Maybe Troy Davis really did murder Savannah, Ga., police officer Mark MacPhail in 1989, but the U.S. Supreme Court was right Tuesday to stay his execution until after a Monday hearing, stepping in to assure the state of Georgia doesn’t execute an innocent man.
The facts of the case against Davis should give even capital punishment advocates pause: He was convicted on eyewitness testimony alone, and seven of those nine witnesses have recanted. Three witnesses said another man admitted to the crime. The murder weapon was never found.
And is it too much to ask that if states must have death penalties, they not be used in cases where convictions are based entirely on eyewitness testimony?
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- CapnAmerica on ACORN stole election?
- DavidB on Health care reform would save state money
- writerdog on Minority status in Senate; majority approval at home
- CapnAmerica on Health care reform would save state money
- DavidB on Open thread 11/22
- writerdog on Health care reform would save state money
- CapnAmerica on Open thread 11/22
- george on Open thread 11/22
- DorisKing on Open thread 11/22
- Chas on Open thread 11/22
5 Comments
Sounds like a near miss.
I think most will agree that it’s fair to grant a stay of execution until the case can be reviewed. However, your obvious bias shows in the last sentence.
The trouble with discussing cases that happened in another state years ago is that probably none of us know much about it, including me. So I probably shouldn’t comment on it.
But seems like I read a review recently that said three thugs including Troy Davis were threatening the victim when one shot the victim.
If the question is which of the three thugs actually shot the victim, all three should be found equally guilty.
If I have the facts wrong, sorry. That’s why we have judges and juries to carefully study the facts of the case and make an informed decision.
There is no bias in wanting only the guilty to pay for crime. This is one of the reasons why so many are against the death penalty. And look at the enormous number of people who have been proven innocent.
I am against the death penalty because of the enormous cost involved and the years of agony on the victim’s family, as well as the convicted person’s family. If there is a video tape or other tangible evidence of undeniable guilt or DNA evidence by an unbiased agency (not the state’s forensic lab) says they are guilty, then maybe I would say yes to the death penalty.
And for this specific case in Georgia, if so many eye witnesses are now recanting, why not have another hearing. It’s not like the convicted person is going anywhere.