There was a time in my life when I thought the death penalty was just. As I got older, I have come to the conclusion that the thought of putting one single person to death that might be innocent is complete justification for doing away with capital punishment. Time to do away with our blood-lust.

They are always innocent. Maybe the 4th time is a charm....Bob if that were your wife, brother, child, I imagine you might feel a little different.

Bob, I agree wholeheartedly with you. Revenge is not sweet. And in this, and many other cases, it may be just plain 'legalized' murder of an innocent person. May he rest in peace. He has already been through hell.

The mob always demands blood.

David, Sweetie! Please say you are kidding!

well there was only one paragraph there when i first posted. i guess they add the breaking news before they write an article. much more informed now.

Google Troy Davis and read the whole article online DUHHH...HELLOOOO...

7 out of 9 witnesses recanted, could it be that the other 2 witnessed the actual crime, and their statements are still enough?

Not every witness necessarily sees the crime, one may say they saw him "walking down the street in that direction with a gun 10 minutes before the crime happened," another may have seen him" running away from the area". neither of those can convict, so if ones like that recant, that doesn't trump, "I saw him pull a gun and shoot the officer 5 times"

The loss of witnesses is meaning less without all the facts.

Hes had his apeals, rehearings, and public support, but if you kill a cop, thats it, its all over.

It costs more for appeals and death row incarceration than it does for life in prison, so don't pull that tax payer cost card. People yelling for death penalty these days are no better than the mobs of witch hunters from the past. Eye for an eye doesnt float in this "civilized" day and age. How is a murderer a danger to society if they're locked up for life? Why lower society to their level by murdering the murderer? The people who yell loudest for harsh justice are usually the ones porking their kids behind closed doors, stealing from their companies, and stealing little ole ladies' SS checks from their mail boxes.

I'm pro-death penalty, but if there is a circumstance where new evidence, or significant doubt is established, it should be given due diligence.
There have been a number of older crimes where DNA testing wasn't available, but the evidence was still kept and was retested. The results established that the wrong person was accused, and sometimes executed for the crime.
In this case, more than half the witnesses recanted...I would like to know why.

And there are law firms that specialize in defending convicted murderers. That is all the firm does. Entire careers are paid defending murderers from the juror's decisions. Same as those that defend the citizens that lose healthcare in their states. A legal advocate steps in for them by petitioning the court, usually a judge they are friends with and take the case winding it's way through the snail speed of justice for 3-5 years billing every paper clip. All the owners live in the nice part of the city and are members of the country club. Politics.

I would like to trust what is written on Troy Davis as the truth and find it a shame that our system has had many people placed in jail for any amount of time or on death row, etc when they were in fact innocent. We are not a innocent people or society. It would be nice to imagine justice is being served properly but the doubts jade the issue of trust.

On the flip side, society may witness the likes of Brian Nichols and ask why he was afforded a trial. Video and hundreds of people in Atlanta witnessed his ruthless murder of a Judge and a young woman whom was not a deciding part of the process. The gun was hot, smoking, and blood spattered yet Nichols was afforded a trial??? I am Christian and have no doubts and no concern when I meet my maker. Had I been tasked with the decision on Brian Nichols, I would have instructed the Police and anyone who saw Nichols "Shoot to Kill".

He was a wild animal, no different than the idiot wearing a bomb vest walking into a restaurant of people that have no personal knowledge of that persons religious or political beliefs. Murder is murder and society doesn't need the burden of housing or risk of repeat offense. When the offense is heinous and the guilt is without question, I am for Capital Punishment. Save Society and Mankind at the expense of these animals.

To all of the whiners against a Capital Punishment place your self in the shoes of Reagan's Press Secretary James Brady who was shot by the idiot Hinckley because he had a hard on for Jody Foster? Hinckley joins group therapy under a sunny sky each day and Brady needs help to think about the simple task of buttoning a shirt. Hinckley should have been pressed hard to the ground seconds after the gun was removed from his hand and a large caliber pistol placed to his head and the trigger pulled. Those people are animals and will not contribute a damn thing to society. What is more valuable, their worthless life or the likes of James Brady, Lincoln, Kennedy, etc.

If someone in the judicial process is found guilty of blantant and willfull failure to bring evidence or other zealot self fulfilling actions with political ambitions, and this results in another man's loss of liberty or life, they too should suffer for their heinous actions, stealing another man's life. End of Story!!!

When the thirst for revenge is replaced with the thirst for truth this country will finally become what the forefathers had intended.

As an American, I am ashamed that so many have such blood lust and feel that our justice system is so infallible. There is injustice everywhere and until that is rectified, capitol punishment is not an option!!!

I would rather be a bleeding heart than one of those cheering on the death of a fellow human being

The U.S. Is the only remaining civilized, "first world", developed country that has not abolished the death penalty. To hear people cheer Texas and Rick Perry's dubious "honor" of having put to death 235 people this year, more than just about every other state combined, made me ashamed of the blood lust that still thrives in this country, primarily the South, where racism is alive and well (Blacks are disproportionately represented on death row).
http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/get-the-facts/five-reasons-oppose-death-penalty
It's time America came into the 21st century and abolished this primitive practice, which has no doubt put to death more than one innocent person, which is one too many in the book of the bible belt....or is it?

I don't know the exact particulars of this case, but I believe that with capital punishment cases putting someone to death should only be done if there is physical evidence that proves without a doubt that the accused committed the crime. Witnesses can be wrong quite often, and that proof shouldn't allow a person to be put to death. I believe you need more proof than that to take any ones life.

I think because a cop was killed, its the backwards south justice system, and that he is black plays a lot into this case and its outcome. He is lucky he isn't in Texas, they would have fried him for breakfast a long time ago.

He's being put to death because he's black??? Really floyd? He has had how many hearings and appeals? And you think every judge/panel is racist? The only way his being black plays into it at all is where he becomes adds to the statistics on black crime.

I think people should learn how the brain works and you will learn that capital punishment is just flat-out wrong. Free will is an illusion. We are mostly a product of our physical makeup and what has been input into us and how often. Just because there are so many variables that you can't understand it, does not give you the right to take another life, no more than it gives a murderer to take another life. Anyone for capital punishment is no better and no different than the person who committed murder.

But, in this case, and playing off the idiotic laws that exist nowadays, as long as there is ANY doubt about his guilt, capital punishment should always be removed and it should be reverted to life in prison, in the LEAST, until his guilt or innocence is proven without doubt.

@Raging Capitalist

I am Christian and have no doubts and no concern when I meet my maker. Had I been tasked with the decision on Brian Nichols, I would have instructed the Police and anyone who saw Nichols "Shoot to Kill".

Wow. "Shoot to kill" huh? Nice one. Very Christian indeed. Did you ask yourself WWJD first?

I would like to recommend you check out John 7:53-8:11. Very enlightening. I posted some of it above as well. Unfortunately for you, it may be some cause for concern.

It's been 22 years, I think that is enough time to get it figured out. Heck that is life in prison for some people.

Thank you, meanest one. It's hard for any one calling himself/herself a "Christian" to argue against the Divine Word & specifically & succinctly stated Commandments of Christ. Indeed, the Bible goes further to explain that God's Kingdom is no part of this world. If we are to to put our faith into action, then we must submit to that fact and to the fact that God Himself lays claim to ALL vengeance. As horrible as a crime may be and as much as it is human nature to receives some measure of justice, there is no justice in the notion that our Judicial System may be executing an innocent man/woman. Indeed, as a Christian, it is incumbent upon one to surrender ALL urges for revenge to Abba Father Himself. It is so written and to disobey Him is to deny Him and ones faith altogether.

If you lust for vengeance & blood, then your ideology is in direct opposition to Gods and one should really stop claiming to believe in Him, have faith in Him and, for Rice Chex sake, stop calling oneself a "Christian." Yes, I've lost loved ones to at fault drivers & murderers, so don't tell me I don't know how it feels. If even ONE innocent person is put to death, then we as a society have innocent blood on our hands. I, for one, am not willing to take that risk. It isn't worth it and I dare NOT mock God.

Derek 381

These Christian conservatives were on t.V.

Laughing at People's Misery at the Last GOP Debate about No Healthcare.

For Christians of less Means or Cash..

Is Georgia a GOP Christian Right State.

Google == Georgia Governor

The answer is too Telling.

God's People== Just like biblical Times

Same Crude Judgmental Barbaric Thug's...!

And people think The Country advanced .........??????????????????

Grateful I can See The Light

and it isn't GOP & Corporate Debt Pushed Onto the people

While Crying Unions, teachers, ETC.

when The Wealthy ride for FREE.

Plus Claiming to SPREAD Democracy.....???????????????????????????????

Without practicing it or Sharing it............!

Anyone hearing the building roar of vitriol still think we are the "last" civilized country?

Meanest One

Perhaps you missed the point. Where did I indicate such actions via these heinous crimes offer cause to consider these animals anything other than animals? You will not answer the question but I will ask it and you can fight it or answer it.

What would you consider appropriate punishment for a man that rapes your wife in front of your daughter, kills her and then rapes your daughter? Yes, extreme example but it still begs an answer.

You might not recognize the difference here but Adultry is quite different from murder. She and all of the guilty ones of having sex outside of wedlock will wake the next day to have sex again, breath, eat, smell the roses, see the sun shine. You know, live another day!!! Notice a difference here?

Seven out of 9 eyewitnesses recanted. If that doesn't give you doubts about his guilt, then I don't know what to say.

There are very serious problems with eyewitness testimony. They've been so extensively documented that it should be common knowledge by now. Sadly, it isn't. Human memory and visual perception are NOWHERE NEAR as reliable as most people think they are.

There are already many documented cases of convictions being overturned by DNA evidence. That alone should tell you that there are a lot of innocent people going to prison.

http://www.innocenceproject.org/

This is why the death penalty needs to be abolished. History clearly shows that a lot of people have been wrongly convicted. When you execute a man and later find out he is innocent, what then? Send his family an email that says "OOPS?"

I'm impressed by the direction of thinking on this site today.
For the majority of you are beginning to get the picture.

Sides are being chosen and Right vs. Wrong has regained its foundation.

Just speaking up against wrong is power in itself.
But, to constantly find the courage to continue to speak outagainst wrong will provide for a life fulfillment.

Junicon,

If there was DNA we could rely on there is little possibility of doubt. As it sits today there is obvious doubt about the system. I despise the thought of finding this man proved innocent without any doubt at a later date. Certainly, he is the cause of this dialogue but the dialogue seems to have shifted from this one individual to heinous crimes being unworthy of the ultimate punishment. If the issue is Capital Punishment where facts are irrefutable, let the punishment fit the crime.

That being said, if there was irrefutable DNA, video, witnesses, etc., etc., etc., I still have the same view. The people that commit heinous crimes against others are animals. They are not worthy of consideration as a human or worthy of being called a Man or Woman.

