The International Free Mark Lankford Campaign (IFMLC)

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Summary September 2002 to the end of 2007 here

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Detailled news updates as from January 2008

25th January 2008 - Mark moves again. He is worried about Robert's accusations and fears these to result in remaining in prison as non-convicted inmate for security only

1st February 2008 - I received a message from Anonymous addressed to Mark's defending lawyer Charles "Chuck" Kovis. Very interesting contents! I apologise for the bad scan quality. Meanwhile I started receiving anonymous threat calls in English in very poor sound quality from some female. She claims Bryan innocent and Mark guilty and wants me prosecuted for telling lies about Mark on the Internet

9th February 2008 - The first trial week is over, Rick attended the first three days. The Lewiston Tribune reports on Bryan's testimony which stands in contradiction to his own hand-written confession from 2003

13th February 2008 - After prosecution and defense had their turns last week, it was Mark's turn today to appear at court and speak for himself

14th February 2008 - The judicial manipulators sieged another victory: Mark is reconvicted. He was blamed for stealing the van (this also was Bryan's offence!) which according to Idaho Law can be twisted as to become the same as murdering the Bravences. The final judgement is due in April. My own comment on the story here

18th February 2008 - Rick writes that Mark is in comparatively good spririts and does not intend to capitulate. See Rick's message on the Press file, pages 12/13

26th February 2008 - Mark moves again and fears to be transported back to the IMSI at Boise while waiting for sentencing, so it does not make sense to send anything to this address. He lost his property that was withheld at Shoshone. Rick publishes the telephone number of Mark's defending lawyer Charles Kovis (will be given to IFMLC members only to ward off misuse) and asks supporters to get in touch with the same

28th February 2008 - Newspapers report on Kovis' demands for a new trial (page 13)

18th March 2008 - Mark's brother Robert has died of a heart attack. - On the Press file, a letter from defender Hallin to prosecutor McGregor has been added (page 14), on 4th April there came a message from Mark (page 15)

21st April 2008 - Mark's sentencing is postponed to 19th June. Swiss supporter Sally Montana visited him. He still lives in Solitary status at Orofino as if he were a Death Row inmate; on command from IMSI Boise, prison staff are not allowed to let him live in Normal status, nor has he any property

30th April 2008 - Mark has a 1985 letter of Bryan's to his attorney sent to me for publication together with his comment

5th June 2008 - Mark's sentencing has been postponed again, this time to mid July, and he has sent volume 12 of his Random series (Random-12). Another edition, vol. 13, came on 4th July

12th July 2008 - Rick sends a message concerning mail to Mark: envelopes must show the senders' full names and addresses. Mark awaits sentencing on 17th July

18th July 2008 - Mark has been resentenced and intends to appeal. This is what Rick wrote today: "Friends, Advocates and Supporters of Mark Lankford! 10:15 p.m. - I am writing this upon my return from Grangeville, Idaho. It is a 4 hour drive from Boise one way. I attended Mark's sentencing procedures which turned into a long day of testimony from the victims' family and friends. I was able to testify for Mark and tried to relay to the court that Mark is trustworthy and would not be a threat to society. Mark was also able to speak and spent about 45 min. trying to explain his frustration of being incarcerated for 25 years for a crime that he did not commit. Mark did express remorse for his role in the murders and sympathy for the victims' family. However in the end, it didn't matter as the judge ruled that Mark be sentenced to life without parole. The defense was asking for 10 years to life with time served to be considered. The judge felt that he had to give Mark life without parole because of his guilt in the most recent trial. Amazingly, Mark was in good spirits and was ready for the worst decision if given. He already has plans for an appeal which could mean a third trial. Mark sends his thanks to all of you that sent letters of support to Judge Bradbury. He also thanks everyone for their prayers and concerns. I am not sure where Mark will end up to serve his time. For now, he has been returned to Orofino ... Remember to include your full return address or the letter will not be delivered to Mark. Thanks for all your support. May God richly bless you all! Yes, God is still in control of this situation and will watch over Mark in prison or if given the opportunity to go free. Keep the faith! Peace, Rick". - See also latest report by Idaho Statesman on the Press file, page 16

3rd August 2008 - Mark has been moved back to Boise

9th August 2008 - After her holiday, Frances forwarded to me the latest public message from Mark dated 25th July. See Press file, pages 16 and 17

2nd September 2008 - I had a letter from Mark where he expresses doubts whether Robert had really died or whether "this is just all deception to prevent a lawsuit for defamation"

10th September 2008 - Rick issues two new pictures of Mark - 1 2 (nr. 2 taken in Shoshone)

12th November and 10th December 2008 - Mark' latest circulars, Random.txt, chapter Solit-4, and Solit.5.pdf

19th December 2008 - Mark has moved out of the IMSI. Rick comments: "I finally found out today that indeed Mark has been moved. I spoke to an official at the Idaho State Correctional Institution and she confirmed that Mark is being housed there instead of at the Maximum Security Unit. She could not tell me why he was moved, but did state that he was brought there a few days ago and placed in the medical unit. However, he is not in medical anymore, he is in a holding cell awaiting a move to another facility. No other details of which facility or when he might move again. She said that he can request visitors and can receive mail. I have not heard from him and I am not sure why." - Update from 25th December: Mark was allowed to move freely in the facility but had been attacked by another inmate who also broke his reading-glasses, needed treatment and was returned to Solitary for safety

