I don’t know what to make of this. I know there would have been an extensive effort to prove his innocence to get to this stage. 

Those opposed to the death penalty almost always wig out whenever a cause celebre defendant is involved.  Notice they aren’t freaking out about the death penalty for the racist monsters who dragged a black man for 3-miles with their pickup truck.   When it comes to cop killers though, they can’t stand the ‘injustice’ of them being executed.

Actually, people who are against the death penalty are against it for anyone, but a lot of the people here are not against the death penalty, they are against executing an innocent man.

What of the jury?  How many judges heard the case?  How many years has the pleading gone on?  I understand that mistakes can be made and innocent men can be tried for a guilty one’s actions, but what’s done is done.  I’m not sure what to make of it one way or another, the witnesses changed their mind, but at trial they were certain of it.  I know people can be confused at the time and say it was that person when shown pictures, but who knows?

And as for people becoming cause celebre, just two words.  Just two little words: Tookie Williams.  Any effort these groups make to free a person should just result in those two words.  They spent their load on a guy guilty as sin and didn’t bat an eye at the dead who suffered at his hands.

Seven of the jurors were black.  And several more witnesses have testified that he confessed to them that he killed the cop.  I mean, really.  It’s time to grow up.  Everything isn’t a conspiracy.

So even if the jury was wrong ‘what’s done is done’ let him die?

Actually, three of the original jurors were among those petitioning for his clemency.  They have all said that, had they known then what is known now, they never would have voted for execution (and probably not conviction).

Police coercion is a very real thing, especially in such sensitive cases as those involving a murdered cop.  Beyond coercion, many best practices regarding witness ID were utterly ignored – the witnesses were allowed to talk to each other, and many were only shown one picture – Troy Davis’. 

Moreover, multiple people have testified that the very first guy to point the finger at Davis has since confessed to being the real killer.

There’s a reason that everyone from Republicans Bob Barr (former GOP Congressman) and William Sessions (former FBI director) to Democrats Reverend Al Sharpton and Jimmy Carter have pleaded for clemency.  As you can imagine, many of these people support the death penalty in most cases – but there is far, far too much doubt in this one.

Um, many people who support the death penalty – like former GOP Congressman Bob Bar and Republican former FBI Director William Sessions – have pleaded for clemency in this case.  

I understand that murdered cops are a sensitive issue, but how is it just to execute the wrong man and let the true murderer – who has CONFESSED to multiple people, and was the first “witness” to point the finger at Davis – go free?

In such an important case, please try to learn the details before you make a judgment.  An innocent man is about to be executed – nothing could possibly undermine the legitimacy of the death penalty more.  If you truly support it, you should be among those most outraged at this utter abuse.

There has been, it has just been ignored by the media.  This has been going on for years.

Once again, 7 of those 9 that pointed the finger at him have recanted.  Moreover, one of the two remaining witnesses who haven’t recanted – the very first “witness” to point the finger at Davis – has CONFESSED TO MULTIPLE PEOPLE that he was the real killer.  

Beyond that, the Georgia Bureau of Investigations has acknowledged that the only physical evidence allegedly connecting Davis to the crime was faulty.  

In addition to death penalty supporters former GOP Congressman Bob Barr and former Republican FBI Director William Sessions, three of the original jurors are among those who petitioned for Davis’ clemency.  They have said that they would never have voted for execution had they known then what they know now.Not everything is a conspiracy, but people are fallible.  When there is any substantial doubt, as in this case, why execute someone who could easily be innocent?  Clemency in this case would not mean that he is set free, merely that he spends the rest of his life in prison for a crime he probably did not commit.

What flummoxes me the most is that death penalty proponents could possibly support undermining the death penalty in such a serious way as risking executing an innocent man.  Truly, for shame.

Slap him with life without parole, let him rot in confinement and be done with it.

Zap the dude. He guilty.

They wouldn’t care if he was white.

This is a human tragedy of “us” versus “them.” The “us” people won:  the thin blue line or is it the code of silence?  Shame on the US.  The only thing that separates us from the former Soviet Union is that we still have the right to disagree with the government. But the monolith of the government is as widespread as the corporations; both are people who can hide in their anonymity and do disastrous things. It would be the ultimate irony that, in avenging the death of their fellow officer, the police railroaded American citizens to see what they couldn’t see, because of their fear of the men who swear to protect each other, but not our citizens’ civil rights?  I believed in the hype about governments doing good things for people and I worked in it in all of my fervor, believing I was helping people. I can’t believe this is the same federal government that I used to work for, who sided with the police in a case rife with holes.

What a ridiculous thing to say.  Cameron Todd Willingham – the man Rick Perry put to death in 2004 for starting a fire that wasn’t even an arson – was white, and everyone I know was just as outraged by that as they are by this.

This is about justice and innocence; it has nothing to do with skin color.

No, what Al Shopton really said, and I quote
“de desishun was wun of de mos egreejus zamples
of injustis ah hav seen in yeahs”

If the conviction was based on the 9 witnesses testimony and you’ve lost 7 out of the 9, that seems like a good indication you might be about to execute the wrong individual

Well said, I support the death penalty for only the most heinous of crimes, and when there is no question of guilt, such as the current case in Connecticut, or the Gary Gilmore’s of the world..

