The Pursuit of Justice

By Nazreen Mohammed

The true story of Dane Abdool, one of the youngest men on Floridas death row. The events that took him there, an immigrant familys struggle for justice that evades them and the pain, devastation and misunderstanding that follows them as Dane waits; time being his only friend. A mothers story, about her 19-year-old son who is arrested and indicted on charges of first degree murder. The prosecutor who attaches the death penalty and pursue it with a vengeance, the trial that follows, misunderstanding of two different cultures, witnesses that who are less than truthful, the detectives who manipulate the evidence, depositions that were not attainable by the defense from the prosecution witnesses. An account of the trial and the witness transcripts and events as they unfolded. A judge who is extremely ambitious and a family who give all that they have emotionally and financially to get justice. The defense attorneys, who becomes part of the family and to date has not taken another death case. The tragic death of a beautiful 17 year old girl who wanted to die and the family she Left behind. The girlfriend, an intelligent pre-law student and her strange obsessions , the diary, the love letters and the incredible journey as a devoted family continues to pursue the justice they believe they deserve. This book gives the details of what actually happened at the trial, it shows the conflicting testimonies of unscrupulous witnesses. The post interviews are revealed and the impact that these interviews may have had on the jury and the media if they were allowed into the court at trial. Information about the missing transcripts that to date has not been found. My name is Nazreen Mohammed, and I am Danes mother, I was born in Trinidad and Tobago. I migrated to the United States to create better opportunities for my children. I have been In the United States since 1996, I have recently taken time off to write this book and get My sons story out there and provide Clarity and some understanding to a media and public that judged him without really knowing who he was, while we wait patiently on the appeal process and the justice system with much Anticipation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 23, 2010
• ISBN: 9781450088312

Nazreen Mohammed

Nazreen Mohammed was born in the West Indian Island of Trinidad and Tobago. She is the mother of three children. She lives in north Florida with her family and she had always had the desire and passion to become a writer when a life changing event gave her the motivation to make her dream into a reality. She felt compelled to write her first book about an event that had impacted her life and changed it forever. After writing ‘The Pursuit of Justice’ a true story, she went on to write her second book ‘The Unfortunate’ which was also based on an actual event as well. She then decided to write this book since she had assisted in the mitigation when she went to Trinidad in 2007, Dave was able to avoid the death penalty but when she looked at his trial transcripts she felt that there were some questionable decisions made and he had become ‘The Invisible Man’ who was tucked away serving two life sentences. This author has dedicated the rest of her life to writing and helping others. She started a charitable organization called Lifeline, Inmate Support Advocate Group (ISAG) and she offers support and counseling to the families of Inmates.

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Copyright © 2010 by Nazreen Mohammed.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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DEDICATION

This book is inspired by the true story of my son Dane Patrick Abdool, who showed me how to be strong and optimistic regardless of the circumstances. I would like to thank my husband Bing for staying by my side at all times and always protecting me. My son Rian, when you could have wilted, instead you came forward with strength, Valor and integrity. I am so proud to be your mother. My daughter Evelyn, thank you, for embracing a life we never intended you would have, it has made you strong, but mostly thank you for the music. To my dad for his awesome love, my mother, for the strength, my aunt Saleepha, for the free spirit and teaching me to always find good in the bad. My brother Yazeed and my sisters Charmaine and Shereen your love and support have meant everything to me. My uncle Asaf, your ability to just listen amazes me. Fayrial, for being Dane’s unwavering support, thanks to all of my family, Ronald, Fouzia, Najeeb, Faiza, my Italian princess Elisa, Kelly, Trish, Deborah, and Toni for your work and dedication. Thanks to Allah.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 1

On March 2nd 2006, at approximately 10.40 in the morning the Orlando SWAT team and the Winter Garden Police surrounded the business place of Team Redline in Orlando. Some of them went into the building and gathered up all the employees and took them into the office area. They selected Dane Abdool out and asked for his wallet, Det. Robby Hummel took out Dane’s driver’s license and identified him. Dane was then handcuffed and placed into the back of the police Car and transported to the Winter Garden Police Station. His Car was picked up by a tow truck and taken to an impound lot; the police had a warrant for the vehicle.