20th January 2009 - As a result of the above attack, Mark's health worsens and he is jailed probably for the next nine months under extremely stringent conditions despite not having any responsibility on his own side. See Rick's latest SOS message on the Press file, pages 17 and 18

2nd February 2009 - Mark was moved back to Orofino on 21st January and is recovering well. A new hearing is set to be on 12th February in Grangeville. An earlier date was found impossible, among others, due to Mark's health condition and his reading-glasses still not having been replaced

18th February 2009 - No news of a hearing as yet. Mark had his belongings returned and lives under Administrative Segregation against the Administration's descision for safety

24th February 2009 - Rick reports of a hearing held on 12th February where Mark had chance to speak for himself. Also, Charles "Chuck" Kovis renewed his initiative to retry Mark to have at least the sentence overthrown

19th May 2009 - Mark was moved to General Population ai Orofino, he has received a cell mate and can more frequently be out of his cell. However, there are no news yet on whatever legal proceedings to come. Rick expects to hear more soon. On 27th May, volume 14 of Mark's Random series (Random-14) has been published here

1st August 2009 - Conditions permitting, Mark is doing fine, has moved to A block inside the facililty and has a good cell mate. The cell number is not known, but Orofino staff are more tolerant, so mail to Mark will reach its destination even without a cell number

22nd September 2009 - Mark types his latest Random edition himself (Random-15)

11th November 2009 - Volume 16 of Mark's Random series (Random-16) is out, and a hearing is set to take place on 19th November

16th December 2009 - Frances sends me an udated version of Mark's latest Random edition together with more news and this list of needs: "Dictionary (Illustrated large) Encyclopedia - (Penguin or DK or Oxford) Magazines. He already has Sports Illustrated, Esquire. / A Calendar / Anything interesting or educational / He also likes Newspaper USA TODAY or Times Herald. Any of these MUST be sent from publisher or bookstore. They are now permitted to purchase typewriters and soon, MP3 players. This would be in the form of money, as he will have to purchase from the commissary."

2nd January 2010 - Mark states in a long letter that he expects a court hearing on 21st January to overcome Bryan's false testimony to which the latter has obviously been forced. He meanwhile, as weather conditions do not make Basketball possible, keeps himself busy playing Scrabble and has made himself a professional while playing with other inmates

2nd February 2010 - The hearing did not take place and was moved to 11th March. Frances filed me this update of a document typed by Mark, Random 17 followed on 17th February (e = and, @ = at)

4th April (Easter Sunday) 2010 - No hearing. All legal representatives have abandoned the case. Mark is in poor health and out of money. He announces more detailled news to come late this month

30th June 2010 - Mark's new lawyer has not cared about the case at all, and Mark, quite frustrated, hopes to get rid of him. Apart from this, he is feeling well and has got a short-time job in the facility allowing him more time outside his cell

22nd July 2010 - Mark publishes an update on his general mood and may soon be able to continue artwork as well. His MP3 player has broken and he has to get himself a new one. Nothing new on the legal front

8th September 2010 - Mark will have a new hearing with judge John Bradbury on 28th October attempting to get a retrial as a consequence of illegal methods committed in the previous trial. Mark's new attorney is running short of time. Mark needs money in order to replace, among others, his broken MP3 player. Meanwhile, on 17th September one of Mark's Estonian supporters, who had studied Arab history, culture and language as well as the Islam for several years, emigrates to Qatar although she stays with the IFMLC

19th October 2010 - Mark's hearing is postponed to 4th November. Here is his latest Random circular (Random-18)

5th December 2010 - The hearing has been postponed until 13th January.

New Year's Eve 2010 - After one Estonian supporter (see 8th September) moved to Qatar, the other one has to be declared lost and her e-mail address erased from the spreader as her e-mailbox is full since August. So there is no Mark Lankford supporter living in Estonia any more

12th January 2011 - Judge Bradford retires and leaves the case to the newly appointed judge Griffin. The hearing therefore has been postponed agan, a new day could be some time in February

11th March 2011 - A hearing on 1st March brought nothing as the new court appointed lawyer has not prepared himself at all, obviously as a consequence of interest lacking. Mark wants to get rid of him; the judge approves Mark's motion to hire a new attorney. Rick calls upon US readers to donate as Mark ist out of money. On 18th March, Mark publishes his 19th Random edition

14th August 2011 - Frances writes, "He [Mark] wishes to advise that he filed a motion to remove the judge - however, the judge did so voluntarily. This caused the 8/1 [=8th August?] hearing to be vacated (in other words, a new judge needs to be appointed). No new date for the hearing has been set, but Mark is working on it. Mark says he will have an update soon."

7th September 2011 - Mark's latest Random edition is out. Open Random.txt and use the Find option of your text editor to locate the headline "Random-20"

11th September 2011 - A new hearing has been set to take place on 11th October

14th October 2011 - The hearing took place with the sole result that Mark has managed to get rid of his unwanted lawyer Dickinson. The judge accepted the motion to get another lawyer, and once one is found, a new hearing will be put on. Rick also says that Mark is short of money. - AOL stages a new barrage against IFMLC members, my News Update e-mail to this entry has not been forwarded, neither straight nor via Frances, to AOL customers

30th January 2012 - "Mark has moved to a less restrictive area in the prison where there are a lot of windows, and he sees the deer outside everyday. It's a better place for him", says Danish supporter Katja. Rick confirmes the message. A hearing set to take place on 17th February has been abandoned as the prosecutor has dropped off the case and another will be needed to replace him.

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Sheet last updated on 3rd February 2012 / Publisher and website holder: see here