I guess there is no need to mention were this execution is to take place since it obviously makes no mention of Perry.  So Texas is out.  That leaves 40ish other states.

Cop killer will fry tonight.

Wow, that was good.  You could be his fill-in host on the commie network, MSNBC.

Troy Anthony Davis is guilty of killing Officer Mark McPhail.  In that statement, I’ll stand on my word till the day I die.  Interesting that it is his sister who has spearheaded this bullshit from day one, as she was the one who spirited Davis from Savannah to Atlanta the day of Mark’s murder.  These people keep harping on the seven recanted statements from those who claim to be most familiar to what happened this fateful day but if you look at these seven, most are career criminals and one is dead.  What the Davis camp fails to mention is they had the opportunity to subpoena someone they claimed to be the KEY WITNESS at his last hearing in Federal Court here in Savannah, but they chose not to do so.  Judge Edenfield refused to allow heresay testimony and other amatuerish tricks by Davis’ defense team, claiming the whole show was nothing more than smoke and mirrors.  No, Davis has an appointment at 7:00 PM this evening which Governor Deal will be sure he makes.

RIP Mark – Tonight you and your family will finally get your justice – and revenge.

I was right there with you until REVENGE.  Justice maybe but revenge should not be any part of it.

This is why I am against the death penalty in so many cases.  This case is not beyond a “resonable” doubt.  Give him life withou parole and the chance to keep working on his case or rot in jail.  Makes perfect sense to me.

This is why I am against the death penalty in so many cases.  This case is not beyond a “resonable” doubt.  Give him life withou parole and the chance to keep working on his case or rot in jail.  Makes perfect sense to me.

That is bullshit.  The only people claiming Redd Coles confessed to the murder of Mark McPhail are the same people in Davis’ camp.  Davis’ lawyers had months to subpoena Coles to his last hearing in Savannah last year and it wasn’t until the day before this hearing that Davis’ lawyers claimed to have ‘tried’ to subpoena Coles.  This alleged confession by Coles was just one more stunt by the Davis’ camp to muddy the waters and it failed miserably.

You are right on this one.

If the guy is so innocent then why didn’t the brother, with the white mother, aka Barack Hussein Obama butt in like he’s done from his first day in office and save his sorry ass? 

If this convicted murder is innocent his death will be on the libs false messiah.s hands.

Black or white doesn’t make a lot of difference.  What makes a difference is “poor”.  Poor people usually get legal aid lawyers who either don’t care or have to many cases to handle to be able to give a person a proper defense.  As usual it all comes down to money!

And one of the remaining two who haven’t recanted?  The very man who has confessed to others that he was the real shooter, and who was the first person to point the finger at Davis.

In all honesty, I hesitated before I typed those last words but after what the McPhail family has been put through during the course of the appeals, the lies and innuendos, I felt it appropriate.  To many here in Savannah, especially among those in the law enforcement community, this case continues to dredge up pain and sorrow and of course frustration.  Most of the frustration is derived from what we see as the gullibility of many, both here and abroad who have bought into the lies and deceit coming from Davis’ and his supporters.  Everyone sees the one photograph of Davis, looking rather pitiful and innocent, complete with his nerdy glasses.  What most don’t remember, was the arrogant thug who walked from the Savannah PD headquarters on Habersham Street, looking like he just won the lottery.  I’m sure his ‘street cred’ went up a couple of notches in the days after Mark’s murder at his hands.

We don’t agree on much, Fedup, but from the bottom of my broken heart, thank you so much for your nuanced view of this extremely serious situation.

Rick Perry put someone to death?  Really, I think you need to bone up on the law a bit.

There was no doubt that Probations and Parole was not going to grant Troy Davis a stay or conversion to life in prison. They made their arrogant announcement, that the decision was theirs alone to make. In other words, it matters not about the facts in GA, it is all about arrogance and the power of ME. It is a pathetic situation. No one gets justice from executing an innocent man. GA desperately  clings to its 18th century form of justice: If a black man is accused, he did it. If a black on white crime, he is guilty and dies. The shame and disgrace is theirs alone.

No, in fact, he won’t.  

The true killer in this case – the first “witness” to point the finger at Davis, who has spent the past few years confessing his guilt across the state of Georgia to anyone who will listen – will go to bed with the blood of an innocent man on his hands, as will we all.

Yes, in fact, he did.  He had the sole power to grant a 30-day reprieve, he was the sole person with up-to-date forensic information showing that no arson occurred, and he was the one who refused to act.

I am an attorney; I know the law quite well, thank you.

Yes – it is Troy Anthony Davis’ race that forced him to fire the fatal bullets into Mark McPhail that evening.  Yes – it is Troy Anthony Davis’ race that has brought forward the outward show of support from across the world and made him the Cause célèbre of blind parroting public figures who have been unwittingly supporting a cold blooded murderer for the last ten years. 

