group of eight-year-old children in new jersey have written letters to convicted cop killer mumia abu-jamal , wishing that he will ` get better soon ' while recovering in hospital from a mystery illness after being encouraged by their teacher .
the cards have caused outrage and alarm among political commentators , many of whom claim the 60-year-old 's illness is a fraud and clamor for attention .
abu-jamal , who shot philadelphia police officer daniel faulkner in cold blood in 1981 , was taken to hospital on april 2 after collapsing in the bathroom of the state correctional institution at mahanoy .