Troy Anthony Davis redux
Christian Science Monitor: Virginia Sloan, president of the Constitution Project, said in a statement that the high court offered “the mere appearance of justice” in the Davis case. “Mr. Davis deserves to have his claims of innocence fully evaluated,” she said.
Don Logana at WTOC: Today, the Department of Corrections scheduled the execution for October 27 at 7pm after Judge Penny Haas Freesmann signed a new death warrant for Davis
… The order states that the execution has a seven day window and can occur any time between noon on October 27 and noon on November 3.
Amy Goodman: According to the Death Penalty Information Center, since 1973 there have been 130 people exonerated-people wrongly sentenced to death-in 26 different states, including five exonerated on death row in Georgia. Evidence even suggests that at least four innocent people have been executed in recent years. There is no physical evidence in the Troy Davis case.
The Philadelphia Inquirer: Given the uncertainty surrounding the case, putting Davis to death would be unconscionable and should be stopped.
Nine eyewitnesses testified that Davis was the killer. The eyewitness testimony was the backbone of the prosecution’s case and instrumental in his conviction. But seven of the witnesses have since recanted or changed their initial testimonies in sworn affidavits. One of the remaining witnesses may be the killer.
The state shouldn’t execute a man knowing that he may be innocent.
If you care about this issue, please take a few minutes to make your thoughts known to the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. If for some bizarre reason you think the death penalty is acceptable or effective, go and read the website of the Death Penalty Information Center.