What is your excuse?

The same people in Davis’ camp, like Republican former FBI Director William Sessions and former GOP Congressman Bob Barr, both strident supporters of the death penalty?!  

No fewer than three people have signed affidavits that he confessed – a greater number, mind you, than the remaining two witnesses who have yet to recant, with Coles being one of the two.

Bingo!

Poverty Pimp and Race Hustler Sharpton wasn’t screaming over the execution of Jaturan Siripongs in California in 1999.  While he was a minority, Siripongs was, he wasn’t black.  The hypocrisy of the Left (dummies Mike Farrell and Susan Surandon the notable exceptions) in this situation is breathtaking. 

Who ever brought up Tookie is spot on.  Also recall the attempts to free cop murderer Abu-Jamal.

Repeating over and over again Bob Barr’s objection is fruitless and by no means a reason for blind Republican support.  He’s now a member of the ACLU.

He’s guilty, he’s going to pay.

I would agree to doing away with the death penalty but there prison stay should be very unpleasant.  Feed them enough to meet there basic nutrition needs and that’s it.  Live their life alone in a jail cell.  

lilly – take away for one moment your focus on these so-called affidavits.  What many do not wish to discuss is the physical evidence which clearly points the finger at Troy Anthony Davis.  Let’s not forget about the pair of shorts that were removed from Davis’ home after Mark’s murder and remember the great lengths the defense went to have this pair of shorts supressed from evidence.  What was the defense so afraid of with the existence of these shorts? 

http://abcnews.go.com/US/death-penalty-white-teen-accused-running-black-man/story?id=14570966
You might to check this article out.

The guy can’t even a polygraph test.  It’s a shame these conservatives have to get on their high horse and won’t ever admit a mistake. Even if there is any doubt it should be stopped. 

Sure.  Al Sharpton said he’s innocent too, and we all know Al Sharpton is never wrong.

You must not have any clients.

Mind you, those are only the three who have signed affidavits – not to take into account the other six+ who claim the same thing.

As for the shorts, I have scanned through dozens of links that come up in Google regarding the search “Troy Davis shorts DNA” and have found not one that suggests that any DNA evidence indicated that Davis was guilty.  Beyond that, no one has denied that Davis was at the scene – I am sure that many people ended up with blood on their clothing, not just the shooter.  But even so, please direct me to anything suggesting DNA testing was done and came back conclusive.

From a purely legal perspective, though, of course Davis’s attorneys fought the shorts being admitted.  First off, DNA testing was in its infancy in 1991, meaning that all the jury would have seen is a pair of bloody shorts with zero conclusions as to how they became that way.  Moreover, even the Georgia Supreme Court agreed that they were seized illegally.  

Beyond that, challenging the other side’s evidence is something that both sides do as a matter of routine – his attorneys would have been absolutely remiss not to.  I say this as a former employee of my city’s prosecutor’s office, mind you.

There is a reason that three of the jurors are among those who petitioned for clemency – had they known then what is known now, they never would have voted to execute this man.

Perhaps because the President of the United States only has the authority to pardon federal crimes?  Maybe that has something to do with it?

Good God, you are ignorant.

“If I knew then what I know now, Troy Davis would not be on death row.  The verdict would be not guilty.”   -Brenda Forrest, juror in original Davis trial

Oh now a polygraph examination is being requested?  Two things: He had plenty of opportunities to speak to investigators in the months leading up to his trial and only now, with just hours to live, here comes this new ruse?  Secondly, a polygraph examination does not offer conclusive proof of guilt OR innocence which is why the results have never been allowed as evidence at trial.

You guys continue to be played like a finely tuned violin!

Just more smoke and mirrors…….moving along. 

Don’t blame this on conservatives. This has been years in the makings and went through many, many legal reviews in the court systems and otherwise.  As always, Libs get in a tizzy as the 11th hour approaches. Some of the same characters come out during every execution, for and against.

Those in charge of making these decisions have concluded his guilt based on what was presented at trial.  If polygraphs are not allowed in court cases as evidence, why should they rely on one now. You have a right to your opinion as to whether he is guilty or not, but this is how our judicial system works sometimes (ask OJ).

And really?  Just because Al Sharpton is on his side, he must be a killer?  Are you really that hateful and ignorant?

What about former GOP Congressman Bob Barr?  Former Republican Director of the FBI William Sessions?  The Pope?  Archbishop Desmond Tutu?  Former President Jimmy Carter?  Three of the original jurors who put Davis on death row?  All of these people, plus 650,000 others, have petitioned for his clemency on the basis of substantial doubt as to his guilt.

Yes, it’s hard to have clients in Indiana when I am licensed in California.  You see, there are these things called “state bar associations.”  They administer these things called “bar exams.”  Until you sit for one in any given state (or are otherwise able to waive in), you may not practice law in that state.

Its allowed. Webster defines it as “Action taken in return for an injury or offense” (Noun). If the offense was murder, the action taken in return was execution.

