Ray Wood was an undercover cop at the time – his family and lawyer now claim that Wood wrote a letter on his deathbed confessing that the NYPD and FBI conspired to kill the Civil Rights activist.
Malcolm X was shot dead in February 1965 in Harlem during a lecture. Wood’s family says in the letter that Wood wrote, he said his responsibility was to ensure that Malcolm X’s security detachment was arrested days before the murder.
The letter further states that this move would guarantee Malcolm X no security at the door of the Audubon Ballroom, where he was killed.
Today, Malcolm X’s three daughters, along with Wood’s family and civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, are calling for the murder investigation to be reopened in the light of new evidence.
“So what we’re trying to do is talk about restorative justice as lawyers – try to seek ruthless justice,” said attorney Ray Hamlin. On behalf of the legacy of Malcolm X, Dr. Betty Shabazz, on behalf of your family your lineage that is here. “
The three members of the Nation of Islam were convicted of the murder of Malcolm X. Last year, the Manhattan DA began a review of these convictions after meeting with representatives of the Innocence Project.
Now, with the new evidence, the prosecutor’s office says that ‘the review of this matter is active and in progress’.
The NYPD released a statement on Saturday, saying:
Several months ago, the Manhattan district attorney initiated a review of the investigation and prosecution that resulted in two convictions for the murder of Malcom X. The NYPD provided all available records relevant to that case to the public prosecutor. The Department remains committed to helping with this review in any way.
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