Anyone with any sense of reason and fairness who has knowledge of the particulars of this case has to be outraged. A police officer was killed and quite evidently, emotions ran high. At best, the particulars, presented at trial, indicate one or more of roughly a dozen people could have done the deed. The case has all the elements of a shoddily organized theater production soused with tragedy and played out in comedic embodiments directed by the police, prosecution and court. Other than a dead officer, the physical evidence obtained from the crime scene is a bullet casing from a 38 caliber pistol. Some days later a homeless person found another casing near a place where Davis once was thought to have been. The forensics expert testified these 2 casings could have come from the same weapon. Conversely, one could infer logically, they could not have as well. Turns out the only person who admits to owning such a weapon was a certain person, name of "Coles" who actually told police Davis did the deed. Coles also was, according to witnesses in the beginning, the man who had the row with the homeless man during which the officer was killed. This is the stoutest of the particulars. The production goes downhill from here. Apparently the authorities elected to have this dozen or so people choose that person to take the fall, then they stepped in with production and direction, sufficient to convict within the tangled range of legal paraphanalia which is basic to all American court systems. These range from modern interpretations back to and including edicts of draconian antiquity. Troy Davis may have killed this officer or may not have. There is no viable evidence to support either hypothesis. I know some about this case. I have been advocating for Mr. Davis commution for just over 2 years.

I can't beleve some of the comments. I bet they are all for pro life but are so quick to take a life. I believe that if there is doubt what is the harm of investigating those doubts. It's not that he is going anywhere. I can only hope that those who are sceaming for his death will, whenever it is proved that he didn't do it then they will step forward and admit that an innocent man was put to death. If he was a fat wealthy white man they would put a stay to his execution until they have exausted all avenues.

I know that capital punishment is a very polar issue --- some see it as society's right and others as justified murder by society. Capital punishment is, for many, a quick, cheap, and permanent solution. But the problem is that it not quick or cheap and given that the collective burden of innocent victims of capital punishment is cumulative, it is not permanent.

I do not see any silver bullet that will kill the issue or make everyone happy. But I do have a constructive suggestion:

I would like to see a special division of the Federal Appeals Courts created. This Death Penalty Review Court would be made up of five "Special Masters" which would include at least one former high level law enforcement officer, and one academic death penalty expert. The other three would probably be former judges or district attorneys. This panel would hear ALL death penalty cases except those specifically exempted by a carefully administered waiver by the person being sentenced. The panel would always review all death penalty convictions for irregularities. As Special Masters the judges would be able to do two unique things: a) call witnesses including expert testimony, and b) directly issue criminal charges in cases of proprietorial misconduct or order civil penalties in the case of wrongful conviction. The appointment would be made by the President for a 10-year term and the confirmation process would be the same as for the Federal Appeals Courts.

The panel would not have the ability to free any convicted prisoner. Their only action would be to a) affirm that the trial was properly and fairly conducted, or b) commute the death penalty to life in prison without parole. The panel would commute the sentence where the evidence was ambiguous, incomplete, or entirely circumstantial. Issues like under-representation would also be grounds for commutation.

The panel would also act as a special appeals court for death penalty cases, including those reviewed and affirmed by the same panel previously. The court would be able to accept new evidence, call witnesses (including expert witnesses) and question them directly, and would use a very high standard of evidence --- "to a sure and certain degree."

The Death Penalty Review Court would also be able to refer cases with high priority to the Supreme Court and regular Federal Appeals Courts where an interpretation of the law is warranted. The DPRC would not be able to overturn any conviction, but could make recommendations to that effect to the Courts or even to state courts. It is presumed that such recommendations would carry considerable weight.

When we look at the death penalty cases since they have resumed, there is a dismal track record.

Most estimates are that 15-17% of all death penalty convictions are of a completely innocent person. (The actual execution rate is around 8-9%.)

If you compare both convictions and death penalty convictions for exactly the same crime with similar evidence, blacks (and a rapidly increasingly Latinos) have a much higher conviction rate than whites (almost triple) and a much higher imposition of the death penalty (over 8 times as high.) This doesn't mean much for any individual case, but is a good tell-tale that the system is flawed by cultural biases.

Several states have very, very weak or non existent public defense programs. For example, I live in Alabama and there are no public defenders. The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled over and over that a accused person does not have a right to a lawyer of his choice or to a competent lawyer, or to any lawyer at all.

States also vary greatly on such issues as a court-supplied translator for those whose English skills are not sufficient to know what is going on in court. Alabama does not provide translators, again saying that it is not a Constitutionally guaranteed right.

Prosecutors and law enforcement officers and even judges are protected by "shield" laws that protect them even when they falsify evidence, fail to disclose exculpatory evidence, hide witnesses from the defense, etc. This emboldens them to take "short cuts" in the judicial process.

A surprisingly high percentage of death row convicts are intellectually challenged, with some operating with as little brainpower as a 4-year-old. Many are minors with kids as young as 12 being sentenced to death. Others have serious and profound, easily diagnosable, mental illness. These three factors alone effect over half the death row convicts. This is the only country in the world that routinely executes prisoners in these categories.

Many states, including Texas which leads in executions, forbid the introduction of any new evidence in an appeal. This is particularly significant when you consider new technologies such as DNA testing, occult blood tests, and spectrographic analysis. In Texas and Alaska, among others, convicted felons cannot introduce new DNA evidence in appeal, even if the convict paid for it and there was potential to not only free an innocent man, but to convict a guilty man.

No person accused of a felony should be required to take more medications than he was taking at the time the crime was committed. It is a very routine thing to take someone who is seriously mentally incompetent and obviously fundamentally impaired, and medicate them to the point that they appear perfectly normal to a jury. This leads both judges and juries to the conclusion that the person had a normal ability to resist committing the crime and invites them to come down especially hard on them with sentencing.

Many politicians use the death penalty as a form of right-wing litmus test. Gov Perry is a good example. It is simpler and better politically to allow an innocent man to be executed (as Perry has done) despite solid evidence of his innocence. It is purely and simply a conflict of interest when a person can gain politically by allowing doubtful death penalty convictions to be consummated.

And concurrently with the establishment of a Federal DPRC, I would like to see a simple law enacted by Congress. If any prosecutor, judge, defense attorney, or law enforcement officer knowing and willfully suppresses evidence, fails to share exculpatory evidence, obtains confessions or statements through coercion or bribery, or otherwise taints the case by misconduct, that person, upon conviction would be subject to the same penalty, up to and including the death penalty, for which the person was wrongfully convicted. The DPRC would be able to submit such charges directly to a Federal Grand Jury.

The death penalty issue is one where the judicial system time and time again shows its flaws. I am neither for or against the death penalty but I do contend that, right or wrong, it is society's right to exact the maximum penalty. But it is also society's obligation to get it absolutely right before carrying out executions. No one should ever be executed on tainted, incomplete, missing, outdated, debunked, or falsified evidence or testimony. When there is doubt death sentences should be commuted.

I used to live in Virginia and a neighbor of mine was accused of raping a young girl on the BRP. She gave a description of the man --- average, average, average --- and his red pickup truck. The neighbor always drove home via the BRP and a police officer familiar with the BRP picked him up because he was driving a red pickup truck home at 1AM. The girl picked him out of a lineup. He had no alibi except that he was driving home along the BRP from work as he did most nights. He was convicted and sentenced to multiple consecutive sentences. He lost his home and bank account trying to defend himself, and after he went to prison his wife divorced him and he became estranged from his kids. Later DNA testing showed that the semen in her panties was from her boyfriend and that she has lost her virginity that night and came up with the rape story because she was sure that she had become pregnant.

This is what can happen under good circumstances. But what sometimes goes wrong is that an overwhelmed police and judicial system believes strongly that they have the right person and the "streamline" the case to keep from confusing a jury. They know they are doing something fundamentally wrong, but justify it because they believe that they are doing the "right" thing.

My bottom line is that the death penalty is flawed, not in principle, but in its application. I think it is probably fixable. But until it is fixed, all death penalty cases except those where the convicted person waives

Derek Get's Dumped by the Christian Kill em Moral police. !

For Telling it Straight.......

The truth DOES HURT..

Re-Enacting Killing Christ, is a blood Lust Sport that is NEVER Satisfied..

I'll Pray for you ALL....

Folks, both pro and con to this issue, I would recommend you read the links back to the trial testimony, the appeals arguements as well as the written decisions from the appelate courts and the US Supreme Court. All we keep hearing from the Davis side is that seven people have recanted their testimony; however, that is not really the case. Several of the recantations are actually witnesses stating that, if pressed to positively ID the killer now, they couldn't do so. That is completely different than saying that they saw someone else do the killing which not one witness, then or now, has stated. In addition, there is no way that someone could possibly identify someone with the same certainty 22 years after the fact as they could at the time of the investigation or trial. That's why the appeals courts place so much more weight on actual trial testimony than a recantation or change in the testimony.

Also, the arguement is that these witnesses have claimed the police coerced them into these statements. Actually, according to the official records and their staements under oath, that is not really the case. In some instances the witnesses have testified they flat out were not coerced and in other cases the witnesses statements of police coersion just do not add up, either by the chronology of when the people came forward or when the statements were taken. Several of the recantations were considered at the appeals hearing; however, even though the witnesses were present at the hearing, the defense counsel chose not to call them as witnesses, most likely because they would be then subject to cross-eexamination and ultimately the recantation, compared to the original testimony, would not be credible.

Lastly, if you really examine the new testimony of the witnesses who did come forward in the form of sworn statements, none of it really deflects their recollections of the actual events away from Davis' guilt and actually one witness really further confirms him being the shooter.

In these cases, once a determination of guilt is assessed, it falls on the defendant to prove that either he is actually innocent of the crime, similar to what you see in recent cases of DNA analysis, or that if a new trial was ordered, there is a likelyhood that a not guilty verdict would result. In every analysis of this case at the appelate court and supreme court level the conclusion is the same; a guilty verdict would result. The US Supreme Court did actually review this case and giving Davis the benefit of the doubt ordered an unprecedented federal court review of the evidence and they as well voted that a new trial was not warranted.

Just as an aside, earlier in the day Davis shot a person and the bullets and shell casings matched the casings and bullets from this killing. According to a witness, Davis allegedly stated after the fact that the reason he killed McPhail after he shot and disabled him rather than keep running was that McPhail had seen his face and could ID him and then tie him to the earlier shooting. This is no altar boy here. Every shred of investigation and evidence points to his guilt.

As Christians living by the New Testament we are to FORGIVE our enemies their sins, but not to forget. This means our enemies lose their freedoms for their sins, not their life. As humans we do not have the right, nor the permission from God to decide if someone lives or dies. That right belongs to God alone, only He decides the beginning and the end of a life. No true Christian would ever condone, applaud, or uphold the killing of a human being, on any grounds. The death penalty, whether handed down by a criminal act or by a so-called law is wrong.

Derek, who are you to decide who is a Christian and who is not?

I know plenty of lying "Christians", perhaps you're one of them. And I'm very familiar with the penal system in this state. It's full of innocent Christians. Ask them. They're all innocent. There's no point in forgiving any of them; none of them did it.

I'd tell you to go to hell also, but maybe I'll let it slide. For what it's worth, you don't sound like much of a Christian.