You obviously know nothing about the case from your response. Hint, you don’t have to comment on every thread. Did you know that 7 or the 9 witnesses have now recanted their statements. Do you know that one of the witnesses Red Coles has bragged to multiple people that he got away with murder and Troy Davis is in prison instead? Did you know that a woman who lived a block from the shooting claims that Red Coles came to her door with a gun minutes after the shooting and told her to hold his gun for him? Did you know that the entire case is circumstantial evidence and there is zero physical evidence linking Davis to the crime? Do you care that a guilty man who committed murder is probably getting away with it?

No you didn’t know that so shut up next time and continue to celebrate the execution of another innocent man you waste of space. And you wonder why most of the country is repulsed by people who applaud Rick Perry’s execution record in the state of Texas, people like you.

“If I knew then what I know now, Troy Davis would not be on death row.  The verdict would be not guilty.”  [Brenda Forrest, juror in Davis' original trial]

Another in many pet causes for liberals to try and overturn the death penalty.  Grasping at every straw.  They don’t give a damn about Davis.

Yeah like the West Memphis 3, three white guys who were in jail on bullshit charges who were released based on no evidence and released because people all over the world made sure that that case was not forgotten.

You are a fucking idiot.

Actually, these are not the “same characters.”  Both former GOP Congressman Bob Barr and former Republican Director of the FBI William Sessions are strident supporters of the death penalty, and both have been involved in the effort to gain clemency for Troy Davis.  According to Sessions – no anti-death penalty activist, mind you – there are “pervasive, persistent doubts” about Davis’ guilt.  

And if you want to talk about “those in charge of making these decisions,” let’s talk about Brenda Forrest, one of the original jurors who put Davis on death row.  This is what she had to say on the matter:  ”If I knew then what I know now, Troy Davis would not be on death row.  The verdict would be not guilty.”

The real killer is out there in Savannah.  Seven Witness have changed their story and said he had nothing to do with it.  The Conservatives are just afraid to use a polygraph because they don’t want to undercover the truth in case their wrong.  If there is any doubt what so ever then it should be stopped!  

But putting an innocent man to death is the ultimate crime the government can do.  It really doesn’t matter if the polygraph is allowed into trial this about a man’s life were talking about this is not about having him serve time in prison.  If there is any doubt whatsoever it shouldn’t be done.  

This is a lot different than OJ and comparing the two is ridiculous

Folks: Not going to get in a hit and run debate with everyone with an opinion different from mine.  Just go to the following website which contains very valuable information on this case:

http://legalcases.info/troydavis/

For some, it will raise more questions but I think you will see how compelling the case truly is and how insidious has been the effort to paint Troy Anthony Davis as the ‘victim’.

I know a great deal about this case – more than I’m willing to allow.  Again, all of what you said is smoke and mirrors; ploys by Davis’ defense team to raise general doubts into soft heads such as yours, that Davis is guilty.  If you go to the link I offered above, you will find some very curious information which may or may not exercise the demons obvioulsy swirling in your head.  You and many others have been played the fool and I don’t really care whether you believe it or not.  Troy Anthony Davis has an appointment in about two hours and there is nowhere else for him to hide.

Sorry Yoda, the real killer is at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, just outside of Jackson, Georgia.  Well, at least for the next couple of hours.

Only one way to be sure an innocent man is not executed. Ban the death penalty — it is barbaric and hardly a deterrent.

I’m sorry Mark from Savannah… I heard he’s around the Savannah area.   

What’s your proof that he’s a cold-blooded killer? Summarize it for me. Show me how it can be proved without a shred of doubt that this man is guilty of shooting Officer McPhail?

Frod – You actually think I’m going to offer you the case file?  Sorry, but do your own homework and go through the testimony of the case.  I am willing to give you a head start and link you to an excellent table which describes the individuals by name who allegedly recanted and those that didn’t.  As a bonus, it also contains the rulings from Judge Moore and others who basically called bullshit on these alleged recantations.  Enjoy:

http://legalcases.info/troydavis/davistable.html

People are horrified by this because if the state can knowingly execute a man whose guilt has not been sufficiently proven then that government has taken a giant step towards tyranny. It is very sinister and very troubling and this should apply to citizens on all sides of the poltical spectrum.

Why do you feel so strongly about his guilt? Lots of people are guilty of lots of things. Why is this specific man’s guilt of particular interest to you? Just because people believe he’s innocent? What difference does it make to you?

Liberals like former GOP Congressman Bob Barr?  Or liberals like Republican former Director of the FBI William Sessions?

An innocent man is about to lose his life, and all you care about is demonizing liberals??

From the bottom of my broken heart, I hope you rot in hell.

Is it more barbaric than killing an innocent child?

Hey, what do you think of the woman in Canada that gave birth, strangled the baby and got off because of abortion laws?

ps, I agree with Fed UP

ps, It’s funny how the liberal media has completely ignored that story, while highlighting the death penalty so much lately.

Thanks for the info, Mark!

Thanks for the info, Mark!

