A MOTHER from Malmesbury who is campaigning to get a man released from Death Row in Nevada after 13 years of imprisonment says poor publicity in national newspapers is a small price to pay in her fight for justice.

Katie Menham, 25, of Newnton Grove, began writing to prisoner Julius Bradford six months ago and believes he does not deserve to die.

Unknown to Mr Bradford, the Blue Cross volunteer has started a petition lobbying Governor Brian Sandoval, the Governor of Nevada, to release him from Death Row.

Miss Menham said: "I am one of those goons that wants to try and change the world. I saw this website advertising writing to prisoners, and I was intrigued so I had a look. I didn't want to write to someone who was a murderer or anything like that and then I found Julius.

"If you read his letters, he is so eloquent and not what you would expect."

The 25-year-old, who is also doing a degree in advanced counselling and advanced psychology, said those around her have been quite supportive after reading his letters, but she has received criticism too, especially after her story was published in national papers this week.

Miss Menham said: “I read it and I didn’t say most of that. They have made me sound like a nutter. I am taking it on the chin – at the end of the day it is raising awareness and if that comes at the expense of my reputation that is fine. I have my freedom but Julius doesn’t.”

The campaigner also hit back at the suggestions that she would introduce her four-year-old son Alfie to the prisoner if he was released.

“I am not suddenly going to introduce him to a stranger that I have never met that is in prison, let alone any stranger," she said indignantly. "Alfie doesn’t know I write the letters, I write when he is in bed or in school – he’s four and he doesn’t even know about my university course.”

"In our letters, we talk about our lives and not once have we ever talked about his conviction but I have to do something.

"He deserves to serve his sentence, but he doesn't deserve to die for something he didn't do. There is probably not a great deal I can do from Malmesbury to be honest but I want to raise awareness of his case.

"For people who are not sure about this, read up on the case and you will see it is quite a shocking miscarriage of justice. Everyone makes mistakes and although this is a big mistake, he should serve his punishment but he doesn't deserve to die."

Mr Bradford and two others were charged in March 2004 with murder with use of a deadly weapon and armed robbery with use of a deadly weapon, which resulted in the death of Benito Zambrano-Lopez on June 8, 2003. One of the group, 16-year-old Tyrone Williams was identified as pulling the trigger but all three men were charged with murder.

This month, pharmaceutical company Pfizer announced new controls that would prevent its drugs being used to make lethal injections, preventing executions in a number of states including Nevada.

Miss Menham added: "I don't agree with the death penalty anyway and if this helps Julius' case, I'm not going to complain."

For more information about the campaign, visit https://www.change.org/p/brian-sandoval-get-julius-bradford-off-of-death-row-before-it-s-too-late.