Not really much of a retort there, Ben, as you're just basically stating what I've pointed out about you and trying to reverse it. All you have to do is read your bible to know it has nothing to do with 'begging to differ,' simply put you are wrong for what you are saying and your lack of apology shows your hubris.

Not much of an argument there Derek.

I have nothing to apologize for, and more simply put you know even less about me than you know about this convicted man's guilt (zero). I know plenty of Christians, and lying Christians are my favorite variety. There are plenty in prison, especially in Jackson on death row. You can forgive them if you like especially since they did nothing to you or your family, but they still have to answer to the State of Georgia before they answer to God.

Adios Troy.

Several states have very, very weak or non existent public defense programs. For example, I live in Alabama and there are no public defenders. The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled over and over that a accused person does not have a right to a lawyer of his choice or to a competent lawyer, or to any lawyer at all.

I don't believe this comment whatsoever. It is simply unconstitutional to withhold a lawyer for a CRIMINAL matter because a person can not afford one.

Here is the authority :

United States Constitution, 6th Amendment

http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/billofrights#amendmentv

Amendment VI

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.

To the people who brought it up, this man has had so much due process of law, it's over.

Witness recantation is not a big deal to me. The fact of the matter is that Troy Davis was present when this officer was killed.

He was ID'd. The US Supreme Court did a rare thing and granted him a hearing to look into some of the allegations he did not receive a fair trial. He got this extra special treatment and they came up with the same result - GUILTY of the crime that warrants the death penalty.

I believe that the death penalty is up to the victim's relatives. They want justice this way. They should have it. End of story.

Seems to me it was either him or Coles. Coles said he did it then changed his story. He knows who did it. If he is willing to die rather than "snitch" on a fellow gang member I guess it is his right.

Problem I see? One; this is all due to eyewitness testimony. This is flawed in and of its self. Eyewitnesses make mistakes all the time. Some due to bad memory, others due to wanting to help so badly they over reach for a result and pick out the wrong person still others due to having seen something on the TV etc. Two; if they are so sure he's guilty how come 7 out of 9 witnesses recanted? i can see one or two but 7. Three; this isn't about justice (never is when the death penalty is on the table) or wanting closure (this is not closure that takes years) what exactly is closure when a husband and father is dead? What stops the grieving and hole that is left in the family? It is always about revenge. I believe in the death penalty but only when it is sure. I'm not saying set him free, I'm saying keep him alive until we are sure. As for the appeals etc. have you ever known a court to overturn a death penalty just because the guy may be innocent. NO of course not, they would then have to admit that they (judges etc) made a mistake. Never gonna happen. The south (Texas all the way to Florida is famous for this) hope you never get caught in the wrong place without an alibi in those states, it maybe you with a needle in your arm!

In this case I say commute the sentence even though I support the death penalty. Our justice system was designed with the idea it's better to free a guilty person than incarcerate an innocent. Yet we seem to routinely lock up or execute people without proof positive and once convicted having that over turned almost seems to take an act of God.

I know someone who was on the "High-fi" jury in Utah many years ago, the evidence there was from the survivors own mouths and yet when it came time for the executions everyone who hadn't been there wanted commutations. The executions were carried out.

As it has been said above there is nothing wrong with the death penalty when the proof positive is there such as in the case in Salt Lake City a few years ago when a accused man was slipped a gun in court and shot several people in front of a whole court room full of witnesses and cameras. In that case In that case give him a psychological test if found competent execute him within the week. When there is not absolute proof of that type or DNA etc. then lets have life without parole then we don't risk executing an innocent, there is a way to correct and apologize if we find out we are wrong and if they can't prove differently they stay alive but locked up were they can't do more harm.

Derek, I find your brand of Christianity interesting to say the least. You are truly one of a kind, in a Jim Jones kind of way. Have you considered moving to a small country in South America with a few select friends and starting your own little compound where you can find some followers?

I think Troy Davis is guilty of murder. As a legal professional, I know that eye witness testimony is the least reliable evidence so recanting the story was not an issue.

So what if a weapon was not found, etc.?

A MAN IS DEAD THANKS TO TROY DAVIS. THE FAMILY WANTS JUSTICE.

This is what happens when the execution date is so far removed from the crime. The compassion is shown for the criminal while the victim is all but forgotten.

I was watching one of those news documentaries about these two young people, one of whom was killed, the other played dead and the criminal thought he killed her.

The family of the murdered victim chose the punishment of life in prison without parole (INSTEAD of the death penalty) because of this reason.

The mother and sister of the victim said that at the same time they were trying to decide which punishment (death penalty or life in prison without parole), someone on death row was going to be executed.

This murderer had tons of supporters. They called him a born again Christian.

The murdered victim's mother and sister WERE OUTRAGED that the sympathy was shown to the MURDERER and they said THEY DID NOT WANT THEIR FAMILY MEMBER'S MEMORY SULLIED BY THAT SYMPATHY FOR THE CRIMINAL when it was time for that criminal to be executed.

What is wrong in our country? In OK, a pharmacist is in jail for murder because he killed a punk who was trying to kill him in a foiled armed robbery attempt.

STOP SUPPORTING CRIMINALS AND SUPPORT THE PEOPLE THEY VICTIMIZE INSTEAD.

Adios Derek. Not sure what you mean by "losing the conversation" but good luck with the cult. Don't go away mad, but do go away.

I find it comical that two Christians are arguing about Christianity. Isn't there a biblical law against that?

Watching two 'christians' talk about christianity is like watching two children trying to do a puzzle. It's amusing at first, but the stupidity gets boring quick

Regardless of your feelings on the death penalty itself, I would imagine that everyone would agree that everything possible must be done to make sure the person executed is guilty.

It seems as though there are still many unanswered questions in this case. I do not see how it hurts anything to wait to be 100% sure. There is no going back after the realization that a mistake aws made.

Yes the prosecutor says he is sure-but they have been wrong. So have juries. This man would not be the first innocent man killed for a crime he did not commit. I'm sure the juries and prosecutors in those cases were sure then too.

For those of you who say the family deserves justice-well, it isn't justice if they kill the wrong man. Their ability to judge the situation from an objective viewpoint and see that he may be innocent could be understandably tainted.

This isn't about the larger issue of if the dealth penalty should ever be impossed. Right now, today, the decision is if this man should be killed when there are reasonable doubts lingering to his guilt.

To me-the clear answer is no!

saying that 7 out of the 9 witnesses have recanted only means 7 out of the 9 are liars and you cant trust them either way. and the 2 that are sticking with their original statement of this mans guilt, and the fact that he has had ample appeals and even special treatment means that he has gotten more than most would get in this situation. do i feel bad for troy davis? no...i feel bad for the man he was CONVICTED of murdering and his family. and no one here really knows how they would react if actually being the loved one of someone who was murdered for standing up for the rights of a homeless man. and do you bleeding hearts believe there is any possibility of his guilt? anyway this man has been found guilty and sentenced to death. if you dont like it, change the laws. ranting on here about who is the better christian will not accomplish a damn thing other than to prove your both idiots.

So much for "beyond a reasonable doubt"... what a waste of money. It would have been cheaper to keep him locked up.

Gotta love the "wolves-in-sheep-clothing" Christian Party that cheers for blood. The mere thought of executing someone incites a thunderous applause in the "good, Christian" hearts of the GOP. They are no different than the Romans cheering when Christians were fed to lions. Jesus would be so proud... Hypocrisy at it's finest.

For those idiots saying, "What if it was your family?"... No, I would not want him executed. If it was my family, and he was guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt, I would not want him dead. Death is the easy way out.

@ don'teathotdogsthey'regross

"They have a disgusting double standard with abortion but have no problem injecting poison to kill someone. A life is a life, no matter what, right? "

No, abortion takes an "innocent" life.

"Aren't we all God's children?"

No, Scripture calls some "Children of your father, the devil" ... look it up.

Just wanted to answer your direct questions.

I do not know whether or not this man is guilty, but I do know that the ONLY way to avoid executing innocent people is to abolish the death penalty. Abolishing the death penalty would remove us from the list of countries that do execute prisoners that includes Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Yemen and North Korea and place us on the list of countries who don't execute with Great Britain, France, Spain, Sweden and all other democracies in the world.

Why is the United States the only democracy on Earth that kills convicted criminals?

The most hypocritical statement a person can make...

"I'm a Christian who believes in the death penalty."

Take the legal aspects out of this. Nevermind all the non-partisan data that shows how the death penalty costs more then life in prison and has zero effect on crime rates, or the fact that Japan and ourselves are the only first world countries who maintain capital punishment. Leave alone the sociological issues of poverty and criminology. Don't even bother with the desparate justice we have for rich vs. poor people, and minorities vs. majorities. The hardcore death penalty supporters will stick their fingers in their ears when it comes to any of those facts.

However, the Christian right, who seems to be the ideology most inclined to support capital punishment, does love a good Bible thumping. So please, any of you, explain to me how you rationalize this...

"He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy."

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

"This is what the Lord Almight says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another."

"That which you do unto the least of your bretheren, you do unto me."

"And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

...with the death penalty?

These are beautiful words, and although I'm not an organized religion type of girl, I find peace in them. Why do they take such a distant second place to things like abominations and condemnations with you "Christians"?

"I like your Christ, I do not think I like your Christians." - Ghandi

Sorry about the double post. I was a little quick on the mouse click.

The most hypocritical statement a person can make...

"I'm a Christian who believes in the death penalty."

Take the legal aspects out of this. Nevermind all the non-partisan data that shows how the death penalty costs more then life in prison and has zero effect on crime rates, or the fact that Japan and ourselves are the only first world countries who maintain capital punishment. Leave alone the sociological issues of poverty and criminology. Don't even bother with the desparate justice we have for rich vs. poor people, and minorities vs. majorities. The hardcore death penalty supporters will stick their fingers in their ears when it comes to any of those facts.

However, the Christian right, who seems to be the ideology most inclined to support capital punishment, does love a good Bible thumping. So please, any of you, explain to me how you rationalize this...

"He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy."

"Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy."

"This is what the Lord Almight says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another."

"That which you do unto the least of your bretheren, you do unto me."

"And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

...with the death penalty?

These are beautiful words, and although I'm not an organized religion type of girl, I find peace in them. Why do they take such a distant second place to things like abominations and condemnations with you "Christians"?

"I like your Christ, I do not think I like your Christians." - Ghandi

i always thought one day america will be civlized but all hope is over. most people care cool but the goverment is destorying and killing people. thanks for trying mlk, lincoln, jfk and many others who lost thier life for trying to do the right thing. in america a man can be excuted without evidence and witness changing stories. all you have to do is be with 5 buddies and kill a man and blame a innocent guy and right of the bat you got 5 witness. no wonder so many people in prison say they are innocent, hey they are right. you got cops murdering people and get 0 years. people murder cops and get death? if you arnt sure he did it isnt 22 years punishment behind bars enough? something post murders with evidence dont even get and not to mention a cop gets 0 years. this whole country history is evil and without our lying corrupt criminal goverment, they are no better then terriost the way they abuse power on citzens. the whole history from the day america stole killed and stole the land from the indians and claimed it as thiers. to slaves, women cant vote, to attacking other countries just for oil. to now all this courrpt system and far right conservitives absolutley dominating this nation right now. most of our laws are not for a safty reason. i am american but not a proud america, my nations history and goverment is as evil as they get. RIP troy davis. sad.