A very fair question and which I will do my best to answer within the constraints I feel necessary to place on myself.  I feel very strongly about his guilt for a number of reasons – Number One being that I believe his is guilty, beyond a reasonable doubt.  Secondly, I have followed this case closely from the moment Mark’s death was announced on WTOC TV the night he was killed.  I’ve read through the original testimony, the confident claims made by the prosecution witnesses who pointed to only one possible suspect, Troy Anthony Davis.  Third, Mark MacPhail was a fellow officer who though relatively new to the force, was a genuinely likeable fellow.  Lastly, the cold blooded nature in which he died demonstrated to me that Davis possesses a dark heart, one not worth rehabilitation, consideration, and yes – even mercy.

Mark I agree, it’s a shame that the victim gets lost in all of this.  I read your link and it was very informative. 

Notice I said butt in like he’s done with his racist professor friend in Massachusetts, his muslim brothers from the hood in Manhatten and the illegal aliens in Texas, not pardon. 

He couldn’t, in this case anyway, make things any worse than being executed for this guy.

Who’s ignorant now, biatch……

Lot of assumptions you have there. Davis was found guilty by a jury of his peers, I believe. “Opinions” differ as to the accuracy of that verdict, but it is what it is, and multible bodies have reaffirmed it. The point on OJ is that our system does not always get it right, but it is OUR system.

I have no idea as to whether Davis is guilty or not. You can believe he’s innocent or guilty, as is your right. Like I said above, “opinions” differ on this. However, the judicial system has spoken, so unless further intervention tonight by the Supreme Court or something, the ‘end’ is near. The point is we can argue both sides until the cows come home, but once ALL LEGAL AVENUES have been used to no avail, it’s time to deliver justice. If that “justice” was to set the accused free (OJ) or to execute (Davis), either way the law has spoken.

OJ is on the hunt.

I understand your qualms about the death penalty, as I used to have some myself. But the realization hit me that there ARE some crimes and some criminals so heineous to a civilized nation that the penalty of death seems warranted. I also began to wonder what would the penalty be for a serial murderer who got life without parole and goes on to murder a prison guard or fellow inmate while in prison (or escapes and rapes/murders an innocent housewife nearby). Another life sentence? Not hardly.

“However, before, during, and after the trial, seven of the nine witnesses recanted their testimony. Pretty much all the witnesses are now saying the same thing. They claim the police strong-armed them into pointing the finger at Davis. Here is a typical affidavit from one of the seven witnesses, Jeffery Sapp:

‘I remember when the officer got shot down at Burger King… The police came and talked to me and put a lot of pressure on me to say, ‘Troy said this’ or ‘Troy said that’. They wanted me to tell them that Troy confessed to me about killing that officer. The thing is, Troy never told me anything about it. I got tired of them harassing me, and they made it clear that the only way they would leave me alone is if I told them what they wanted to hear. I told them that Troy told me he did it, but it wasn’t true. Troy never said that or anything like it. When it came time for Troy’s trial, the police made it clear to me that I needed to stick to my original statement; that is, what they wanted me to say. I didn’t want to have any more problems with the cops, so I testified against Troy.’

Even the homeless man that was assaulted that evening tells a similar story. Here is an excerpt from him, ’They kept asking me what had happened at the bus station, and I kept telling them that I didn’t know. Everything happened so fast down there. I couldn’t honestly remember what anyone looked like or what different people were wearing. Plus, I had been drinking that day, so I just couldn’t tell who did what. The cops didn’t want to hear that and kept pressing me to give them answers. They made it clear that we weren’t leaving until I told them what they wanted to hear. They suggested answers and I would give them what they wanted. They put typed papers in my face and told me to sign them. I did sign them without reading them.’”

http://www.broowaha.com/articles/10707/troy-davis-reasonable-doubt

A POTUS can order a review of a state case to see if the accused/convicted criminal’s “federal” civil rights were violated, even if just as a delaying tactic. This is a tactic used when it seems that the state case was not fair, against all other evidence to the contrary. If Obama doesn’t intervene, then maybe even HE does not think this case warrants such an action.

“We write to you as former wardens and corrections officials who have had direct involvement in executions. Like few others in this country, we understand that you have a job to do in carrying out the lawful orders of the judiciary. We also understand, from our own personal experiences, the awful lifelong repercussions that come from participating in the execution of prisoners. While most of the prisoners whose executions we participated in accepted responsibility for the crimes for which they were punished, some of us have also executed prisoners who maintained their innocence until the end. It is those cases that are most haunting to an executioner.

We write to you today with the overwhelming concern that an innocent person could be executed in Georgia tonight. We know the legal process has exhausted itself in the case of Troy Anthony Davis, and yet, doubt about his guilt remains. This very fact will have an irreversible and damaging impact on your staff. Many people of significant standing share these concerns, including, notably, William Sessions, Director of the FBI under President Ronald Reagan. 

Living with the nightmares is something that we know from experience. No one has the right to ask a public servant to take on a lifelong sentence of nagging doubt, and for some of us, shame and guilt. Should our justice system be causing so much harm to so many people when there is an alternative?  

