The Troy Davis Case

Temaz

Sad stuff. I believe him to be innocent.

The US state of Georgia has rejected a final clemency appeal for Troy Davis, due to be executed for the 1989 murder of an off-duty policeman.
The 42-year-old is due to face a lethal injection on Wednesday evening.
He was convicted of shooting of Mark Allen MacPhail in Savannah, Georgia, but has since attracted support for his claim of wrongful conviction.
Davis was sentenced in 1991, but most of the witnesses have since recanted or changed their testimony.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-14991755

Seven of the original nine eyewitnesses who had linked Davis to the killing recanted all or part of their trial testimony. Several stated they had felt pressure by police to implicate Davis. New witnesses implicated Coles in the crime

Amnesty International and other groups such as National Association for the Advancement of Colored People took up Davis' cause. Prominent politicians and leaders, including former President Jimmy Carter, Al Sharpton, Pope Benedict XVI, Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, presidential candidate Bob Barr and former FBI Director and judge William S. Sessions called upon the courts to grant Davis a new trial or evidentiary hearing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Davis_case

The murder weapon has never been found, and there is no physical evidence linking the crime to Davis, who has asserted his innocence throughout.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1643384,00.html#ixzz1YVWDIwoS

I find this beautiful song to be fitting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWhSzQfAKSw

mikemac

Pat Kenny did an interview on this last Friday if you're interested
Troy's sister gives details of the case
www.rte.ie/radio1/podcast/podcast_patkenny.xml

The case stinks, there should be a new trial imo

Temaz

mikemac wrote: »

The case stinks, there should be a new trial imo

Cheers, didn't hear the interview. I'm afraid we're out of time for a new trial:mad:

mikemac

Nathan Deal the Republican Governor doesn't seem likely to grant a reprieve, has voted before on limiting appeals on death penalty cases in the past

It's not opportunistic electioneering, it's not an election year

It's just his position and doesn't seem he will change it for one case

bijapos

mikemac wrote: »

Nathan Deal the Republican Governor doesn't seem likely to grant a reprieve, has voted before on limiting appeals on death penalty cases in the past

It's not opportunistic electioneering, it's not an election year

It's just his position and doesn't seem he will change it for one case

Election year has nothing to do with it. The case is unstable, he should be taken off death row.

mikemac

What I'm saying is sometimes governors get accused of denying clemency in election years in order to get support and votes

Sure Clinton did it in Arkansas when he was running for President.
Ricky Ray Rector

I agree with your second sentence

Temaz

Georgia's State Board of Pardons and Paroles has rejected Troy Davis' clemency petition. He faces execution on Wednesday, 21 September at 7 p.m., local time.

http://www.amnesty.ie/news/amnesty-condemns-parole-decision-deny-clemency-troy-davis

Plazaman

Wow this will be movie of the week as last minute stay of execution is granted.

USA Today Link

JerryHandbag

No stay of execution granted yet, just delayed. Fascinated following this trending on twitter!

ottostreet

The fact that there is question marks means he should get a re-trial. I don't care whether he lives or dies if he's 100% guilty, but they cannot and should not take the risk of killing a potentially innocent man.

shayser

Would that be Nathan Deal the Pro-Lifer?

yermandan

From Twitter:

GA prison official on Troy Davis: 'We are in a delay, waiting for a decision from the US Supreme Court. There has not been a reprieve'

JerryHandbag

He got a last minute temporary reprieve, which could be anything from 1 to 7 days. Dramatic stuff.

jimdeans

I hope he gets a reprieve. The citizens of any country that kills it's own people as punishment should be ashamed.

Temptamperu

News in america says hes gonna be executed at 11pm... or 9 minutes from now if you will.

J. Marston

If he's innocent, can you imagine how he must feel right now? Scary stuff.

The Scientician

jimdeans wrote: »

I hope he gets a reprieve. The citizens of any country that kills it's own people as punishment should be ashamed.

Yeah, it's a crying shame that otherwise civilised countries resort to such barbarity. Hopefully we'll see its end in our lifetimes.

J. Marston

Sounds like he's dead judging from the reaction on Twitter.

Temptamperu

Time of death 11:08
RIP dude

kraggy

Time of death 11.08pm E.T.

Can't believe they executed him with so many doubts over the witnesses. The doubt over just ONE witness would usually be enough. But 7 witnesses changed or withdrew their testimony.

Innocent or guilty, he shouldn't have died.

mikemac

Wow, I checked this about ten hours ago and read the Supreme court granted a stay
So it went ahead in the meantime

Not one, not two but seven witnesses recanted their testimony.
This was so unsafe, I don't how it went ahead
And maybe he was guilty but sure give him a new trial.

RIP Troy

TheyKnowMyIP

Misanthropy isn't such a bad proposition after following this case! Scummy officials.

jimdeans

The crazy thing is that a lot of the governors and high ranking officials who support the death penalty regard themselves as highly religious. I'm bewildered as to what they think their god would make of it.