On that same day, Det. Robby Hummel and Lt. Frank Woodward went to Dane’s dad workshop with a warrant to search the premises. They placed him into the office area and went about their search. Dane’s Dad was in shock and responded with questions, he did not get any answers. This happened at approximately 11.10 am. At 12.10 pm there was a knock on my door, as I looked through the glass in the door I saw four police officers one from Ocoee Police department, the others were from the Winter Garden Police department. I immediately opened the door and in their hands they had a short black pole, this must have been to push the door in? They proceeded to read me a search warrant for my home. I worked at home so I was getting ready to start. I was told to sit on the sofa and if I needed to get water or use the bathroom, I would need to be escorted. The warrant to search the premises was because of an investigation of a homicide.

My head started to reel as I tried to make some sense of this, homicide was a word I heard on television or in the movies, not in real life. The search began and it felt surreal to me, like this was happening to someone else and it was not happening to me. Who had died and what did I have to do with that? I just knew that this was a horrible mistake that would soon be cleared up. I could have even heard in my head the police apologizing and this was the wrong house. Well that did not happen, they took some slippers, some gas cans, bank statements and asked to look at my car so I just them. I was in a daze at that point and started thinking that my 6 year old daughter would be getting out from school soon and I would need to pick her up. I asked to make a call but I was told that I could not until they were done with the search. Finally, at about 2.35pm they said they were done, when they were leaving one of the Ocoee police officers turned to me and said that they had my son at the Winter Garden Police Department. I tried calling my husband but he did not answer, what I did not know, was that his place was being searched as well. I called my other son Rian, as he was on his way home and had him get his sister from school and I continued to try and reach my husband.

After what seemed like hours but was just 15 mins I finally got him and he told me about what had happened at his workplace and I briefed him on what happened at home. He told me to call our real Estate Attorney, I called him and he gave me the telephone number for Attorney Mark Nejame, I called him but he was in Texas. He did a conference call with his partner at that time Eric, who advised us to go to the Winter Garden Police Department immediately and he would meet us there.

My husband Bing and I got there at about the same time 3.11 pm. We walked inside and asked about Dane, we were told that he was being questioned and Lt. Frank Woodward came down to see us. He told us that Dane was 19 yrs old and he did not need our consent to speak with him and that Dane came in on his own. I got our attorney Eric on the phone and he advised Lt. Woodward that he was Dane’s attorney and he wanted to talk to him. He was told that when he arrived at the police department he would be allowed access to him.

At 3.48pm Eric arrived at the Police department and immediately asked the clerk to call and let Lt. Woodward know that he had arrived and wanted to see Dane. Lt Woodward informed him that he would be down in a few minutes but he never came down as he promised. Eric asked the receptionist three times after to call him and she did, and he had even asked Officers going upstairs to let Lt Carpenter know he was still waiting. This went on for quite a while and at 5.15 pm Lt. Woodward finally came down and told Eric he could see Dane that he had confessed.

Confessed! What could he have confessed to? I now started to remember that a girl was missing from Winter Garden; Maybe Dane knew something about it since he had known her from school and actually dated her for a couple of months, but now I am thinking if he did why didn’t he tell me about it, we were close and he knew he could tell me anything. My head was feeling different and we got upstairs, Eric told me that the young lady that was reported missing had been found, she had died and Dane confessed to killing her,

I felt like I am passing out and the nausea started setting in. I was thinking that was a lie he could not have done that, yes he was childish and immature but he was also loving and kind very trusting and vulnerable but not this, was there an accident of some sort? At this time Eric did not know any of the details just that they will be charging him soon and we should see him as this may be the last time we would have physical contact with him for awhile. What did they mean last time, what happened now, we surely did not know. I had never known anyone who had been arrested before and we surely did not know what the process would be.

I walked into that room and I saw my baby, crying with his heads down and telling me how sorry he was because he had not come to me, he felt if he did not think about it, it could have never have happened. His first concern was for me, his dad, sister and his brother. We are all sobbing uncontrollably by then and he kept on telling me "mom it was and accident mom, I didn’t know mom, I thought she was hurt, but not this mom, I didn’t know what to do mom. I was crying and my heart felt like it was going to drop out of my chest and I continued feeling that this was not happening, it could not have been, it just could not. Then Dane said to me, mom they told me I could go home mom, I know I have to pay for this mom I shouldn’t have left her there but I thought she was okay, the police told me I could go home now mom. It was an accident, mom I didn’t know.