We urge you to ask the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles to reconsider their decision. Should that fail, we urge  you to unburden yourselves and your staff from the pain of participating in such a questionable execution to the extent possible  by allowing any personnel so inclined to opt-out of activities related to the execution of Troy Anthony Davis. Further, we urge you to provide appropriate counseling to personnel who do choose to perform their job functions related to the execution. If we may be of assistance to you moving forward, please do not hesitate to call upon any of us.

Respectfully and collegially,

Allen Ault – Retired Warden, Georgia Diagnostic & Classifications Prison
Terry Collins – Retired Director, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
Ron McAndrew – Retired Warden, Florida State Prison
Dennis O’Neill – Retired Warden, Florida State Prison
Reginald Wilkinson – Retired Director, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
Jeanne Woodford – Retired Warden, San Quentin State Prison”
http://www.schr.org/action/resources/corrections_officials_sign_on_for_troy_davis

The “unlikelihood” that all 7 would collectively lie in the first place, without any collusion, then all 7 would years later undergo an epiphany and and then recant their own testimony (again, no collusion) seems like a good indication, to me, that you might be about to execute the ‘right’ individual.

Michelle, an innocent man is about to die.  Can you PLEASE get off your high horse for a few minutes, and allow the rest of us a moment to mourn?

What is barbaric is the way some people are killed..  This case cries of a white policeman supposedly killed by a black man. I hate racism, but this sure sounds like the usual stuff when it comes to police. I’m a white person but can see the writing on the wall.  If he is innocent, then let him prove it with a lie detector test like he wants.  It won’t hurt anything. Today, DNA says alot.  What’s the hurry in electricution in case he is innocent.

Don’t forget that little thing called the U.S. Constitution, with the Bill of Rights.

Like the USSR? I don’t think so.

If Perry put him to death, then Obama killed Bin Laden… NOT!

YOU are an attorney?? GTFOH!! (Same school as Obama? just askin’)

Well, I’m not an attorney, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn.

all of his clients went to The Chair….

Seems like a good deterrent to me. You know of anyone who committed another crime post-execution?

BTW, is life in prison a deterrent? 20 years? All crimes have criminals who become recidivists. THE ONLY “DETERRENT” is capital punishment.

But this is putting someone to death. In this case we need to get it right. I’m sure if it was your family you would be concerned.  When a guy who was a witness in this case says he did it the case needs to be reopened.  

Blacks also believed OJ was innocent.

OJ is in jail by the way.  Sounds like you were one of those teabagger audience members that said let him die. 

awwwwwwwwww

Come on people of the World, we execute innocent men all the time… it’s the American way!! Just ask Texas Governor Perry!!

I’m certain you’re a bit psychotic.

Did anyone recant their testimony in the O.J. case??

So you can mourn for a man that may be a cop-killer, but not for innocent children?  Get off you high horse.

Funny, nobody’s protesting  – or even trying to stop -  the execution of the guy who dragged the black guy to death in Texas a dozen years ago.  I guess it’s only killing a white cop that deserves the sympathy of the anti-death penalty crowd.

Felix, It doesn’t sound like you know much about the case. But to put someone to death you better be dam sure you’re correct and if there is any doubt it should be a stay of execution…. and there is a lot of conflicting evidence.

That guy in Texas is already consigned to a special place in hell but the irony here is so thick you can cut it with a knife.  Where was Amnesty Internation and what was their position on this particular case?

lilly – you’ve been spamming this thread with repeated bullshit claims professing to Davis’ innocence so surely you must have some kind of opinion on the Texas case.  Have you condemned Texas’ actions as vigorously as you have been pissing and moaning about Davis?

Michelle, why not both? I find valid points in both arguments.

Those guys were guilty, Davis is most likely innocent. Do you see the difference?

Censure,
Of course I would hate for someone innocent to be executed and it would be a tragedy.  I wouldn’t spend a lot of time morning for anyone who brutally murders another person.  

Follow that same logic. If Obama did not kill Bin Laden then Bin Laden did not kill… think about it.

What good are a Constitution and Bill of Rights, if they are ignored? Just because Hollywood makes us look great does not mean that we are… we still have a long way to go.  This case shows as much. 

I am so glad that your education lets you sound out words, phonetically!  Keep it up, you might learn to read, eventually! I can think of several white officials from the South who have similar accents. I love how you can hide behind the avatar and spout your racist venom. You’re so manly. 

Screw it. Let’s just execute anyone who might be innocent to spite public figures that take on cases because of perceived biases.

The officer’s blood was found on his shorts in the laundry at his house after he fled to Atlanta. It was not allowed into evidence because the search warrant was improperly executed. He also confessed to two different people. That is enough for me, but there is a lot of other evidence.
He got another hearing (the first granted in over 50 years) last year and his conviction was upheld. I live in Savannah- this has been going on for many years.

 Ok, Cleetus, so your mind set is “Because people I don’t like support him, case closed.”

Well it is on hold for now!

You mean YOU don’t know? I guess THAT case didn’t hit your radar as much, huh? For what it’s worth, the criminalist, Dave Fung, recanted his defense-favorable testimony. But, it’s mute since OJ was FOUND not guilty.