I find it comical that two Christians are arguing about Christianity

Thanks Karen. I wasn't going to say anything, but, wow. Makes me real glad I'm Me, and believe what I believe.

I was actually just thinking the same thing. Too many so called "christians" trying to out-christian each other.

Why does no one mention that this cases appeals have been heard, the system has gone out of it's way to do this and still this murderer is going to be executed. You people really want to believe that a whole new generation of people are all in collusion to execute this murderer because they are corrupt. The man was also convicted of another shooting and the casings were a match, no one mentions that. you people act like they are executing an altar boy! You people talk about revenge and not to make decisions emotionally yet that is all you do, no matter what you make the stupidest accusations the cops, the prosecutors, the judges, the jury, the appeals boards, the state of Georgia, the entire south are all corrupt and crooked and have plotted for twenty-two years to kill this man. He was convicted lost his appeals and is going to die for his crimes. Thats the law and it can't be overturned cause you feel sorry for a two time shooter. This is written without emotion and considering facts not eyewitness accounts that can be changed for any reason. These witnesses werent id'ing a man they didn't know, they knew him. Suddenly years later after all the attention they misidentified a person they know? really

I also find it absolutely amazing the polar difference in discussions on this vine versus the convicted killer in Texas. Where are all the "let them live" people where that man is concerned. I don't see the difference.

I understand the difference in the crimes, but at the base level....You are either for or against the death penatly. Period!!

Sylvester Redd Coles is the actual murderer. He is the one that had the gun (except he claims he gave it away earlier in the day), he was the one who first fingered Davis (he brought his lawyer in with him), and he was the one fighting with the homeless man who started it all. One more thing... he is one of the two witness' that didn't recant. Common sense dictates that Coles is the actual killer. Not to mention the fact that he is always in trouble with the law.

Sam,

The courts hate to step away from the stare decisis. Very, very, rarely will a ruling get overturned, regardless of the evidence pointing to the decision having been wrong in the first place. If this wasn't true, then no innocent man would have ever been executed or remained convicted, and obviously that's not the case.

Step away from the humanity or sociological side of this for a moment and look strictly at the legality. Our burden of proof is "beyond a reasonable doubt." One witness recanting, is enough to instill doubt and questions in a reasonable person, let alone 7 out of 9. You don't need to have sympathy for him, if you're that blood thirsty, well that's between you and whatever God/Non-God/Karma you have to face, but no one can come on this vine, spouting off about loving our Constitution while simultaneously promoting this execution.

I'm sick of hypocrits hijacking our laws to promote their hatred.

"These are beautiful words, and although I'm not an organized religion type of girl, I find peace in them. Why do they take such a distant second place to things like abominations and condemnations with you "Christians"?"

Because Pharisee-ism is alive and well in the 21st century. Too many Christians get caught up in legalism. I'm all for people being answerable to the law and their own actions but, as others here have said, the death penalty is too political and too flawed to be certain we only execute guilty people. And even if it wasn't flawed, I'm not sure it's right.

Georgia's been killing innocent Black men for HUNDREDS of years. I used to have an old John Lee Hooker record with "The Ballad of Stagger Lee" on it. In the song, Stagger Lee CAME from a town CALLED Hang-A-N*****R, Georgia.

Steve at #1.74, I'm in agreement with you. After the brief reading I did about the case, I'm wondering why Sylvester Redd Coles was not more closely investigated. Perhaps he was and the information is not readily available. Just seems odd that he had the same type of gun and just happened to give it away earlier that day.

The guy is guilty as the sun is bright. He should have been gone 22 years ago. drop him and be done with it, and Derek I am not worried about going someplace that doesn't exist when I die......So dont even start your BS with me.

There is a demonstrated error rate of 1 innocent person for every 7 persons executed (or more than 14%) by the present justice system.

Would you get on a plane that operated under such a rate of failure that you knew that every 7th plane would kill everyone on board?

There is no purpose to capital punishment at all except retribution, ie revenge. It does not act as a deterrent. It does not provide closure for families or the society. It in no way serves to lessen crime rates or solve the original problem. In fact, it makes the situation worse by sending the message that violence and murder are a valid way to solve problems.

Most civilized societies have concluded that capital punishment is an antiquated and infantile approach to justice and have abandoned it as irrational behavior.

The idea that someone would be sentenced to die solely based on eyewitness testimony (especially when 7 of 9 of those witnesses have recanted) is nothing short of barbaric and insane.

It is also telling that the people who clamor loudest for executing people are the same ones who claim to be so concerned with the sanctity of life when it comes to abortion issues. There is no lower form of duplicity and hypocrisy than those who would murder a murderer and consider it justice.

There are always going to be differences of opinions when it comes to issues like this. I can sit here and write that living in confinement, hopefully solitary, would be a worse punishment for him then putting him to death -- he would have to think about what he did every day. He has been in prison for 20 years and I believe that the only thing he has been thinking about is him getting out of jail and not having to pay for the crime he committed. I have heard bits a pieces of this story although have not been able to find the entire story; it is over 20 years old!! Has he shown any repentance for this crime; has he apologized to the parents of this man?

I know we can all stand with our bleeding hearts in our hands, me included, when we hear of a person being put to death....he is not being killed, he is the one that did the killing, he is being put to death because of his crimes and his actions, yet then again, I KNOW if this young man that was shot and killed were my child I would want this man prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I am being honest with my feelings...I wonder how many out there holding up signs in support of a change of heart to allow this man to live would feel if it were there son, daughter, husband, wife, mother, father, etc., that had been killed by this man? It may not be right in some opinions and it is right in other opinions, and honestly, the only ones that know what really happened is the man that shot and killed a man, Davis, the man that was shot and killed (murdered) McPhail and G-d.

Our legal system is somewhat of a joke and even though there are some people in prison that are innocent and I pray they will get a chance to prove their innocence, at the same time, there are just as many if not more that are guilty that are walking amongst us every single day and they can not be charged and tried with the same crime EVEN if they admit they are guilty afterwards - again, a very sad situation.

As I was growing up I remember a friend of the family that worked at a prison telling us that if we listened to every story from every prisoner they are innocent; none of them belong in jail. I also remember this friend telling us that if they were innocent why were they in prison....was it because the were singing off key in the choir during church services??? If this were my child that was awaiting the death sentence....I raised my child to understand that for every action there is a reaction. I raised my son to understand accountability and responsibility. I raised my son to understand consequences for his actions whether it be good or bad. I believe in G-d and I never question His work or His reasons....I believe in G-d.

I think because a cop was killed, its the backwards south justice system, and that he is black plays a lot into this case and its outcome. He is lucky he isn't in Texas, they would have fried him for breakfast a long time ago.

Interesting I don't see protestors protesting the death penalty in Texas tonight where they are putting to death a white supremacist who murdered a black man. In fact, on that article I saw tons of comments about "good riddance" and "let him fry". Double standard much people?

Both had their day in court. They had appeals. Just because one is black and the other white should not make a difference. One should not be better than the other. Both are convicted of murder. End of story.

Its 7:05 Pm, is he gone yet............

It seems that there is big chance that an innocent man will be murdered by the state of Georgia.

There are only 5 countries in the world that have NOT abolished the death penalty...China, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia...and the United States! What the heck is wrong with us? Why would we want to align ourselves with the inhumane practices of these countries?

If he is, this drama is finally over and the Mother of this slain cop can start to heal instead of wondering when her son was going to get justice of any type. One thing is for sure: this guy will never kill again or commit any kind of crime against anyone else. If he had not done what he did that night, he would be alive right now and years from now. It's that simple. He did the crime, now it's pay back. He knew what he was doing was wrong and what could happen if he got caught. Well he found out. RIP. He's no different than any other killer. He had all the legal chances anyone had a right to and the evidence didn't support a reprieve. Those are just the facts folks. Get over it because he is by now.

Double standard much people?

I think it has a lot more to do with the question as to his guilt. 7 of 9 eyewitnesses-the only "proof" they had-have recanted their testimony. This case has gotten far more attention than others-with defendants of all races-because there is so much more reason to doubt his guilt. Sure-lots of people claim they are not guilty-but when the only evidence at the trial was the eyewitness testimony-and 75% of the eyewitnesses now said he didn't do it...there should at least be some effort made to take another look at it.

There is a demonstrated error rate of 1 innocent person for every 7 persons executed (or more than 14%) by the present justice system.

Site your source for these absurd statistics please!

Well Bob, tell ya what - whenever there is a murderer on death row, we should impose a special "bleeding heart" tax on you to fund keeping them fed, clothed, and housed. We should put an ankle band on them and they can move in with you...

Whoosh! That's the sound of this going right over your head. The point of this whole story is that seven of nine eyewitnesses who testified have recanted, and said they were coerced into making their statements. At this point "reasonable doubt" has been raised...why shouldn't the Supreme Court hear his case? As to this poster...you've heard the old saying, "believe none of what you hear, and only some of what you see"...well, there is no part of that saying that tells you "believe only what you see in print".

What gets me is that the state of Georgia, in it's infinite "wisdom", denied this guy an opportunity to take a polygraph test. What's the problem, Georgia? Afraid it would create even more doubt? So you'll lose your "opportunity" to execute a possibly innocent man?

Must be trying to compete with Texas...

I love the spin from this guy's lawyer. "They recanted!.....now hopefully people aren't smart enough to look up what parts of their testimony they 'recanted' on.".

And by the large crowd outside singing "We will overcome" like mindless sheep who only believe what is handfed to them, he was right.

hotdogs

I can sleep very well at night thank you.

Troy Davis WAS PRESENT when this police officer was killed.

He has received oodles of due process of law.

He is not exactly a saint. I am a strong believer in protecting our police against criminals.

Troy Davis IS a criminal and he WAS PRESENT when a police officer WAS KILLED.

Back then DNA evidence was totally new and not collected sometimes. So, the fact that there is none, does not bother me.

Further, witness testimony is the most unreliable evidence on the planet so the fact that witnesses recanted does not bother me either.

As of 5:11 CA time, he has not been executed because of due process of law. He had been scheduled to die about 40 minutes ago.

Troy Davis WAS PRESENT when this police officer was killed.

Being "present" does not prove guilt.

I notice no one is crying for the White Supremacist that was just put to death a few minutes ago. I guess your outrage for the death penalty only extends to our African brothers and sisters?

I am most disappointed in the failure of Georgia to carry out the sentence. They are under no legal constraint at all to wait for a Supreme Court decision in a stay of execution. The Supreme Court MUST issue the stay before the scheduled execution, or it can proceed as scheduled. The Georgia officials action was an act of cowardice and an extreme disservice to the police officer's family. Obviously Governor Deal is no Perry. He is a coward and a petty crook, that is all...

