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In October 2002 Vito Russo lost everything at no fault of his own.
He lost his home, business and property.
The Unique Vermont Motel and Gift Shop was fraudulently taken by John
McKay who wanted Russo’s family homeless and out of his way, with a million
dollar motive, Russo’s property.
Russo’s family was Vito’s only concern when he stopped and offered McKay
$5000.00 cash so that Vito’s wife and children could reside in their home
through the holidays, just two months. Instead
Russo was accused falsely by this person, could not afford proper
representation, receiving a very ineffective Public Defender resulting in his
wrongful conviction.
Federal charges came from this same alleged crime but dismissed after a jury was
picked for trial and 3 years of harassment to Russo and his family.
All of these effects were traumatically devastating and Vito lost his
wife who once stood by his side.
The State appointed another public defender for Post Conviction Appeals who was
very overwhelmed with too many cases and had no time at all but did discover the
evidence is missing and my file has disappeared!
Everyone who has viewed this case, the court records and documents all
agree there was police and prosecutional misconduct and that this case should
have never gone to trial. It was
stated that my trial Public Defender failed to adequately investigate, prepare
and present a case at all and that the evidence was actually not so much
evidence as it was assumption, which they say the public defender should have
challenged through witness testimony, expert evidence or even a coherent
argument. This public defender did
not do any of this…not even depositions. No
attorney has so little as this attorney did in this case.
If I had proper representation the outcome would have been different and
I would have my life back today.
An independent investigation on record proves I could not have committed the
crime and the evidence proves there was no intent, threats or violence.
Evidence also totally debunks the alleged victim’s testimony which was
full of contradictions.
There was no justice in this case. In
court one gets what you pay for. I
could not afford a proper defense and that’s what I received – as if I had
no representation at all.
I can prove with records and documentation that I have been falsely convicted
and that a grave miscarriage of justice has taken place.
I was sentenced to 21 years and the jury’s first question after two
days of trial and five hours of deliberation was “do we have to find the
defendant guilty”?
I was convicted of attempted aggravated assault.
The alleged crime would have been impossible for me to do!
I am truly innocent which the records, documentation and evidence show to
be true. There are no words to
describe what’s happened besides PAIN. My
family and the life I had are gone. It
is said that it is better for ten guilty to go free than for one innocent to
suffer incarceration for one day. Five
years wrongfully incarcerated is beyond suffering.
After review of my case the Innocents Project said there is no evidence for
attempted aggravated assault but a lot of contradictions on the complaints side.
They support my case for innocence saying one can not be guilty of
anything that did not happen and this is why they added me to their site below.
Our mission is to bring attention to Vito’s outrageous conviction and
sentence. This site was formed for
many reasons one of which I am hoping some will read this and may want to help
in some way. I can use any and all
support in this matter. I am trying
to raise a defense fund for representation to reverse my conviction and or
receive a new and fair trial which I never received.
If I can raise enough for an attorney I’m guaranteed justice.
Show your support and make a contribution to Vito Russo’s defense fund.
All proceeds go directly to and for legal fees and expenses.
We welcome any and all comments good or bad.
Let me know what you think. Please
leave your comments in the feedback section or contact me yourself.
I welcome all correspondence and receive all emails and letters.
I have two contacts for serious inquiries.
Mother: Marcia Wood –
561-379-7232
Minister:
Murray
Merlin –
802-259-2240
Attorney: Thomas Lamar Enzor - 802-770-0085
Vermont
Courts – www.vermontjudiciary.org
Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness were
"striped" from me. _______________________________________________________________________________________________
Please
click here for the Details
for different articles regarding this case…There you will find Vito’s History
of what happened and a Before
page. We'd also like you to take time to read the
Legal Documents and look
at the Property
Photos. There are also many Letters of Support, the
Latest News on this case and the Facts and Findings from the
PCR
Trial which you can find in the News
section. Please Read my Story:
History
Share
this site with others or print it for a friend.
WE
WELCOME ANY
AND
ALL
COMMENTS GOOD OR BAD. Let
us know what you think. Please leave your comments in the feedback section
where you can also donate to this cause for justice. You will find the
feedback section at the top of this page or contact:
Vito J Russo
SSCF #64522
700 Charlestown Road
Springfield
VT
05156-4400
General
Information: VJRusso@justicepursued.com
After
review of my case the Innocents Project said there is no evidence for attempted
aggravated assault but a lot of contradictions on the complaints side.
They support my case and my innocence. One cannot be found guilty of
anything that did not happen...and this is why they added me to there site
below.
Vito
Russo's IIPPI News Forum: http://www.iippi.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=9003
IIPPI
Website:
http://www.iippi.org
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Send mail to VJRusso@justicepursued.com with
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Last modified: June 27, 2008