Well, at least Mr. Davis has another opportunity for someone in power to review his case (SCOTUS). Don’t know why these lawyers tend to wait until its too late, but hey — let’s see how it plays out.

Were you at the trial? Have you seen/heard everything the jury/prosecutors in this case have.

Let’s be for real here. You “believe” Davis to be innocent, and that’s okay. Many do, many don’t. But stop espounding this “innocent man” spiel as if you had some first-hand knowledge as to “the real killer”.

blah, blah, blah… it was sufficiently proven enough to warrant a guilty verdict AND a death sentence.

So much for state’s rights, huh. NotSoFast Son.

That was a rhetorical question!!

I say let all convicted murderers who have been given the death sentence die. Let justice be served, after ALL appeals have been heard.

And like the phantom spit reported by that congresman, YOU heard somebody say ‘let him die’, huh?

You just can’t accept that there might be an opinion adverse to your own, huh? So, how long have you been championing this 1989 case that is so “obvious” to you? 5, 10, 15, 20 years?

I believe Bush said “those responsible” for bringing these buildings down will be brought to justice. Nobody ever said Bin Laden himself killed anyone on 9/11.

From what I hear, SEAL team 6 did kill Bin Laden, and Obama merely gave a “go” to a find/kill plan put in place during the Bush administration. So, you can say Bush killed Bin Laden as much as you can say Obama did.

There is a reason why states and other countries have dropped doing executions because some innocent men have be wrongly executed.  You sound just like a chickenhawk..talk tough but in the end just a coward.  

I love divergent opinions, when they’re reasonable and sound.  You write about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Whether they argued it in 1989 or 2011, if no non-biased court (state courts can often close ranks to support their own) has allowed the facts to fully come to light about the circumstances of witness misidentification, police coercion, and poor ballistics evidence, and someone’s life is hanging in the balance, then I would want a court, not a bunch of prison officers who often don’t understand the Constitution and the Bill of Rights (and who, like you, will let a man hang who may be innocent) should not be allowed to have the ultimate say in a matter as important as this.  The very reason that you cite our two guiding hallmarks of our democracy, but intend to use them to ill-purposes, is why we need a Supreme Court to weigh in on the matter. What I don’t like is when someone writes a statement that says, “Hey, we have the Constitution and the Bill of Rights,” and somehow draws  the inference that we should arrive at the same decision–that’s what I object to, if you must know. It is not about being the longest cheerleader for Troy Davis; it is about my belief in my own citizenship as an American and what that’s supposed to stand for that makes me not want to pull the switch. If you are so resolute in your beliefs, then what’s the hurry.  If he’s guilty, what’s another look-see before they really kill him?

I hope you remain law-abiding, given your seeming dependence on them.  I’ll take my interpretation of the law any day over yours. 

If you say it’s so, then it must be so, skippy. Some of us just wonder why the anti-death penalty crowd ignored the Texas case.

My “seeming dependence on the Constitution and Bill of Rights”?? Isn’t that what you are depending on to free “an innocent man”? It is about the ‘longest cheerleader’. If Mediaite doesn’t post this story where would you be applying your “moral outrage” against this “injustice”. I would wager that before this week you probably never even heard of this case, let alone be a cheerleader for it.

What are you using to form your opinions, web material? YOU have no first-hand knowledge about this case, just a johnnie-come-lately cheerleader.

Tell us, Oh Great Wise One, exactly what do YOU know about this case that you didn’t read or hear outside of the courtroom? The jury, the parole board and the appeals courts are “damn sure” THEY are correct.

and just what makes me a coward, skippy,  posting my opinions on a blog thread?

I believe if you violate somebodys right to live, ie kill them, then you forfeit your own right to live. Thats why I believe in the death penalty. But, the death penalty is something that should only be given when all doubt is cast aside and guilt of the individual is beyond question. There are too many unanswered questions in the Troy Davis case and untill those questions are answered, the execution should be postponed.

I like a guy who talks but doesn’t allow a Reply. Boo! Scared?

Several weeks ago, millions of people in the United States and the international community were outraged that Casey Anthony was set free, saying that she should have been sentenced to death in a trial that did not have adequate evidence to convict her. Here we are again after only a few weeks, with the same millions of people in the US and international community, outraged that Troy Davis is about to be executed having being convicted for the murder of the police officer Mark MacPhail in 1989.

The irony of both cases is that the outcry now suggests Troy Davis was convicted and sentenced to death based on  insufficient evidence, and it was precisely the same issue: “insufficient evidence” that led to the release of Casey Anthony who would also have been given the death penalty.