I hope that if they do execute this man, someone out there keeps trying to find out the truth. I know it won't help Mr. Davis, but perhaps it will save the lives of other innocents if it turns out that he was indeed innocent. Most of the time, after an inmate is executed, people forget about it and move on to the next case. Perhaps if all these types of cases were followed up until a conclusive determination was made, we would find out just how many innocent people have been convicted. If, as I suspect, it turns out to be many, this might be the impetus we need to abolish capitol punishment altogether. At this point, only Mr. Davis and his co-defendants know the whole truth, so I will not speculate on his guilt or innocence, my opinion is just that, opinion. I do know that if I were the family of the victim I could never find satisfaction or justice in the execution of a man who's guilt is so much in doubt. Were I a death penality supporter and a family member of a victim, I would at least want to make damn good and sure it was the right person being put to death. I could never live with myself if it turned out that the executed person had indeed been innocent, especially after making such an outcry demanding the execution. I would want them to hold up the execution and use EVERY means possible to establish the guilt or innocent of the condemned person.

Angela-031374

I think because a cop was killed, its the backwards south justice system, and that he is black plays a lot into this case and its outcome. He is lucky he isn't in Texas, they would have fried him for breakfast a long time ago.

Interesting I don't see protestors protesting the death penalty in Texas tonight where they are putting to death a white supremacist who murdered a black man. In fact, on that article I saw tons of comments about "good riddance" and "let him fry". Double standard much people?

Both had their day in court. They had appeals. Just because one is black and the other white should not make a difference. One should not be better than the other. Both are convicted of murder. End of story.

I couldn't agree more!!!

The man has been tried, retried, and retried again. This "recanting" of testimony is merely the lawyer twisting the words of the original witnesses by asking them if they could be CERTAIN that 22 years later, this was the guy they saw that night. Anyone who wasn't actually there, staring him in the face when he did it, is obviously going to say no. I would, even if I had known without a doubt 22 years prior that it was him. The Supreme Court is gonna tell them to gag and bag this dbag for killing a cop. Good riddance.

Isn't it strange how many of the same groups who stood and still stand behind Casey Anthony after a Jury of her peers found her innocent are flipping the script now and saying "This jury got it wrong"?

In that case they accuse many who felt Anthony was guilty as sin (and still do) as being wrong and not respecting the so called "If your found innocent, then your innocent" belief that we have been taught by our system. But now, when a man has been found guilty and has exhausted every chance (including chances he was given that were not given to others) the system seems to have failed in these peoples mind...

I'm confused... It seems like one hell of a double standard... but I have come to believe double standards and wishful thinking is all the Liberals really have to offer. Since truth, jobs and a decent economy CERTAINLY do not rate their list of accomplishments recently or in the past....

I also find it digusting that this entire piece was about the convicted cop killer... I just wonder how the Cops family and friends feel...? Betcha they are not so "Interested in his comfort" or what he does in his last moments.. because according to 12 people, (Just like the 12 who released Anthony) he is guilty as sin and deserves his punishment.

Gharms: While I do not approve of the death penalty at all, the white supremest's execution bothers me far less. By the way, I am white. From everything I have been able to find out about that case, including interviews with the condemned man, he had no remorse at what had happened. He was the kind of person for whom the death penalty was created. The crime was especially heinous, involving what amounts to torture, and there was compelling evidence (beyond eyewitness testimony) as to his guilt. Had he been black, and his victim white, I would feel the same way. I have personal reasons to mistrust eyewitness testimony, knowing it can be faulty and in some cases outright lies. Under no circumstances should a person be condemned to death on the basis of eyewitness testimony.

Garms... In reference to your post at 1.95

And that somehow supprises you...?

I have noticed that many thing can be accomplished by using the "Race Card"

You can even corner and black mail the US Media and others into believing if you disagree with Obama you are a racist and a Bigot and get him elected President..... Won't happen in the up coming election however... Fool me once shame on you... Fool me twice....????

I find it hilarious how everyone wants race to stop being used as a reason or rhyme for anything... Yet as soon as the race card is available and can be of use... Those same folks doing the "No more racism" chant are first to use race as a tool and do it more then anyone.

12 people said "this guy is guilty"... Just like... ahem... 12 said Anthony was innocent...! Can'y have it both ways... can't call people idiots for not believing Anthony was innocent when 12 people said she was and then say this guy IS innocent... when 12 say he is not. It is a double standard... and very typical behavior for those pushing this argument.

It is time to talk about the hero dead policeman trying to do his job and protect someone who could not protect himself... Not the scum who shot him dead in a fast food parking lot.

It is time to stick up for who is really been hurt here.

Derek: I don't understand your comment at all. Most people think that the jury got it wrong on the Anthony Trial, and they think the jury got it wrong on this one. How on God's green earth is that "having it both ways"? One was found guilty, one was found not guilty, in both cases it's the majority opinion that the wrong verdict was reached.

There is a lot of reasonable doubt in this case.

The police have a strong motive to protect their own, and have been showed to be "quick to conclusions". The policeman's family are out for blood, they dont care who dies as long as some one does

Troy Davis WAS PRESENT when this police officer was killed.

Being "present" does not prove guilt.

No kidding. So why didn't he help the prosecution which would then prove HIS innocence?

Why didn't he STOP the slaughter of an innocent man?

Birds of a feather flock together.

To the people who brought it up, this man has had due process of law. He is still getting due process of law.

I suspect the US Supreme Court will say - we're done. We've heard this case.

I believe that the death penalty is up to the victim's relatives. They want justice this way. They should have it. End of story.

There is a lot of reasonable doubt in this case.

Maybe to you but HELLO - this case was heard 22 YEARS AGO!

That is the time to bring up one's innocence and the proof thereof.

NOT 22 YEARS AFTER THE FREAKING FACT.

@ Karen - you keep saying that doesn't bother you or that it doesn't matter that the witness recanted... but the ONLY reason he was convicted is BECAUSE OF THOSE LIES.

Not true.

Judges are the ultimate deciders of facts so if the judge believed the jury was wrong, the judge would have intervened. It rarely happens but it does happen.

I don't agree that the witness testimony is the sole reason he was convicted. It RARELY is the sole reason.

He has good attorneys who know how to work the media to get all of you all riled up.

They shot him down. Let the plungers start emptying their contents into this asshat's veins, asap.

Again, to all of you who say "the cops are just protecting their own", or "the jury thinks they were wrong", you obviously haven't read the story. The Jury has not recanted their decision. Witnesses merely said they could no longer be 100% sure it was him AFTER TWENTY TWO YEARS. Anyone who is real with themselves would say the same thing after two decades unless they were in the room with him. That is hardly "recanting" their testimony. Plus, you'll notice how they don't mention the two that didn't change their story, or the fact that the defense didn't call any of these 7 witnesses to the stand, knowing the defense's claims of "recanting" would be shredded.

This man killed a cop in cold blood. Good riddance.

Mark,you sound as ignorant as they come and if one were to be "putting trash in the ground" Well I reckon that you are white trash and you'd be the first that I would be grabbing!!! How's that taste on your barbie...

@maciej...if you think this way about this case I wonder what you think about the Casey Anthony case...you probably believe that she didnt kill the child...smh...when we find out who really killed the cop I wonder what you are gonna say?!

Injustice,

Tell you what. When your child is killed by a no good like this how would you feel? You and your rose colored glasses. It is all "save the poor feral animal" till it bites you or destroys something you love.

I am for Justice and Justice is served.

Not only have so many "eyewitnesses" recanted but there wasn't any forensic evidence nor was the murder weapon ever found. It isn't just cut and dry. Even some of the original jurors think they got it wrong! In cases like that, we must review what happened and make sure they got it right! We cannot kill an innocent person JUST to get vengeance for the death of that heroic police officer!

It's a sad day when we get it wrong and there is nothing we can do about it if he's dead!

He's dead...it's too late now.

It is done.

Good riddance. Anyone convicted of murder and sentenced to “life” should have their sentence converted to death. Life in prison is inhumane and is cruel and unusual punishment. Death is the humane thing to do in these cases.

This is why they acquitted Casey Anthony for killing her kid.

The cop here in Chicago who is accused of killing multiple wives...no evidence but hearsay and he is going to court. Why not the public outcry for him..Oh I forgot he is scum.

"Georgia executes Troy Davis after his last pleas fail"

Justice was served! You can whine all You want, But, He was a 'Cop killer'!

My opinion.

Shows over folks, nothing to see here, bye bye son of a biaatcch....

And I wonder why America is in the red??? How can you libs continue to CHARGE TAX PAYERS for these FAILURES??? You want ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND MURDERERS TO BE SET FREE?? This Country is falling apart but you give MORE GRATITUDE TO KILLERS??? Fu(k this tree!!!

so sad.

the death penalty is wrong. in EVERY case. murder is murder whether you're a guy in a back alley or a judge in a black robe behind a podium. in simple terms, it's like this:

KILLING IS WRONG!! KILLING IS WRONG!! YOU CAN'T KILL SOMEONE AND GET AWAY WITH IT!! KILLING IS WRONG!! oh .. so yea, we are going to KILL you.

right ...

I would be so far to say that if someone MURDRED someone in YOUR family you would give them a kiss and say thank you??

are you referring to me?

because if you are, YES i would feel the same. murder is murder. killing is killing. i don't believe in KILLING of any kind .. animals, hunters, poachers, etc.

it's not about giving them a kiss and saying thank you .. it's about respecting LIFE. if we are trying to say, "this is wrong .. but i'm going to do it to you anyway", isn't that hypocritical?

interesting that you would go there and not "kill" any bugs or anything that would cause any harm to your veggies. The world has a chain and everything is a part of it. It is sad that most libbies cannot realize this but still EAT and SURVIVE. In all reality you cannot consume ANYTHING without killing something that doesn't have a consumption livability equation before "you" the final consumer. If in all reality if you do not have any bug control what would you eat???

This is my take on this whole deal, I am against the death penalty because of the margin for error. A few years ago Gov. Ryan of Illinois a conservative Republican suspended the death penalty in Illinois due to the fact that Chicago police it had turned out had gained confessions in several cases by torturing the suspects. Illinois has since abolished the death sentence. Just as a side note if anyone has watched the ''First 48'' the police are constantly threatening the witnesses with jailtime. But I think Troy Davis is probably guilty.

Not only have so many "eyewitnesses" recanted but there wasn't any forensic evidence nor was the murder weapon ever found.

Big whoopdi do. It's not like other people haven't been convicted of murder on circumstantial evidence.

I don't think DNA testing was even available 22 years ago.

TROY DAVIS IS DEAD. JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED FOR THE FAMILY OF THE SLAIN POLICE OFFICER.

Peacelover

With all due respect, you live in a state known for the mob, mobster politics and Al Capone, Mayor Daly (?) and Obama and the governor who was busted for trying to sell Obama's senate seat.

It's a good thing that your death row inmates were spared. With all due respect, shady things happen in IL.

