Editing Mumia Abu-Jamal (section)

=== Verdict and sentence ===
After three hours of deliberations, the jury presented a unanimous guilty verdict.

In the sentencing phase of the trial, Abu-Jamal read to the jury from a prepared statement. He was [[cross-examination|cross-examined]] about issues relevant to the assessment of his character by Joseph McGill, the prosecuting attorney.

In his statement, Abu-Jamal criticized his attorney as a "legal trained lawyer", who was imposed on him against his will and who "knew he was inadequate to the task and chose to follow the directions of this black-robed conspirator [referring to the judge], Albert Sabo, even if it meant ignoring my directions." He claimed that his rights had been "deceitfully stolen" from him by Sabo, particularly focusing on the denial of his request to receive defense assistance from [[John Africa]], who was not an attorney, and being prevented from proceeding ''[[Pro se legal representation in the United States|pro se]]''. He quoted remarks of John Africa, and said:

{{Blockquote|style=font-size: 100%;|Does it matter whether a white man is charged with killing a black man or a black man is charged with killing a white man? As for justice when the prosecutor represents the Commonwealth the Judge represents the Commonwealth and the court-appointed lawyer is paid and supported by the Commonwealth, who follows the wishes of the defendant, the man charged with the crime? If the court-appointed lawyer ignores, or goes against the wishes of the man he is charged with representing, whose wishes does he follow? Who does he truly represent or work for?&nbsp;... I am innocent of these charges that I have been charged of and convicted of and despite the connivance of Sabo, McGill and Jackson to deny me my so-called rights to represent myself, to assistance of my choice, to personally select a jury who is totally of my peers, to cross-examine witnesses, and to make both opening and closing arguments, I am still innocent of these charges.}}

Abu-Jamal was sentenced to death by the unanimous decision of the jury. 

[[Amnesty International]] has objected to the introduction by the prosecution at the time of his sentencing of [[propensity evidence|statements from when he was an activist as a youth]]. It also protested the politicization of the trial, noting that there was documented recent history in Philadelphia of [[Police misconduct|police abuse]] and [[Police corruption|corruption]], including [[False evidence|fabricated evidence]] and [[Police brutality|use of excessive force]]. Amnesty International concluded "that the proceedings used to convict and sentence Mumia Abu-Jamal to death were in violation of minimum international standards that govern fair trial procedures and the use of the [[Capital punishment|death penalty]]".<ref name="amn" />