Shareef Cousin's Harrowing Experience on Death Row and Fight for Justice
I was stabbed in head & saw killer driven to eat his own faeces – my life on death row at 16 for murder I didn’t commit
Image: The Sun
Shareef Cousin, sentenced to death at 16 for a murder he did not commit, recounts his traumatic experiences on death row in Louisiana. After years of confinement and witnessing executions, he was exonerated in 1999. Now, he shares his story of survival and healing through travel and personal growth.
- 01Shareef Cousin was arrested at 16 for the murder of Michael Gerardi, despite having an alibi and being wrongfully identified by a witness.
- 02He spent two years on death row, witnessing the execution of friends, which deeply impacted his mental health.
- 03Cousin experienced violence and trauma in prison, including being stabbed and witnessing inmates lose their sanity.
- 04In 1999, after a retrial, the murder charges against him were dropped, but he remained in confinement until 2005 due to other charges.
- 05Now 47, he travels the U.S. in a campervan with his children, focusing on healing from his past experiences.
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Shareef Cousin became Louisiana's youngest death row inmate at 16 after being wrongfully convicted of murder. His time on death row was filled with trauma, including witnessing executions and experiencing violence from other inmates. Despite being framed for the murder of Michael Gerardi in 1995, Shareef maintained his innocence, supported by an alibi and a lack of credible evidence. After spending over a decade in confinement, he was exonerated in 1999, yet continued to face challenges due to other charges. Now, at 47, he reflects on his harrowing past and its impact on his mental health. He has embraced a new life, traveling across America in a campervan with his children, aiming to heal from the scars of institutionalization. Shareef's journey highlights the importance of resilience and the quest for freedom, as he seeks to understand love and vulnerability in his new life.
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Shareef's story sheds light on the flaws in the justice system and the psychological effects of wrongful incarceration.
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