We’ve told you how the alleged rape victim recanted her testimony against Vernon T. Bateman in a letter to Lake County Prosecutor Bernard Carter, a taped statement to Mr. Bateman’s first attorney, and in a sworn affidavit. In each, she pleaded for Vernon’s release and offered to help assist in freeing him. In 2007, her brother, Chris Veal, did the same in a notarized letter. Bateman’s co-defendant, Sa’ron Foley has, over decades, sent numerous affidavits and notarized statements – all of which confirm Bateman’s innocence. Each letter, statement, and affidavit went unanswered as Mr. Bateman spent between 1998 – 2003 in prison, 13 of which were in solitary confinement. Today, they remain unanswered as he remains confined to unconstitutional and capricious parole stipulations.
On August 2, something unprecedented happened. Not only did we learn about a second notarized letter Mr. Veal wrote in Gary, Indiana that was somehow “lost,” but we learned it while he sat beside Mr. Bateman on “At the Table,” a WISH-TV program hosted by Dr. Jessica B. We also learned that the alleged victim, Angela Truitt, wants to come forward to tell the truth: that she had never seen Mr. Bateman before the police told her to identify him as one of her assailants. At this point, the State of Indiana appears to have no choice but to immediately and fully exonerate Mr. Bateman.
Watch Vernon and Chris Veal on “At the Table”
Excerpts
Below are some excerpts from the amazing conversation:
Dr. Jessica B.: I want to talk about why you’re here today, Mr. Veal.
Chris Veal: Well, basically we’re here because we want to see Vern get fully exonerated.
Dr. B.: And so, you are the brother of the victim….
Chris Veal: The alleged rape victim.
Dr. B.: Alleged rape victim. And so where is your sister now?
Chris Veal: She’s currently here in Indianapolis.
Dr. B.: Okay.
Vernon T. Bateman: And wanted to come forward.
Dr. B.: And she wants to come forward. So why are you here today, Mr. Veal?
Chris Veal: Basically, for support and to let the community know that Vern been innocent. I had information about this in probably 2006, 2007. I even went to Gary with the first set of lawyers, wrote a statement out, got it notarized, and somehow, somebody made this letter disappear.
Vernon T. Bateman: How did you know that I’m innocent?
Chris Veal: I came to Indianapolis to have a conversation with my sister about what actually happened. And she told me that, you know, the police came in. And they basically told her, you’re going to say that this man did this or we’re going to take your daughter. So they pointed him out in the line up. She never seen him.
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Featured Image: Chris Veal (left) and Vernon T. Bateman (right) on “At the Table.” Credit: WISH-TV.