Rally Held For OKC Pharmacist Convicted Of Murder

Supporters of pharmacist Jerome Ersland wrapped up a rally to encourage an appeal in his case, Thursday night.

Ersland is serving a life sentence for killing a teenager who robbed the Reliable Pharmacy. Friends fighting for Ersland's freedom say they are taking their fight to the next level and appealing to social media.

For the first time since 2009 the grassroots group did email blasts and gathered indoors to open the controversial case up for discussion. The petition for Ersland's freedom has 34,000 signatures. There have been rallies at the capitol, a plea for a pardon and new defense team.

"I do believe it's important to crystallize the issues for the public because right now in the state of Oklahoma from the people that have talked to me there is a huge question what is actually allowed," said Attorney Doug Friesen.

10/1/2012 Related Story: Attorneys For OKC Pharmacist Jerome Ersland Appeal Murder Conviction

Sen. Ralph Shortey, who helped organize the rally, said this is a clear cut and it's all about second amendment rights.

"Jerome Ersland shouldn't have done this and the public for the most part says he shouldn't have gone back a second time, but who are we to say what his mindset was," said Shortey.

7/08/2011 Related Story: Jerome Ersland Sentenced To Life In Prison By OKC Judge

"I did not think you could find 12 people in the state of Oklahoma that would find him guilty. I did not think you'd find one," said Ersland supporter, Bob Johnson.

The group is trying to get national attention by stepping up online efforts. They've created www.FREEersland.com and Ersland even has his own Wikipedia page. Ersland's attorney's filed additional evidence with the appellate court on October 1.

Shortey says they are willing to take the case to the Supreme Court.

10/1/2012 Related Story: Jerome Ersland's New Attorney Ready To Appeal Murder Conviction