March 5, 2005 - 18:35

Former Fla. death row inmate brings crusade against death penalty to Toronto

GREG BONNELL

TORONTO (CP) - Emboldened by his release from death row after more than 17 agonizing years, Juan Melendez is confident the United States will abolish the death penalty in the next decade.

Melendez is also convinced it will take Canada's help, among others, to get the U.S. to reject a practice he says is better suited to the Stone Age.

"Not only Canada, but any nation that doesn't have the death penalty, to get involved in this issue," said Melendez.

"Canada got out of there, knew it was wrong, and showed all the world that it was wrong. The United States should follow that example and get rid of the death penalty."

Melendez, 53, spent 17 years, eight months and one day on death row in Florida for a murder he didn't commit. He was exonerated in 2002.

Rage, depression and suicidal thoughts marked the passing of those years, but so did hope, faith in religion and dreams.

"Dreams saved me," said Melendez in a phone interview before a Toronto speaking engagement Saturday.

"Lots of times I wanted to commit suicide. Beautiful dreams of my childhood took me out of those thoughts. That's God's work."

Melendez learned to speak and write English while on death row - his tutors were other condemned men. Those skills allowed him to better communicate with his lawyers and the Canadians who would post his story online for the world to see.

"I tell them how much I appreciate the Canadian Coalition Against the Death Penalty, because they put my case on the Internet when nobody else would," said Melendez of the message he brings to Canadian audiences.

"I tell them about the suffering on death row and the problems with the death penalty in the United States. I tell them to get involved in writing lawmakers, governors and including the president of the United States, so they know that it's wrong to kill."

Canada's last executions took place on Dec. 11, 1962. Ronald Turpin, 29, was hanged for killing a Toronto police constable, while Arthur Lucas, 54, was hanged for the murder of two people, one of whom was an FBI informant working in Canada.

Both were executed outside Toronto's Don Jail, while a small group of vocal protesters gathered outside.

Canada amended its Criminal Code in 1967 to provide for the death penalty only if the victim was a prison guard or police officer. In 1976, federal legislation was passed abolishing capital punishment in the country.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., but raised in Puerto Rico, Melendez has moved back to the Caribbean island and continues to campaign against the injustice he suffered.

"If we keep working hard like we're doing, and we get help from countries like Canada, European countries, there's a possibility it can go away in about 10 years," he said. "Maybe less, maybe more."

While that means the war against capital punishment is far from over, Melendez says battles are being won.

Last Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the constitution forbids the execution of killers who were under 18 when they committed their crimes, ending a practice used in 19 states.

The decision threw out the death sentences of some 70 juvenile murderers and bars states from seeking to execute minors for future crimes.

"We're winning battles. We've not won the war yet, but we're winning battles," he said.

"I hope and I pray to god all the time that (the death penalty will be abolished) in my time, that I get to see it."