Not all states are like that.

Karen in Los Angeles

There is a lot of reasonable doubt in this case.

Maybe to you but HELLO - this case was heard 22 YEARS AGO!

That is the time to bring up one's innocence and the proof thereof.

NOT 22 YEARS AFTER THE FREAKING FACT.#1.108 - Wed Sep 21, 2011 9:52 PM EDT

Karen in Los Angeles,

I see that you are still politically blind.

22 years? That gave the "injustice" system 22 years to prove Troy Davis guilt - which the system did not.

Every aspect of this case - that made Troy Davis's innocence relevant - such as the fact that there was no physical evidence that linked Mr. Davis to the shooting of MacPhail, the fact that 7 of the 9 original witnesses stated that they were forced to make their original statements - recanted their testimony, the fact that the police violated the line up procedures for identifying suspects - was all declared irrelevant!

Every aspect that pointed to Mr. Davis's innocence was dismissed by our racist system. In fact, instead of Mr. Davis being declared "innocent" until proven guilty - he was told by judges on this case - that he was "guilty" until proven innocent - a total reversal of our "law."

Heavy weights, such as former FBI Director William Sessions (a pro-death penalty advocate) and 51 members of congress, defiantly stated that there was too much doubt in this case concerning Mr. Davis's guilt - and that Davis - should not be executed.

Experts on execution state that with the execution of Mr. Davis – that the MacPhail family will still not find peace - this is a phenomenon that has been studied.

The only positive thing about this case, the Troy Davis execution, is that his killing by the state of Georgia and our system - will galvanize the anti-death penalty proponents in this country.

...only in America...

...may God rest Troy Davis's soul.

EFFF you MURDERER see you later in he11 because I know these libs wont let me go to HEAVEN either.

His mother thought he was guilty. OMG. I did not know this until this second.

HIS MOTHER THINKS HE WAS GUILTY.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44592285/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/

"I'm kind of numb. I can't believe that it's really happened," MacPhail's mother, Anneliese MacPhail, said in a telephone interview from her home in Columbus, Ga. "All the feelings of relief and peace I've been waiting for all these years, they will come later. I certainly do want some peace."

Of Davis' claims of innocence, she said, "He's been telling himself that for 22 years. You know how it is, he can talk himself into anything."

So They Did It -

When Republicans Bob Barr, William Sessions former FBI directer and former Warden of this prison and Commissioner of Prisons for Georgia Mr. Allen Ault have condemned this. Mr. Ault has spent a lifetime in law enforcement and over seeing and running a prisons and over-seeing executions. UN officials and even prison guards of this very prison Ah forget it.

Mr. Ault pointed out "men of conscience" - people (country) of conscience - Mr. Ault has added his signature to a list of death row wardens from across the nation urging the government to not do this. Since when do WE seek a sadistic murder to satisfy those that have a lust for blood?

No justice here...justice has not been served in this case...even a scintilla of doubt compels us to a higher level or standard this is just reaping vengeance for others - Huh Ah Oh well. Only psychopaths and sadistic neurotics do and approve of this. Too much doubt for me.........the police showing one photo gathering the witnesses and taking in a group to the scene of the incident it totally wrong and outside reasonable fact finding.l This not an execution more analogous to murder by the government I refer to our own Sharia Court. How pitiful we must look and do to those around the world only savages would condon this - Well...........

@ Chris Post #1.34 great post and others

Fact: the ballistics did not match for the purveyor of more disinformation and fabrication I do not want to give the posters # what a piece of work

I am against the death penalty

I am not certain how I would feel about the death penalty if one of my loved one's was murdered.

I think I would prefer life in prison without parole.

But that is ME.

I believe that IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE VICTIM'S FAMILY if two punishments are available for a convicted criminal.

In this case, the family wanted the death penalty and I support them.

PeAcE LoVeR-2838047

A few years ago Gov. Ryan of Illinois a conservative Republican .....

Too funny....Ryan was NOT a conservative and barely republican. If you'd like to ask him, go visit him in jail. To use this liberal mess called Illinois as an example is also a joke. Did you know hundreds went down to protest the execution of John Wayne Gacy? (the man that killed 33 teenage boys and kept their bodies in his basement).

Why aren't Sharpton, the ACLU and the Rainbow Coalition down in Texas protesting the execution of the white supremist? Simple...they are racists.

Yeah joe he was WHITE he doesn't get any SPECIAL TREATMENT.

Aldo et al who believe that the witnesses just recanted their testamony recently, that is not true... these witnesses have recanted for years now from in the early 1990s if I am not mistaken.

It was also noted that one of the two witnesses against Davis who did not recant, one was the guy some witnesses stated later confessed to doing the killings, and apparently this guy was not interviewed by the police as a person of interest/suspect if I am not mistaken.... hmmmm

1. A police officer was killed, 2. the police find someone who fits the bill 3. and who does not have the funds to pay for top tier attorneys or mount a strong defense or additional investigation, 4. the prosecution gets going and get a conviction... 5. family of victim pleased, police pleased that a fellow officer's supposed killer is convicted, prosecution pleased that they can put a win in their column.....

Yeah..... cheers all round.... but is the newly convicted really guilty? Now that is the rub...

The re- investigation into this case have been going on for years.... and it was even shown that there was another guy who actually confessed to other people of committing the crime and other killings..... yet that guy is free to roam... and he was even one of the witnesses who testified against Davis... fingering Davis as the killer of the police officer if I am not mistaken......

Many years have passed and throughout those 22 years the case have been investigated and re-investigated by many and there is great doubt about the guilt of Davis as the person who did the crime, as many supposed witnesses have recanted their testamony back then including in court and now and where fingers have been pointed to another guy as the culprit.... to no avail.

Well Davis is executed.....now dead, cannot be brought back to life - even if later proven without the shadow of a doubt to be innocent=, and no doubt will be buried tomorrow if not sooner....as what is done at night in the dark should be buried at night in the dark when dark deeds are usually done....

So why does the 'execution' of Davis leaves such a negative feeling in most folks including some reverred high profile folks to boot, some who doubted that guilty verdit for many years..?.

Why does this 'execution' looks like more of a killing/murder by the State of Georgia in the name of its citizens, rather than the putting to death of a police officer's killer for the murder he(Davis) supposedly did one night in the dark.....?

Hope the Board of Pardons or whatev they are called, the SCOTUS and all the other folks who had a hand, imput in this 'execution' can live with the decision that they made or actiond they did not take......

Hope those family members of the murdered police officer, who actively wanted the execution to go forward, live with their feelings/decision and realize that now they will never really really know if justice was actually served- especially with all the doubt raised in this case.

Now that Davis is put to death... what now? .. Even if the other man that others said did/confessed to the crime should confess to the killing, what if anything could be done about him?

Was not it said that it is better a guilty person go free than an innocent person be executed/put to death?

Considering that I do not know the people involved and do not even live in the State of Georgia...... why do I have this feeling of deep deep sadness for what was carried out in the name of the American people at 11.08 on 9/21/11?...... (In the name of the American people because the case was appealed to the SCOTUS before the execution, and who denied the stay of execution)

Well what is done on 9/21/11 in this case cannot be undone.... and unfortunately it is doubtful if anymore info will come to light any time soon or ever.... wink wink double wink wink..... hmmm

MacPhail's widow, Joan MacPhail-Harris, said in a telephone interview from Jackson there was "nothing to rejoice," but that it was "a time for healing for all families."

My heart goes out to the McPhail family and they deserve justice for the killing of their loved one. Yet I don't think I will ever understand how putting a man to death in these circumstances is "a time for healing." An eye for an eye is not healing, it is revenge.

With a lack of physical evidence, no DNA, and recanting witnesses, it is possible that Mr. Davis was innocent. And better than anyone else, the McPhail family should understand that it is impossible to get back an innocent life lost.

I wholeheartedly agree. It's nothing more than revenge. You kill my loved one I want you dead as well. Revenge defined is "the action of inflicting hurt or harm on someone for a wrong suffered at their hands." In this case, it is not undoubtedly clear if this cop suffered any wrong at Davis's hand.

There is One glaring fact that not one single person on this thread nor ANYWHERE in the United States can wipe off of themselves at this point or ever in the rest of their life and that is that each and every single one of us are possibly guilty of murder!!!
If it comes out later in maybe a death bed confession or thru evidence that proves 100% that Troy Davis was in fact innocent (there is every reason in the world to keep any and all evidence that would prove his innocence hidden until after his execution) then every single one of us as Americans are just as guilty of murder as any street thug, drug kingpin or even Hitler!!!
THAT MY FRIENDS IS A COLD HARD FACT, and there isn't enough soap in the world to wash that fact off of just the pinky finger of even one of us!!!!!
I don't know about anyone else but I don't like that name hung around my neck, especially in the name of so called 'justice"! Justice has not one thing to do with it, it is nothing more than revenge in this case! I support the death penalty in cases where there is absolutely no question of the persons guilt, but in a shaky case such as this one I can't believe that they actually went thru with it!
If he was innocent there is one more lesson to be learned as well from this and that is that it couldn't be any single one of us in his shoes at any point in time! just think about it for a minute, if it were you in his shoes and you had been accused tried, convicted and sentenced to death and you knew that you didn't commit the crime for which you are getting ready to die and you look outside at the crowd gathered and the bigger part of them are running in circles with their knuckles dragging the ground all the while screaming for your death to come as quickly as possible!!! Sounds like a nightmare doesn't it!!! It just may have been for one yesterday!!!!

Excuse me but I know for a fact that I am not guilty of murder in no way, fashion, or form. How did you arrive at this conclusion? Do explain.

I purposely decided not to follow this article yesterday, and now I'm glad I didn't. I am digusted and in utter disappointment at the amount of hate, and lack of common sense in this thread. The most hate coming from those who claim to want to spare Troy.

Troy had 22 years more life than this Officer. If there was really compelling evidence to reverse the conviction, the courts would have taken it up. Therefore, we have a bunch of people who are willing to ignore the facts and grasp onto any straw that fits their personal belief system. How is that intelligent and responsible?

To believe the Death Penalty is uncivilized is insane. This is another example of how we continue to go farther down the road where no one is responsible for their actions. Facing the Death Penalty is the choice an offender makes for choosing to kill another. Society choosing instead to give him 3 hots and a cot for the rest of his life and spend millions of taxpayer money in appeals is what is crazy and lacking in responsibility.

Justice? Cops assassinate a schizophrenic man in Cal. and they get charged with manslaughter? While there is doubt the Ga. black man killed a white cop he gets executed? Justice only for the worthy????

