The Troy Davis Case

Lab_Mouse · 22-09-2011 10:02AM

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 · 22-09-2011 10:10AM

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 · 22-09-2011 10:22AM

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 · 22-09-2011 10:22AM

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 · 22-09-2011 10:30AM

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 · 22-09-2011 10:33AM

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 · 22-09-2011 10:37AM

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 · 22-09-2011 10:40AM

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 · 22-09-2011 10:46AM

joseph brand wrote: »

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

What are you talking about?

Temptamperu · 22-09-2011 10:51AM

upandcumming wrote: »

What are you talking about?

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

Show Time · 22-09-2011 11:02AM

Americans eh?

joseph brand · 22-09-2011 11:27AM

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 · 22-09-2011 11:42AM

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 · 22-09-2011 11:58AM

[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 · 22-09-2011 12:09PM

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 · 22-09-2011 12:17PM

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 · 22-09-2011 12:29PM

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 · 22-09-2011 12:40PM

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 · 22-09-2011 12:45PM

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 · 22-09-2011 12:48PM

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

FetchTheGin · 22-09-2011 12:49PM

They just didn't troy hard enough to get him off.

*gets coat

stovelid · 22-09-2011 12:54PM

I find the practice of allowing the family of the victim in the same room as the execution profoundly disturbing.

FetchTheGin · 22-09-2011 12:57PM

stovelid wrote: »

I find the practice of allowing the family of the victim in the same room as the execution profoundly disturbing.

I agree.

However if a man committed an unspeakable crime against someones family, they would want to see the culprit get justice.

Temptamperu · 22-09-2011 12:58PM

FetchTheGin wrote: »

I agree.

However if a man committed an unspeakable crime against someones family, they would want to see the culprit get justice.

Tehre is a great difference between justice and revenge

Noo · 22-09-2011 12:59PM

The american justice system baffles me. In the casey anthony case she goes free because they cant prove beyond reasonable doubt that she did it...if her case was the definition of reasonable doubt then what the hell was this one!! Astonishing, not saying he did or didnt do it but to say there may be a little doubt is an understatement.

FetchTheGin · 22-09-2011 01:00PM

Temptamperu wrote: »

Tehre is a great difference between justice and revenge

Depends on what point of view you're coming from.

stovelid · 22-09-2011 01:00PM

FetchTheGin wrote: »

I agree.

However if a man committed an unspeakable crime against someones family, they would want to see the culprit get justice.

If my kid was killed, I would probably want to see it too but that would be understandable as I would be an emotional victim: the state, however, would be profoundly wrong to facilitate me and kowtow to mob emotion.

Temptamperu · 22-09-2011 01:00PM

Noo wrote: »

The american justice system baffles me. In the casey anthony case she goes free because they cant prove beyond reasonable doubt that she did it...if her case was the definition of reasonable doubt then what the hell was this one!! Astonishing, not saying he did or didnt do it but to say there may be a little doubt is an understatement.

Blonde and pretty young girl versus obviously guilty before tried black man. The south shall rise again etc. :rolleyes:

mikemac · 22-09-2011 01:07PM

On August 28, 1991, the jury, composed of seven blacks and five whites, took under two hours to find Davis guilty on one count of murder and the other offenses.

Tbh if I were in the jury and had the State and nine witnesses with the same story telling me he did I'd probably vote guilty too. Maybe you would too? It's understandable

But it's not it was an all white jury here yet I'm reading all these references to the deep south
Under two hours for deliberation, there was little doubt in that jury room

Logical Fallacy · 22-09-2011 01:10PM

FetchTheGin wrote: »

Depends on what point of view you're coming from.

Most of what I have read seems to suggest that the families of victims where cases went to the an execution don't actually feel any better at all from knowing the perpetrator was executed.

It seems to be one of those things that makes an odd sense beforehand, but not after. Personally i can completely understand the desire for the death penalty...if someone killed a member of my family i would want that person to die.

The Troy Davis Case

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