The daughters of assassinated black civil rights leader Malcolm X have requested that his murder investigation be reopened in light of new evidence.
They found a deathbed letter from a policeman who was on duty at the time of the 1965 killing, accusing New York police and the FBI conspired in the murder.
In his letter, Raymond Wood wrote that it was his responsibility was to ensure Malcolm X’s security team were arrested days before he was shot dead in Manhattan.
The three people convicted of the murder were all Nation of Islam political and religious movement members.
They were sentenced to life in prison. While one of them has died since then, the other two have been paroled.
In 2020, the Manhattan district attorney launched a review for the convictions after meeting the Innocence Project representatives. A non-profit legal group campaigning for justice of individuals they believe have been wrongly convicted.
WHAT DOES WOOD’S LETTER ALLEGE?
The letter alleges that the New York Police Department and the FBI covered up all the assassination details on 21 February 1965 in Harlem’s Audubon Ballroom.
Further, it says that Mr Wood was tasked with ensuring that Malcolm X should not have any door security in the building he was to speak in public.
While the death of Mr wood has not been confirmed, the family said Mr Wood did not want to make his letter public until after his death, fearing from the authorities.
Any evidence that helps find the truth behind that tragedy should be appropriately investigated, said Ilyasah Shabazz, one of Malcolm X’s daughters.
As a response, the NYPD informed about the Manhattan district attorney who initiated a review of the investigation and prosecution. Moreover, it resulted in two convictions for the murder.
Continuing, they reported that the NYPD has already provided all available records relevant to that case were handed to the district attorney. However, the FBI has so far made no public comment on the issue.