In the end, when one looks at all these, the flaws of “democracy” is once again highlighted, and the founding fathers of the United States thoroughly understood this, thereby choosing to establish a Republic; although most people do not seem to know the distinction between a Democracy and a Republic. The United States is a REPUBLIC and not a DEMOCRACY. John Adams in his 7th “Novanglus” letter, published in the Boston Gazette in 1774 emphasized the concept of “a government of laws, and not of men”

What if sentiments and outrage of the multitude led to the execution of Casey Anthony, and in reality she was innocent of the death of her three year old daughter Caylee Anthony? Or what if the same outrage due to sentiments led to the release of Troy Davis who might be rightly guilty of the murder of police officer Mark MacPhail? Personally I support capital punishment (death penalty) and I always will, but I believe a life sentence with or without the possibility of parole should be given, if ANY doubt to the guilt of the defendant exists during and after the fair trial. There is nothing so grotesque as the execution of a man for a crime he did not commit; but also nothing so vile as allowing a cold blooded murderer go free after committing such a heinous crime.

While is it reasonable to assert that no legal system is entirely without flaws, the next best thing to a flawless judicial system(if one existed), would be to ensure that the rule of law as applied in the judicial system, should always take precedence over the sentiments of men.

Frod, your ridiculous assertion aside, Amnesty International has long been a strong advocate against the death penalty and has stood for hundreds of individuals condemned to death for outrageous and heinous acts.  Not surprisingly, they spearheaded this assault of disinformation regarding Troy Anthony Davis, in an attempt to spare his life.  Did they even offer a statement of condemnation regarding this evening’s execution of Lawrence Brewer?  Do a Google search and you’ll come up with squat.  Moot point, this discussion is as the US Supreme Court refused to hear Davis’ last minute appeal.  Should know something fairly soon.

I will say, Ann Coulter, love her or hate her, presented the argument and I will side with her on this http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=46347  The side arguing for him seems to be more vague, but she seems to provide facts on the matter.  

The outrage isn’t that a man was convicted on insufficient evidence. It’s that the evidence may have been manipulated or falsified.

That’s not obviously true. 

http://ceinquiry.us/2011-09-21-erick-erickson-troy-davis

Any black person who kills a white police officer is a hero to racists like Sharpton.

That’s the first I’ve heard of that. What evidence was manipulated or falsified?

This issue has been settled…or will be in just a little while.

Europe is always looking for a reason to bash us. Who gives a damn? What the hell do the pussies in Europe know about justice?

Good Golly, you absolutely know NOTHING about the Pardon powers of the President.  He can Pardon anyone for ANYTHING, except impeachment!   Lots of Presidents have Pardoned people for state crimes.  Try reading the US Constitution before you make such stupid statements.

Because the guy was guilty, jackass.

Felix:  How dare you rely on the foundational document of this country which also happens to be the supreme law of the land.  Are you an extremist or something?

If you were truly an attorney, you would not make such a ridiculous statement like the US President does not have the power to pardon state crimes.  The President can pardon ANY crime, except impeachment.

Um, the testimonies of the SEVEN witnesses who say they were intimidated and coerced by police…?

And I’m certain that anyone who doesn’t care about an innocent man being put to death is more than a bit psychopathic.  

He’s dead now. Clap. I know you want to, Felix and mac691. You can’t engage in a discussion without hiding behind your so-called “rights.” If I can’t reply to your inane thoughts, you’re not worth reading.

Maybe it is because he said he would do the same thing over again.

Who cares what the Eurotards think?  I sure as hell don’t, and I live here, as an expatriate for the last twenty years.  Just as Geithner shouldn’t come over here and try to tell them how to do their finances, when he can’t get America’s in order, plus, the was a tax cheat and deserves no respect, and everything he and Hussein has came up with, has failed; the Euros need to realize that America could care less what they think about executions.  Yes, granted, the Left sucks it up, but normal people could care less!  Worry about the corrupt EU and your Islamic problems, Europe, and America will worry about hers!

They can petition all they want, but by the time you read this, Davis will be close to death, only hours away, which he deserves.  Get a brain, lilly, if it happened to your family, you wouldn’t want anyone executed?  We live in reality, not some LaLa Land that Obama wants us to live in, no, we face reality and the reality is that this scum will be dead soon and the family of the officer will have closure.  Now, go pick up your wefare check.

Davis was ID’d my not one or two, but 9 people.  The only coercion are the liberals getting witnesses to recant.  Making them feel guilty for being part of Davis’ execution.  I don’t doubt there are some racial motivations either.  Liberals hate the death penalty so much they will convince themselves to think a murderer is innocent.  They are fighting for their cause…not Davis.  Not that he is rightfully executed, they will go on to the next poor black guy on death row.  You didn’t see them at Brewer’s execution.  I know exactly what they are up to.

I like how you people selected a case involving unrepetant white supremacists to compare to this case as if they have anything in common other than the death penalty. Anyhow, it’s over now and the US should be feeling a very deep sense of shame this morning.

Don’t know what you ‘like’ about the selection of a case involving an ‘unrepetant (sic) white supremacist’ and Troy Anthony Davis.  The point made was merely to highlight the hypocrasy of the ‘anti-death penalty’ left.  Not one word was spoken about the execution of this monster yet Georgia had it’s own monster who for whatever reason was embraced by the left as their poster child in the fight against the death penalty.  Troy Anthony Davis was guilty of murdering Officer Mark McPhail and received the justice he longed deserved.  This will be my last comment on this subject – no gloating, no celebrating from me.