Justice for Daoud Boone

Justice for Daoud Boone

Daoud Boone was 25 years old, home on leave from the Navy, when he was arrested at his parents' home in Montgomery and charged with the capital murder of his former girlfriend, Sylvia Perry.

This, despite the fact that he didn’t match the description of the shooter.

Despite the fact that he was nowhere near the scene of the crime.

Despite the fact that there was no DNA evidence linking him to the murder.

His first trial ended in a hung jury—a mistrial. But in a second trial, without any new evidence, Daoud was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Just one week before the murder, Daoud’s father—Reverend Richard Boone, a well-known civil rights leader—had publicly protested police brutality on the steps of the Montgomery Police Department.

Daoud has now spent 18 years behind bars fighting for justice. The Innocence Project has declined his case, as they primarily focus on death row cases involving DNA evidence. Local innocence organizations like Alabama Appleseed only take on nonviolent cases, leaving Daoud with few options for legal recourse.

Not only has Daoud been fighting for justice in his own case, but he also penned Men’s Training, a play that dismantles the typical stereotypes of people who are incarcerated. Men’s Training looks at how we define who we are from within and survive the cultures of the institution, and the central character models how to overcome life’s obstacles to be the best persons we can be.

Now, in addition to raising funds for further investigation in Daoud’s case, NILJ is helping to raise funds for a Birmingham, Alabama-based professional production of Daoud’s new play developed from his own writing, using court transcripts and conversations. The play, Beauty and Brutality, is a bold step toward truth, healing, and change.

Wrongful convictions affect tens of thousands in the U.S.—Daoud’s story is one of many, but we believe in the impact of storytelling to create justice.

At the National Institute for Law and Justice, we are committed to helping Daoud fight for his freedom—and to shedding light on a case that demands deeper scrutiny.