Ishmael’s story
Ishmael Gome spent 10 years on death row in Malawi for a crime he didn’t commit
Reprieve’s lawyers took on his case, proved his innocence, and were there in the courtroom the day he was finally freed.
In 2004, Ishmael earned a living by selling fish. On the evening his brother was killed, he took his fish to sell at a local drinking joint, stayed for a while and shared drinks with his family, then went home.
The next day, he learned of his brother’s death.
Ishmael was arrested. He did not understand why.
The true killer, fearing execution, told the police that Ishmael was with them that night, but that was a lie.
Ishmael was detained for two weeks. In this time he was forced to falsely admit to the crime by signing a confession he could not read, after police beat and starved him. Ishmael had no idea that what he was signing would later be presented as his confession.
Ishmael was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 2005
At the time, Malawi had the mandatory death penalty for certain crimes, which means that the death penalty was the only sentence the judge could impose.
Upon conviction, Ishmael was taken to the condemned section of Zomba Prison. Through the barred window of his cell, he could see the gallows. He would eat his one meal a day in a concrete yard, with the other condemned men, before being locked back up.
This was Ishmael’s life for over a decade on death row. For him, the worst part was knowing he could be executed, even though he was innocent.
“While in condemned cells, the thought is about life and death since one is seeing the grave he is to go in. We were living in fear, and I would always panic when thinking of the execution room.”
10 years on, things finally changed for Ishmael
“I heard the news that there is an organisation that fights for people’s human rights from outside the country and I had hope.”
Reprieve took on Ishmael’s case. Our lawyers dug into the facts, challenged the forced confession, and tracked down a statement from the killer –an admission that Ishmael was never involved.
When we took Ishmael’s case back to court, the truth finally came out and Ishmael was free. Our lawyers were there with him in the courtroom when he was released.
“It felt like I had been born again. It was as if God had revealed a new world for me. I was so overjoyed to be in a place where I was born; my home.”
Ishmael isn’t alone.
One by one, their death sentences have been lifted, and most have returned to their communities after serving prison sentences. Today, Malawi’s death row is empty.
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