I just can't believe a so-called civilised country puts it's own citizens to death.

antodeco

If he was innocent, RIP. Can't imagine how he felt. Sad way to go. I hope his death makes some changes, and he is reincarnated into something good.

castie

Really cant believe this.

7 out of 9 witnesses recant......
Is the american legal system so messed up that the judge could not order a new trial?

I know they give new trials for new evidence but this is evidence that was wrong!!

I dont care if the police pressured the witnesses into doing it.
7 of these people are responsible for a potentially innocent man being out to death. I hope karma comes back around to them.

Temptamperu

castie wrote: »

Really cant believe this.

7 out of 9 witnesses recant......
Is the american legal system so messed up that the judge could not order a new trial?

I know they give new trials for new evidence but this is evidence that was wrong!!

I dont care if the police pressured the witnesses into doing it.
7 of these people are responsible for a potentially innocent man being out to death. I hope karma comes back around to them.

he can and would of, had the lad been white.

tallus

Lethal injection began at 10:53pm EDT. He died at 11:08pm EDT.

It took 15 Minutes for him to die ?. Surely that can't be correct.

WesternNight

It doesn't even matter if he was guilty or not, the fact of the matter is there was no justification whatsoever to execute Troy Davis. Eyewitness testimony is hugely compelling, but it's also unreliable, so shouldn't be the sole basis for any conviction. No physical evidence, the witnesses recanting.. I actually cannot believed it was allowed to happen.

tallus wrote: »

It took 15 Minutes for him to die ?. Surely that can't be correct.

It's a series of injections, not just one immediate one.

Plazaman

tallus wrote: »

It took 15 Minutes for him to die ?. Surely that can't be correct.

I would say the procedure began at 10.53pm, the first injection they get is a strong sedative to knock them out. Very sporting of them.

I'm for the death penalty as there are just some people on this planet who don't deserve to be taking our oxygen but in a case where there is ANY doubt, the pillars of society and justice who order excecutions are no better than the scum who take innocent lives. Hope the members of the Supreme Court had a nice long restless night after their decision in this case.

GrizzlyMan

As noted on Wikipedia

Davis' final words are reported as follows:
“
I'd like to address the MacPhail family. Let you know, despite the situation you are in, I'm not the one who personally killed your son, your father, your brother. I am innocent. The incident that happened that night is not my fault. I did not have a gun. All I can ask ... is that you look deeper into this case so that you really can finally see the truth. I ask my family and friends to continue to fight this fight. For those about to take my life, God have mercy on your souls. And may God bless your souls.[124]

”

pappyodaniel

Read the thread title wrong and automatically thought of this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUjh9Id6Id8

Lab_Mouse

this truly has me disgusted.....
7 out of 9 witnesses recant what they said and no physical evidence and they go ahead with the execution??

Land of the free me hole

Fran1985

Lab_Mouse wrote: »

this truly has me disgusted.....
7 out of 9 witnesses recant what they said and no physical evidence and they go ahead with the execution??

Land of the free me hole

land of the free, if you're white.

I'm all for the death penalty in the right circumstances, but this is ridiculous. I hope the family of the guy who was murdered in the first place have a think about what he said. But at the same time, Americans are a different bread altogether and they'll probably be satisfied just because someone, anyone has paid the price for what they've gone through

goose2005

Temptamperu wrote: »

he can and would of, had the lad been white.

Evidence for that? Moreover, the privilege female criminals receive over males is far greater than the race disparity, but receives far less attention.

Seachmall

From reading about him the guy was obviously not a nice guy. Between him being caught with a concealed gun with an altered serial number, being [reportedly] involved in a high-speed pursuit, being involved in a drive-by, being involved in the assault of a homeless man and then the murder of an off-duty cop some might say he was a scumbag. Possibly the type of scumbag that boardsies constantly note are wastes of oxygen, parasites on society, need to be sterilized or need to be dealt with etc.

I'm not saying he deserved to die, just that I'm glad he didn't live near me. And to be perfectly honest he's not the type of guy who would earn my sympathy, even in this extreme instance.

Let the flaming commence.

parrai

GrizzlyMan wrote: »

As noted on Wikipedia

Davis' final words are reported as follows:
“
I'd like to address the MacPhail family. Let you know, despite the situation you are in, I'm not the one who personally killed your son, your father, your brother. I am innocent. The incident that happened that night is not my fault. I did not have a gun. All I can ask ... is that you look deeper into this case so that you really can finally see the truth. I ask my family and friends to continue to fight this fight. For those about to take my life, God have mercy on your souls. And may God bless your souls.[124]

”

Haunting words...

Imagine, if there is anyone in the MacPhail family who has any doubt about whether he did kill their relative, this would play on their minds, I would imagine, enough so to make them continue... I mean you would want the right person to pay for the murder, right?

I don't know enough about the case to comment anymore than that.

