Bid to put end to Morrison’s flash conviction

FLORIDA governor, Charlie Crist, is being asked to pardon the late Jim Morrison, lead singer of The Doors, 38 years after the rock star was convicted of exposing himself during a Miami concert.

Dave Diamond, a cable TV producer from Dayton, Ohio, wrote to Mr Crist last month asking for the pardon. Mr Diamond said the goal was to remember the Melbourne, Florida native as an artist, not a rock ‘n roll bad boy with a rap sheet.

“Well, given that fact, I’m certainly willing to review it,” said Mr Crist.

Morrison was charged days after a concert at Dinner Key Auditorium in Coconut Grove in 1969. He allegedly exposed himself and simulated a sex act, which he denied doing.

He was acquitted on a felony charge for lewd and lascivious behaviour, but was convicted of indecent exposure and profanity.

Many feel the Miami arrest led to promoters cancelling concerts and earned the band a stream of negative publicity.

In his letter, Mr Diamond noted former New York governor, George Pataki, pardoned the late comedian, Lenny Bruce, on an obscenity conviction. He added: “We’d just like to see Morrison be judged because of the music and poetry.”

The hard-living Morrison died of heart failure in a Paris bathtub in 1971, while his case was still on appeal. He was 27.

Morrison’s father, retired US admiral, George S Morrison, 87, who lives in California, said he would support a pardon.

Mr Crist, however, cannot pardon someone by himself. He needs the support of two of the three other members of the Florida Cabinet, which acts as the state clemency board.

In addition, there are no procedures for posthumous pardons.