;
Because They Can – Execution In Texas;
Letter From Key Mamou Witness Contradicting Testimony;
Testimony Worthy Of An Execution? The Mamou Transcripts – Part I;
The Mamou Transcripts Part II;
The Mamou Transcripts Part III – Death Sentence Built On The Testimony Of Dealers;
The Mamou Transcripts IV;
The Mamou Trial – Was Race A Factor?;
Mamou’s Death Sentence Sealed With Graphic Testimony And Photos – Of Victims Of Crimes He Was Never Charged With
Source:
Harris County, Texas. Charles Mamou, Jr. Vs. The State Of Texas. Sept. 1999.