They told him he could go home. I had to tell him he could not, Eric told us that the process now was that Dane would be charged and sent to Orange County Jail to await trial. He told us other things but I did not hear anything more, my grief was too much, and I felt like I was in a daze, I could hear people talking but I could not hear the words being said. We had never interacted in the legal system so I did not have a clue of what would happen next. We sat with Dane for some time and we just held him so tightly, we did not know what else to do. After what seemed too short a time Lt. Woodward took us into his office and he started telling us about the missing girl and we were even more devastated. He was talking about Dane as if he was a bad kid who went too far but I knew my child and I held on knowing that he was always kind, helpful, happy and a good child who cared for his sister and brother more than anything else. What Lt. Woodward was saying made no sense to us at all and then we became confused as well.

I said in my head, Dane had never had any issues with the law growing up; he was never in the Juvenile system or showed any signs of being violent at all. He had never fought in school with the other kids. I never had any complaints from his teachers about discipline; he did not skip School even when he had to struggle to keep up. His teachers had always complimented him for his efforts. This was the child who got awards for perfect attendance, good citizenship and other voluntary efforts he was not someone who would have hurt someone. He was and still is someone who helps others in need; he always listened and gave a sympathetic ear. He would always have lots of hugs and kisses to give; everyone loved him without any reservations. Later on as we left the police station and headed home to talk to his brother to try and explain a situation that, we ourselves did not understand. As I left there that night I felt empty and the hopelessness had started to set in.

Chapter 2

I feel compelled to give some background on the two countries that our family and the family of the young lady had migrated to the United States from. We were both immigrant families and to give more clarity to this entire situation it can only help to know some history. We came to this country in 1996 as ironic as it may seem my husband and I came here so that our children could have better opportunities. We came as an immigrant family from Trinidad and Tobago which is one of the West Indian Islands, this Island was the most southern and sat closest of all, to Venezuela in South America.

Trinidad and Tobago was, and is still popular for steel band and calypso music as well their carnival, it also has a very rich Culture where you will find people of many different races. Primarily the population was comprised of East Indian, African, Caucasian, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Syrian and there are many people of all different races mixed together. Trinidad was rich in oil and Tobago had a booming tourism industry.

The islands were discovered by Christopher Columbus and was then inhabited by Arawaks and Caribs who were Native to the West Indies. The Spanish owned them at one time and subsequently the British took over. The British Government still influenced these islands in a big way even though it was now a Republic. The Government was elected in a democratic process.

Before oil was discovered and became the primary resource the Sugar Cane Estates and Sugar production was the main source of revenue and with that came the Slaves from Africa. When the slave trade was abolished the freed slaves refused to work the plantations and an alternative labor source was sort.

This bought the Chinese, Syrians and the Vietnamese people over but they did not do well in the tropical climate as it was too hot for them. They moved into the business of trade and retail and the owners of the plantations were forced to find a new labor force to work they recruited the East Indians, they were used to the hot weather and they came as indentured laborers who stayed and worked in exchange for a housing lot to build and settle on. After the 5 years indenture ship they continued to work in the plantations and went on to acquire more property and stability.

The East Indians who came over were Muslim and Hindus. Many of them converted to Christianity as this presented them with better opportunities to be educated in the English system and for them be able attain a good education for their children and to secure their futures. This paid off after a few generations as the East Indian descendants became the Doctors, Lawyers, and teachers and eventually controlled the Islands, with their wealth, they had a lot of influence. They continued to cultivate the land and when the British declared the Islands Independent they were able to acquire the majority of the real estate and held positions of importance within the governmental system. There was still a smaller amount of the people that still were Muslims and Hindus and with the African influence different versions of Shango Baptist religions and of course the Catholics, Anglicans and Presbyterians remained the major forces of influence in religion.

With all of this going on by the 1970’s Trinidad had a strong economy, from the blending of all of these different races and religions came this exquisite cuisine and rich culture. Also evolving was exotic dances and the steel band was subsequently invented, and then came Calypso music and Carnival became an annual event that would later on bring popularity and put the islands on the international map.

Now even though the Country of Guyana or French Guyana as it was formally known was similar In how the Africans and the East Indians got there it was controlled by the French and after that the British influence was minimal. Guyana was not an island but sat next to Venezuela in South America. The races were primarily the same as Trinidad and it did produce Sugar but many of the Immigrants continued to be primarily Hindus and Muslims and Christianity had not significantly impacted their lives or their culture. The African race dominated the country they refused to work the plantations and quickly took positions in the Army, police forces and the Government. There was also a significant amount of gold discovered in the mines there and this made the country one with the potential to be rich.

With the African descendants controlling the government with Burnham as the prime minister at that time, the East Indians continued to cultivate the lands. Many of them became jewelers and many of them became business people and sold their produce in the markets. Eventually