Da Shins Kelly

If there was any doubt at all, he should not have been executed. I've always said it, but that's the main problem with the death penalty. It cannot be undone, and the execution of an innocent person is absolutely unforgivable.

joseph brand

Officer McPhail is a ringer for Nicholas Cage.
http://mylifeofcrime.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/markmcphail.jpg

The death penalty has to be one of the scariest things for a black man in the deep south (USA). Sure these religious (apparently), right-wing, nut jobs would have about as much sympathy for Davis as a spider in their Republican bed.

I don't know if he was guilty or not, but, killing a man is not the way to go. Funny how a religious person screams for death, but an atheist looks for clemency.

I have to admit though, I wouldn't bat an eyelid if Michael Fingleton, David Drumm and Sean Fitzpatrick were lined up against a wall and riddled. Double standards I guess.

Seachmall

joseph brand wrote: »

Funny how a religious person screams for death, but an atheist looks for clemency.

Not all religious people are in favour of the death penalty nor are all atheists against it. Just pointing it out (I'm sure that's not what you meant, but it's how it reads).

upandcumming

joseph brand wrote: »

Funny how a religious person screams for death, but an atheist looks for clemency.

What are you talking about?

Temptamperu

upandcumming wrote: »

What are you talking about?

Hes talking about the religous right that screamed for death in this case.

Show Time

Americans eh?

joseph brand

upandcumming wrote: »

What are you talking about?

http://ourtimes.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/usa_bible_belt.png?w=519&h=320

http://thesocietypages.org/graphicsociology/files/2009/02/independent_death_penalty.jpg

See any similarities here? You try and tell me that Republicans don't count religious whack-jobs among their supporters.

I just can't see Liberals, Democrats, Atheists, Agnostics cheering for the death penalty. Maybe I'm wrong?

I wonder what Palin and Bachmann's views on the death penalty are. "We're fighting Gods war".(Palin on Iraq). Dangerous, religious, Republicans.

Seachmall

joseph brand wrote: »

I just can't see Liberals, Democrats, Atheists, Agnostics cheering for the death penalty. Maybe I'm wrong?

I'm an athiest, I'm in favour of the death penalty.

Not because I think it's justice or punishment or anything like that, I just think it's more space and cost efficient than keeping someone in a cell for the rest of their lives.

Of course innocent people do get found guilty but I don't want to get into that issue to be honest.

Ultimately though I don't really care, it hasn't affected me and I don't suspect it will so I've no problem whatever way people vote.

gazmc18

[HTML]Not because I think it's justice or punishment or anything like that, I just think it's more space and cost efficient than keeping someone in a cell for the rest of their lives[/HTML]

You think a person should be killed to save space? Even money is not an excuse for a government to kill someone.

Of course innocent people do get found guilty but I don't want to get into that issue to be honest.

This is kind of the main issue regarding the death penalty in fairness.
Am i falling for a WUM here?

Seachmall

gazmc18 wrote: »

You think a person should be killed to save space? Even money is not an excuse for a government to kill someone.

I think someone who has proven themselves detrimental to a society should be removed from that society. If it's decided there is little to no chance of them reforming (as would/should be the case in life sentences) then holding them in a cell for the rest of their life is an inefficient option.

This is kind of the main issue regarding the death penalty in fairness.

I'm aware of that but these discussions never go well and I don't want to discuss it online. It'll go on forever and an agreement other than "agree to disagree" will never be reached.

I think most opinions formed on the topic are based on emotion. That's fine with me, it's a very sensitive issue, but I disagree with it.

Logical Fallacy

Seachmall wrote: »

I think someone who has proven themselves detrimental to a society should be removed from that society. If it's decided there is little to no chance of them reforming (as would/should be the case in life sentences) then holding them in a cell for the rest of their life is an inefficient option.

It costs about 4.5 million dollars to kill someone on death row, between the trials, appeals and execution costs.

Seachmall

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

It costs about 4.5 million dollars to kill someone on death row, between the trials, appeals and execution costs.

And compared to the $1.5-$2 million for a life sentence it does seem less efficient. Like I said it's not something I particularly care about or ever looked into, it just seemed holding someone for 10 years until execution should be more cost efficient than holding someone for 25.

Guess I was wrong.

If the courts and prison system can be made more efficient then execution should reduce in costs maybe making execution the more efficient option.

amacachi

I went to bed last night assuming common sense would prevail. I know it's stupid to think that about the American justice system but I was extremely drunk.

Amirani

Seachmall wrote: »

And compared to the $1.5-$2 million for a life sentence it does seem less efficient. Like I said it's not something I particularly care about or ever looked into, it just seemed holding someone for 10 years until execution should be more cost efficient than holding someone for 25.

Guess I was wrong.

If the courts and prison system can be made more efficient then execution should reduce in costs maybe making execution the more efficient option.

It can't be made more efficient because execution trials and the imprisonment of death row inmates are by their very nature far more expensive than conventional alternatives. Can any state be trusted to implement the death penalty when they go an do something like this? If even 1 witness was to recant then the validity of the sentence should be void. I have no respect for anyone whose opinion supports the death penalty if they endorse putting someone to death despite a lack of evidence.

stovelid

No Second Troy would be quite a poetic name for a US-based anti-death penalty campaign actually.