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Witness Recantations Cast Doubt Ahead of Florida's Eighth Execution of 2025

Sunday, June 29, 2025 by Grace Ramos

Witness Recantations Cast Doubt Ahead of Florida's Eighth Execution of 2025
Michael Bernard Bell - Image © Florida Department of Corrections

As Michael Bernard Bell, condemned for a double homicide over three decades ago in Jacksonville, Florida, faces the imminent threat of a lethal injection, he speaks out not to deny his actions, but to highlight that his conviction was built on fabrications, intimidation, and police manipulation. Scheduled for execution on July 15 at 6:00 p.m. in Raiford State Prison, Bell's case would mark the eighth execution in Florida this year. However, recent testimonies have cast significant doubt on the integrity of the process that sent him to death row, reported local sources like The Florida Times-Union.

Two pivotal witnesses from the original trial, both incarcerated at the time, have now admitted to lying on the stand, coerced by a corrupt detective in exchange for favors and threats. During a hearing on June 23, witnesses Henry Edwards and Charles Jones, who previously identified Bell as the perpetrator, invoked the Fifth Amendment multiple times, fearing self-incrimination.

Before this hearing, they had already signed affidavits revealing that detective William Bolena, a central figure in several controversial Jacksonville cases, had dictated their testimonies. Edwards testified, saying he thought he was acting for a movie, confessing, “I just followed what everyone wanted me to say.”

Bell's defense submitted a motion exceeding 250 pages detailing how detective Bolena and prosecutor George Bateh pressured witnesses, offered jail incentives, and even threatened harsher sentences for anyone daring to change their testimony. Both the prosecutor and detective were implicated in similar misconduct in another death penalty case earlier this year. Bolena has since passed away, and both are retired.

Vengeance, Mistake, and a Faltering Justice System

Michael Bell was convicted for the murder of Jimmy West and Tamecka Smith, a couple shot dead in 1993 in front of a liquor store. Seeking revenge for his brother's death, Bell targeted the wrong individuals. In a tragic scene, he fired 12 shots at West and four at Smith, leaving the young couple dead. He later confessed to three additional unrelated murders.

The prosecution maintains that his guilt is irrefutably supported by evidence, including testimony from his then-girlfriend, Erica Williams, who claimed he plotted revenge and purchased an AK-47 to carry it out. According to Williams, Bell said, “Theo killed his brother, so he killed his, but an innocent girl got hurt, so now it’s even.”

During the recent proceedings, other witnesses, including Bell's niece and an ex-girlfriend, described psychological pressure, prolonged interrogations, and threats of imprisonment if they didn’t conform to the official narrative.

Florida's Record Punishment Under DeSantis

Michael Bell's execution would set a milestone for Governor Ron DeSantis, tying the state record for the most executions in a single year at eight, with six months still remaining. Only two former governors had reached this number: Bob Graham in 1984 and Rick Scott in 2014. DeSantis, known for his hardline policies, seems intent on setting a new record in an election year, while human rights groups and activists question the morality and reliability of Florida’s death penalty system.

With less than a month until the execution, organizations like Floridians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty have launched an urgent campaign to halt what they view as a “grave injustice.” They argue that Bell's case never underwent a full federal review, was tainted by racial bias, and that dehumanizing language used during the trial, even by Bell’s own defense attorney, improperly swayed a predominantly white jury.

Just 23 years old at the time of the crime, Bell's grief over his brother's death led him to seek vengeance but mistakenly targeted the wrong people. Prosecutors portrayed him as living “under the law of the jungle,” and his own lawyer supported this depiction, stating Bell “lived in a different world than ours.” Neither the judge nor the defense challenged these assertions.

According to an open letter published on the Action Network platform, Bell’s execution would be the third this year in Florida without a complete federal review, a situation activists find alarming in a state with numerous reports of judicial malpractice in death penalty cases.

Key Questions About Michael Bernard Bell's Case

What prompted the witnesses to recant their testimonies?

The witnesses admitted they were coerced into lying by a corrupt detective who offered them favors and issued threats.

Why is Michael Bernard Bell's execution controversial?

The controversy stems from witness recantations, alleged police and prosecutorial misconduct, and concerns that Bell's case did not receive a full federal review.

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