RICHMOND, Va. -- James Briley, condemned for murdering a woman and her 5-year-old child and the mastermind of a death-row escape, is innocent of the charges and should be granted a reprieve, his father said.
James Briley Sr. broke his silence about his sons Tuesday night as his family and his new daughter-in-law held a news conference to plead for a reprieve for James Briley, scheduled to be executed April 18.
They said James Briley, 28, is innocent -- as were his brothers.
The elder Briley has avoided reporters ever since his three sons were linked to a series of 12 murders in the late 1970s. He had no comment when two of his sons masterminded the largest death row escape in U.S. history last May.
The Briley family said the sons did not get a fair trial because they were poor and black. They said James is being treated like an animal while spending his final days on death row.
James Briley's case has been heard by 42 judges but the family has placed a clemency appeal before Gov. Charles Robb. Last-minute legal moves haven't been ruled out, he said.
Family members may lobby personally with the governor, but James Briley Sr. knows it may be too late. He said everyone is afraid to die and that he doesn't like to talk about death with his son.
His son's new wife, free-lance writer Evangeline Briley, said it is James who is keeping everyone's spirits up. They were married in a prison ceremony March 28.
'He seems to be holding up very well,' she said. 'I don't know how he does it. You can see him fading in and out of depression now but I think that's more or less not so much anticipating the 18th but as much as what they are doing to him. He comes out now with three or four pairs of chains on him.
'He hears the electric chair on its practice runs,' she added. 'He hears the generators for the electric chair going off and on all the time.
'I anticipate him walking out one day because he's innocent. We have a lot of irons in the fire.'
She gave few details, but said she would not be surprised if Robb did not grant the family's request. The family was joined by representatives of Virginians Against the Death Penalty.
Linwood Briley was executed for shooting a country western disc jockey in the back, five months after he and his brother and two others overpowered guards and escaped from the Mecklenburg Correctional Center. The youngest Briley, Anthony, is serving a life sentence.
