“I’m glad you didn’t tell me shit about that cause I don’t wanna know shit, I feel better off that way.”
Those were the words of Terrence Dodson, the prosecution’s ‘key’ witness, in a letter written to Charles Mamou while Mamou was incarcerated – and before Dodson testified to Mamou’s ‘confession’. The jury never saw that letter.
Terrence Dodson – an admitted drug dealer who was involved in the planning and execution of a drug deal gone wrong in December of 1998, could not be considered a strong witness in the best of circumstances. He was a drug dealer involved in a drug deal linked to Mary Carmouche’s murder, although it appears he was never charged with any crimes related to the incident after he testified.
In spite of his questionable background or possible motive for testifying, Harris County, Texas, prosecutors presented a case that weighed heavily on the only witness that tied Charles Mamou to the scene of the crime –Terrence Dodson.
Yet, all the while the trial was taking place in 1999 – there was a letter. A letter that was never presented by the court appointed defense during the trial and one the jury never saw. In that letter the key witness wrote to his cousin, Charles Mamou, who was at the time incarcerated, “I’m glad you didn’t tell me shit about that cause I don’t wanna know shit.” Those words were written not long after Charles Mamou had supposedly confessed to him.
The testimony of Terrence Dodson was a key piece of a case built against Charles Mamou that is riddled with more questions than answers. There was no weapon. There was no eye witness testimony. There was no DNA. During the sentencing phase of Mamou’s trial, victim impact statements were allowed from crimes that Mamou was never even charged with.
This all took place in Harris County, Texas – a county with a big reputation for sentencing people to death. In 1999 Texas averaged nearly three executions a month. According to Charles Mamou, the letter written by Terrence Dodson was in the possession of his defense attorney during his trial but it was ‘misplaced’ and not located until after the trial was concluded.
The letter has since been unaccounted for but became available this week and has since been forwarded to Charles Mamou’s current defense.
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;
Testimony Worthy Of An Execution? The Mamou Transcripts Part I