In the end the court refused to stop the execution, despite calls for clemency from former President Jimmy Carter

What were they, the jury of the original trial (7 blacks and 5 whites for those that think this was a racially motivated verdict or maybe you think that black people don't have the faculties to sit on a jury), the Georgia State Supreme Court, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, the US Supreme Court, etc... ad nauseum, thinking? Jimmy Carter wanted clemency! It's fine if you are against the death penalty. Say it and make that your argument. Don't say this guy was innocent and give as your proof it's because Jimmy Carter, Amnesty International, Mr. Davis, his family, and assorted celebrities said so. Read the trial transcripts and note that there were 34 witnesses not just 9. 7 of those supposed recanting were just statements that said they couldn't say with certainty that they could identify Davis as the killer today. After 20+ years I don't believe any of us could say they remembered with 100% certainty what you saw. They also didn't say it was someone else. A piece of human excrement is gone. Now the family of the victim can get on with their lives that have been held hostage for 22 years. Justice as been served.

I'm pro-death penalty, but if there is a circumstance where new evidence, or significant doubt is established, it should be given due diligence.

Totally agree. I support the death penalty in some cases, but if you're going to execute someone, you should be as sure as possible the person is guilty. If new evidence turns up, or witnesses recant, you can't ignore that.

And we call this a nation of christians... WWJD?

Davis was tried, convicted and executed on less evidence than Casey Anthony was declared "not guilty" on. Where is the justice in our justice system when, at the hour of execution, the decision is made that no more evidence can be introduced even if there is a chance the person being executed is innocent? It's just too much trouble? They've had time to introduce it? Gosh, a cop was killed, somebody has to pay? Well, Florida couldn't get Casey Anthony, so we will kill Davis in her place. What a disgrace.

I support the death penalty, but I think the standard for guilt should be higher than in this case. There has to be physical evidence... it can't just be based on eyewitness accounts if they are conflicting.

I saw one comment above saying I'd think differently if it was my loved one who was killed... well, I suppose such a commenter would feel differently if they were the one falsely accused of pulling the trigger.

And am with the second commenter, with a caveat, if we've put to death innocent people we should ditch capitol punishment... except in exceptionally clear cases such as terrorists like Tim McVeigh, serial killers, or exceptionally heinous crimes where there is a direct physical link between the criminal and the crime.

Peter Jacobs

Justice? Cops assassinate a schizophrenic man in Cal. and they get charged with manslaughter? While there is doubt the Ga. black man killed a white cop he gets executed? Justice only for the worthy????

One of the (former) officers is charged with second degree murder.

Marueen - You were sitting in those jury boxes for either trial, and are resting upon what the media says, and what someone with an agenda has said.

No one here can say for certain what was done or said in court. I have yet to see any media outlet post (not talking about sites advocating one way or another for Troy) about the actual evidence, all of the evidence. You mean to tell me that people who have been in the judicial system for decades missed the fact that this guy is innocent based upon a number of witnesses now recanting their testimony. Are people actually putting their entire belief and chastizing a system, all be it a little flawed, from what a number of lawyers, who are defending this guy, have declared and want the public to believe? If you don't believe in the death penalty, great. If you want an inmate to kill people, and receive better housing and health care than those in the military, that's fine too. If you want killers, who don't care what you think, and will kill you for the five dollars in your pocket to get to play their playstations all day while you work to support them, even better. I don't care that you value their rights over yours. But what kind of person thinks a "prison sentence" of 20, 30, 50 years or just life in prison is more humane? Putting a man behind bars and removing their freedom is just another form of taking their life. They are not dead, but they're not living.

There's a difference between the facts brought up during trial, and the facts that come up later and are specifically excluded from retrial, or no retrial is ever granted.

And I'm not defending the guy... I'm just against the death penalty... and maybe not for this guy, but for some other guy, or even you, who may one day be convicted based on flimsy evidence...

If there is no direct physical connection to the crime, and witnesses keep changing their stories, then the death penalty should be excluded as an option. That's just me thinking beyond this case though.

Seems to me the jury was convinced that Mr. Davis was guilty when they sentenced him to die two years later. Funny, I don't see anyone disputing the fact that Mr. Davis shot someone else in the face earlier in the night. But we all know that his intent was not to kill the guy he shot in the FACE.

Troy had 22 years more life than this Officer. If there was really compelling evidence to reverse the conviction, the courts would have taken it up. Therefore, we have a bunch of people who are willing to ignore the facts and grasp onto any straw that fits their personal belief system. How is that intelligent and responsible?

I completely agree.

Mark - re> 1.151 there is already a standard for criminal vs civil matters.

For a criminal case, the standard is beyond a reasonable doubt.

For a civil case, it is based on the preponderance of the evidence.

The jury in the Troy Davis case WERE CONVINCED HE WAS GUILTY BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.

Re: the Fullerton police who were criminallly charged 1.152 - there were two police officers charged - one with murder (I think 2nd degree) and the other with manslaughter. So the person who posted that was correct.

Re; evidence after the trial 1.154, the point is that evidence has to be brought to the trial - NOT AFTER THE TRIAL. But, we believe in truth, justice and the American way so if there is COMPELLING evidence to reopen the trial, then there is compelling evidence. That is so rare it's not worth banking your life on.

Troy Davis was convicted of murder. I think he murdered that police officer and so does Troy Davis' mother. I posted her quote. His own mother thinks he was guilty.

I'm with the poster who said - if you are against the death penalty - argue against it but don't use this person as your poster child because he murdered a police officer.

YAY Georgia! Way to go, we do the same here in Texas. Money shouldnt be spent on these kinds of people to feed and board them. Stick it to em. That is showing more mercy than they showed their victim and deserve. We got some jerks on death row here in Texas for dragging a black man behind their truck. You think they don't deserve the same treatment they showed that man. I do, tie em up and drag them behind their own truck lethal injection is too kind.

Oh BooHoo BooHoo.

Yet I don't think I will ever understand how putting a man to death in these circumstances is "a time for healing." An eye for an eye is not healing, it is revenge.

You are entitled to your point of view. Just be aware that a majority of Americans support the death penalty.

I don't know what I would prefer if one of my loved ones was murdered - life in prison without parole or the death penalty - however I believe it should be up to the victim's family.

And you have no right to call it revenge. That is disgusting that you would position their justice as revenge. How dare you.

I hope you never experience what this family did and I thank the Lord that they actually found the murderer of their family member so they could get justice.

Don't you ever call it revenge because it was not revenge.

We got some jerks on death row here in Texas for dragging a black man behind their truck. You think they don't deserve the same treatment they showed that man. I do, tie em up and drag them behind their own truck lethal injection is too kind.

And one of them was executed yesterday. GOOD RIDDANCE.

The murderer was shown a lot more mercy than his victim. I completely agree with you.

It's too bad you all couldn't drag him behind a truck on a broken asphalt until he died. That would be an eye for an eye Lizzie.

I totally agree Karen.

Karen from LA is the only one with any sense!!! I applaud you Karen, right to the point and right on.
No one else seemed to pick up on the fact that his own mother knew he was guilty; he told her the truth, but the lawyers get paid to keep it going.

Wow. Are you like Sybil or what?

I agree with you that justice and revenge are in two different galaxies, but sister...chill out...your ugly is showing.

If new evidence turns up, or witnesses recant, you can't ignore that.

They didn't ignore that. What EVERYONE who is posting issues about the witnesses recanting doesn't realize is they are being played, and just regurgitating talking points. The witnesses didn't recant their testimony, and weren't even put on the stand TO recant.

People should do a bit of research when they hear something such as this to see what the actual case is. Unfortunately as evidenced here, that rarely happens.

As to the death penalty, my personal opinion is that it shouldn't be used for a deterrant- it doesn't work as such. It should instead be used to alleviate a burden from taxpayers, someone who has invalidated their claim to life by invalidating someone elses. It is considered more expensive for a death penalty sentence currently due to the bells and whistles- change the system around a bit and that will fix THAT problem. Make it harder to get the death penalty (for instance- Brian Nichols is a PRIME candidate...) but once obtained, six months of dwell time then an inexpensive bullet through the back of the skull.

Problem solved. Not for retribution, not for deterrance- to rid the planet of the rabid animals that are a danger to others, and have no chance of ever being able to cope with society.

Karen, did you pay ANY attention to what you were reading? It was not Davis' mother who thought he was guilty, but the mother of the police officer who was killed. Look at your own post. MacPhail's mother, NOT Davis'.

As for all of you who say he had 22 years to prove his innocence, perhaps you need to do some research into overturning death sentences. It is almost impossible, even in cases where the evidence clearly shows that the person is not guilty. People HAVE been put to death when they were innocent. Read about Cameron Willingham. His is the strongest case of an innocent man being executed that I have found. Yes, it does happen.

And for those of you who say, well, he was there, so he must be guilty. Not true. Here's a scenario. You and your boyfriend are out cruising on a Saturday night. You pull into a Mini Mart. While you're getting your Big Gulp, he robs the store, and in the process shoots and kills the clerk. If you KNEW he was going to rob the store, then you are an accessory and considered as guilty as him. But if you had no idea he was going to rob the store, then you are nothing more than a witness, though you may have a tough time proving it, and could end up in prison, even death row, for something you had nothing to do with. Don't scoff, it has happened.

Please folks, I don't mind dissenting opinions, but I would hope, before people post their opinions, they take a few minutes to do just a little research to make sure they have the facts straight.

And I've had my own kids admit to doing wrong just to fast forward to the hereafter, Karen. I don't discredit your obvious knowledge of the legal system, but as a parent, I assure you it DOES HAPPEN that a child will take blame for something he or she never did.

As a mother, I also have heard plenty of denials when I had overwhelming evidence of guilt.

As a mother, I have seen two of my kids swear the older girl did something, only to find out they were MISTAKEN because the MIDDLE daughter borrowed the older daughter's jacket. These two kids later recanted, admitting they never saw her face.

Without seeing the actual depositions which had been recanted, I cannot fairly judge Troy's innocence or guilt. But I can assure you of this: 1) There is a lot of corruption in the police force. I take every word said by an officer of the law with an entire shaker of salt. 2) Most criminals on death row deny guilt. Most, also, eventually stop denying, choosing to say nothing. 3) Too many times, a convicted felon has later been found to be innocent. They released him or her once the discovery was made. How can we release Troy, should we find out his denials were factual? We done him in. There's no undo button for death.

Tina - who are you to judge another person's temperment?

I'm a blob on the board. Stick to your opinion and leave me out of it.

Karen from LA, re your comment

His mother thought he was guilty. OMG. I did not know this until this second.

HIS MOTHER THINKS HE WAS GUILTY.

Anneliese McPhail is the VICTIM's mother, not Troy Davis's mother.

"Legal professionals" like you ought to get an important detail like that right.

zanilth - no one will know what the cases "truly" is unless they are privy to that... and to be privy to that you probably have to be in the legal profession, in that jurisdiction, or know someone who is.

No different than the McDonald's lawsuit from years ago - no one knew that whole case...not even me until I went to school ;)

So, what I believe is that the testimony was probably recanted during some sort of pre-trial deposition or prep, sentencing trial or the like.

Karen...just calling it like I see it...lol That's pretty much all you can do here - no judgment.

