My name is Franziska Kaltenbach I am a friend of Ernesto Behrens. Because I know him for the last 30 years and I believe 100% in his innocence I am publicly asking for help to obtain his freedom.
He has been prosecuted, found guilty and sentenced to die in prison for a crime he did not commit. The inculpatory evidence in his case is a spot of DNA that was allegedly found on a fitted sheet, although there is no other evidence that points at him.
His alibi witness at trial was rock solid and unrefuted. He presented also a medical testimony from a physician who testified at trial, unrefuted as well, that Ernesto had surgery four (4) days before this crime took place, making it physically impossible for him to commit this crime without disrupting his injuries. Equally important, Ernesto's whole defense at trial was that the State tampered with the DNA evidence.
At trial, it was confirmed that the fingerprints, palm prints and shoe castings collected at the points of entry and exit did not belong to Ernesto. Also, it was confirmed that Ernesto's physical appearance did not match that of the assailant specifically, because the victim described the perpetrator as a young circumcised male and Ernesto was 31 years old at the time of the crime and uncircumcised.
Anyway, there is a lot more injustices attached to this case which reflects without a doubt, that the DNA was manipulated in this case in order to obtain a conviction. See more at: www.helpdna.org
Thank you for your curiosity about this case. It may help you to understand that it can happen to anybody you know. So, please be voice !
Sincerely,
Franziska Kaltenbach.
THE REASON FOR RAISING FUNDS IN 2021
It has been a long battle trying to obtain legal assistance on behalf of Ernesto. Although, he has unambiguously requested the trial Court to appoint an attorney to represent him during this complicated postconviction proceeding and despite the fact that he has been previously declared indigent by the Court.
Ernesto has not been able to obtain a meaningful legal representation by an attorney that could bring a fair litigation against the Assistant State Attorney currently appointed to his case.
It seems to me that Ernesto cannot adequately litigate his claim to the Court without a proper representation from an attorney who specializes in Forensic DNA. In other words, his current pro se and/or self representation status is his biggest disadvantage now.
This of course, results in longer delays for him to prove his actual innocence claim. Furthermore, l believe that his motions when filed without an attorney's representation ultimately end up in getting ignored or postponed for unnecessary longer periods of time.
On the other hand, I have done everything that I could have possibly done in trying to bring up the necessary attention to the anomalies and injustices of this case. Especially, when it is taken into consideration the undeniable fact that I am not a person who practices law or elaborates in the field of DNA.
Nevertheless, I have taken the time and efforts to contact all and each one of the pertinent individuals or entities that could have assisted Ernesto in his efforts to prove his actual innocence claim. The first contact I ever did was with Ms. Tiffany Roy as a Forensic DNA Consultant.
Immediately thereafter and without hesitations Ms. Roy offered us her assistance to overlook the case and right afterwards she started her inputs as a DNA Consultant without ever charging us a dime. Her entire efforts during these last four (4) years working in this case has been 100% pro bono.
After that, I immediately encouraged Ernesto to make direct contact with The Innocence Project of Florida. However, as I have explained it in separate pages of this website, The Innocence Project of Florida has not yet agreed to represent Ernesto's case.
Last, I contacted The Broward Prosecutor's Integrity Unit and completed and submitted the required Petition. Nevertheless, The Broward Prosecutor's Integrity Unit declines to investigate Ernesto's case, as long as he has any pending litigation in the Courts. And of course, right in between, I have been trying to obtain the legal assistance of pro bono attorneys that may have been interested in this case but without yet any success.
It is for the reasons stated above that I have come to the conclusion that Ernesto's case really needs a well qualified attorney that could take the case from here on and finally persuade the Court into allowing the available evidence containing DNA to be viewed, inspected and eventually retested with newer and more advanced DNA technology. There is no other way to prove Ernesto's innocence.
His whole conviction in this case and the ultimate life sentence imposed upon him, rests solely on a single stain of seminal fluid containing DNA--found on a bed sheet with a questionable chain of custody and evidence of probable tampering.
Unfortunately, the legal fees associated with this representation could be in the range of $25,000 to $40.000 depending on the type of attorney that takes the case. I am not in a financial position to carry on this burden by myself. It is for this reason, that I have created this fond raising.
I really need each one of you out there who believe that an innocent man should not die in prison, to help me out with this project of freeing Ernesto Behrens. He has claimed his innocence for the past 24-years!
I sincerely thank everyone for the donations and assure you that each and every penny collected in this cause will be put towards Ernesto's legal representation.
May the God of unlimited mercy guide your hearts and spirits during this moment of giving!
Gratefully yours,
Franziska Kaltenbach.