..::raven::.., respecting life huh. You think thats what criminals think about before/when they commit their acts of violence? I was raised you gotta give it to get it. He got it allright.
"No gun, no dna, no blah blah blah....", He gave the gun to one of the "witnesses" that probably helped put him to death. Or his buddy "Redd" that testified against him to save his own as$. Why didn't he get the bed beside him? He obviously did nothing to stop it. Read up on it and then ask yourself if he was a model citizen. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy_Davis_case

Just because it was a black guy in Ga is enough to question the validity of anything about this case and enough reason NOT to use the death penalty.

I hope the people that carried out this execution, the judges, the lawyers, the mother of the victim, are all religious and that there really is something as idiotic as a christian god just so I can know they will be going to hell. None of them are any better than any other murderer.

And while I feel for the mother for the loss of her son.. I do! That woman is a horrible person! Just about everything she said was Me Me Me. I am this, I am that, we are this, we are that. She didn't care about the LOGIC of his guilt/innocence. She just said 'I feel he did this'. Whoever shot her son felt he was doing what he needed to do also, that doesn't make it right! Hell, she couldn't even tell you the name of the other person that got killed that night, supposedly by Davis. After 20 years she can't even bother to know that person's name? Selfish.

This whole thing is just disgusting and makes me ashamed to be a human being.

no one will know what the cases "truly" is unless they are privy to that...

There is considerable information on this case available, but the media isn't giving it to you. You have to look up the information on the case to obtain the entire story- such as the fact that the 'recanted statements' weren't actual recantations, but a ploy from the defense team. I doubt this was a sealed trial, so the information is public record. It does require work- which most people are too lazy to do, instead will listen for one talking point that inspires emotion and run with it (which is exactly what it is intended to do- make ignorant people who don't bother to go look up the public record go up in arms, and HOPEFULLY save his ass- it didn't work for him.)

JEREMY-

To easily sum it up, it's well known (and has never been contested) that Davis was present at the murder. If he were innocent, he at least knows who did the killings. IF his freedom and life didn't mean enough to him to turn over on the true criminal (assuming he were innocent) then obviously his buddy meant a lot to him, and he was willing to take the needle for him. From what I understand, he wasn't cooperative with prosecutors when they asked along that line, because there was no one else who shot the cop.

Just because it was a black guy in Ga is enough to question the validity of anything about this case and enough reason NOT to use the death penalty.

Sorry- not everyone is racist like you are. 7 of the 12 jurors AND the judge over his trial were black. If there were any implications of racism or bias during the issue, it would have been exposed during the numerous appeals. Hell, had his OWN ATTORNEY not mounted a sufficient defense, it would have been noted AND probably used to try to get him off. I'm surprised his attorney didn't try that route- but he probably wasn't interested in soiling his name to save a murderer.

From Karen:

Troy Davis was convicted of murder. I think he murdered that police officer and so does Troy Davis' mother. I posted her quote. His own mother thinks he was guilty.

"I'm kind of numb. I can't believe that it's really happened," MacPhail's mother, Anneliese MacPhail, said in a telephone interview from her home in Columbus, Ga. "All the feelings of relief and peace I've been waiting for all these years, they will come later. I certainly do want some peace."

Of Davis' claims of innocence, she said, "He's been telling himself that for 22 years. You know how it is, he can talk himself into anything."

Read it again, Karen. The man who was convicted of murder's name is Davis. The man who was killed's name is MacPhail. Whose mother is this, then? I've bolded the part that you so conveniently overlooked or simply misread because you wanted the quote SO BADLY to support your belief.

I was involved in a murder trial as a juror some years back. I was only on the jury briefly, until removed by defendant's challenge (ironically, I think it was because my husband had been the victim of a violent crime), but I attended the entire trial in the audience.

Similar to this case, the murder weapon had not been found and there was a lot of circumstantial evidence pointing toward the defendant, who had a previous record. There was a second person involved in the crime who could also not be found. Nevertheless, the jury convicted the defendant, a young white man in a northern city.

I was heartsick because I was sure he was innocent, based on what I had seen in court, especially the doubts raised by the absence of the murder weapon and the second person. About 5 years later, the second person was found, as was the murder weapon, and the original defendant was exonerated. He had served those intervening years in a maximum security prison; at least he had not been executed.

When doubt exists, best not to kill. No matter how much the victim's family wants "peace."

zanilth - what's available is the 2009 Supreme Court opinion. Interesting read...I recommend it.

However - does not give anyone all of the information to a trial. Unless there's court transcript out there you can direct up to....

One less low-life piece of @!$%#, breathing our air. I'm sure all you sobbing liberals would change your tune, if it was one of your loved ones that Troy had executed. The guy should be buried in a landfill, like the garbage he was.

I know you libs just hate state sactioned executions. How about if we just say Troy was aborted in the 129th trimester? Nothing makes a liberal happier, than an abortion paid for with tax dollars.

Now, before you call me a Cristian fanatic, let me tell you that I have absolutely no religious beliefs. I would just prefer that my taxes be used to execute a low-life, for killing a police officer, than a baby for having the bad luck of having parents, that are to stupid to use birth-control.

Having read the stories from the case, I now know the one person whose deposition would have been most damning was Dorothy. She was a shoplifter who, later, recanted her story, insisting she felt coerced by the police to name Davis as the shooter. Three people stated the guy who actually shot the cop was the one beating the homeless guy, not Davis. Even the ballistics tester stated the casing found at the MacPhail murder "possibly" could have been the same as the ones used to hit the guy in the car (Cooper?) The guy in the car, though, said Davis didn't know him well enough to want him dead.

This evidence was NOT admissible in the appeals because it was "new evidence". He was poorly defended by a strapped legal system and was never allowed a new trial.

His mother was NOT the one who stated he confessed to the crime. His entire neighborhood was under seige by a local drug system whose business was derailed by the investigation. The neighborhood wanted the seige to end and named Davis to pull the heat from them. They, too, stated the police put pressure on them to name Davis.

My heart bleeds for the MacPhail family, but I do not know if they truly were served justice, or if, instead, justice were just diverted. A man died...a fine man died. And now, in retaliation, another one...albeit less fine...died. I do not believe the case was presented in a method which would have afforded Davis true justice.

This case smells like corruption.

danp, I say the same about you.

Oh, and your assumptions are wrong. Bye, and.. thx for playing the game of who can make themselves look the ugliest in public.

I hope the the family members of the cop who watched the execution have nightmares for the rest of their lives after having watched a human being be killed. Watching a person die is horrible enough but, being killed? I cant imagine. They may have their revenge but, they wont have peace. The cops mother said that now Troys family can feel what its like to lose someone. Grief is horrible but, she is a horrible, horrible woman for wanting that. Its not enough they got an eye for an eye but now she wants all of his to suffer as well? Its sickening.

I dont care if the case was originally from 55 years ago if major pieces of it came to doubt. The death penalty for a crime "proven" with circumstancial evidence to begin with is gross.

A lot of people are asking "what if it was your son or mother? Trying to get support for the death penaly. How can anyone give a difinitive answer to a hypothetical question? Its so easy to be pissed off and full of grief and act irrational. Civilized societies are not ruled by emotions. Crimes are not about how the crime has made everyone else FEEL. The crime is in the ACT. The death penalty is not there to make people FEEL better so, I feel sorry for anyone who would.

It would be nice if everyone started agreeing that we are all HUMAN BEINGS be us blac/white, rich/poor, student/criminal, cop/robber.

Thank you, danp, for your thoughtful and reasoned contribution to this discussion.

The problem is that is it highly doubtful that Troy actually "executed" anyone's loved one. There are numerous documented cases of similar errors within the system -- you really cannot deny that. In a case with so much doubt, and based on circumstantial rather than actual physical evidence, why not incarcerate rather than kill the alleged criminal?

If Troy were your loved one, you might think about it a bit differently I should think.

I think sometimes the most powerful emotion for a victim's family is that somebody pay for the crime. So, when a person is charged, the family latches on to that person as the killer. You see this repeatedly, with the victim's family sitting in the front row at a trial and demanding a conviction, before guilt or innocence has even been established according to our judicial system. The fact that numerous mistaken convictions have been documented does not matter. It is about revenge and retribution.

The sad thing is, I doubt that the McPhail family will find the peace they crave. It does not matter if their son's killer is dead. It is their son' s death that hurts them and that will never change.

So Carrie, you "hope the family members of the cop who watched the execution have nightmares for the rest of their lives after watching a human being be killed". I'm sure you'd be pleased to know, that some of them have been having nightmares for 20 years, thinking about your buddy Troy murdering their loved one. You get the "bleeding heart of the day" award, for hating on the victims family, while weeping for the murderer.

The more i read the arguments about the case it seems pretty clear cut that there should have been a stay on his sentance with so much confusion over the evidence that i wonder how could they continue with the execution.

Then I investigate the facts of the case and it seems even more clear cut that this man is guilty of crimes worthy of the death penalty if one exists.

Troy Davis is now gone and this trial is over but what needs to happen now is a serious disccusion about the existance of the death penalty itself instead of the arguing emotions versus facts of this case.

Funny how vengance works isnt it? She wants Troy to die because her son did AND she wants his family to feel her pain...even thought THEY didnt do anything wrong. And now Im hoping she has nighmares for having such a vengeful heart.

Really, I just mean I hope she realizes that wishing vengance on everyone because she has suffered a loss is counterproductive.

You dont know anything about me so, how you you be so sure to know what Id be pleased with? And you surely dont know who my buddies are. I didnt say I hated the victims family or that I weep for their loved ones murderer. I am however disgusted sometimes by human nature...Things such as vengance at all costs, allowing emotion to get in the way of legal systems, etc.

You can call me whatever you like but, it wont make your opinion any more "right" than mine.

Karen,

What you know of due process couldn't even fill a dixie cup and anybody with more then half a brain realizes that. No wonder you're so ignorant, if everytime you hear something you don't like, or that messes with the pre-conceived notions that make up your comfort bubble you respond with "Well I just don't believe that..."

Riddle me this, counselor, if the justice system is infallible, and nothing ever goes wrong, than do you make the claim that no innocent man has ever been put to death or incarcerated? Because if your reasoning for Mr. Davis having been guilty is because the appeals upheld the decision and the process was exhausted therefore he must have done it, well everyone who goes to death row has gone through that system. Ergo, your logic, or lack thereof, says that no one has ever been wrongfully convicted.

Do the world a favor, please, you can have your opinions all you want, but cease trying to play yourself off as some authority. No one's buying it.

Very nice Sarah!! This man was not afforded his due process. The supposed "victim" that he was "beating" recanted his statement. He voiced the truth of the matter when he stood up and told the truth. The truth? They withheld medical treatment for his injuries until he gave positive ID as being the now deceased, MR. Davis. Anyone that wants information about people incarcerated and/or executed, contact Barry Scheck or Peter Nuefeld at the "Innocence Project". It's quite an eye opener. What was done last night is as barbaric as you people licking your chops and rubbing your hands together while you rejoice in it. This is a mockery of our justice system. Due Process was not afforded. The fact that the witness who ID'd Mr. Davis was not given medical treatment until his positive ID of the now deceased is stuff from the "Dark Ages". Sickening!!!

Wow, MSNBC. You DO realize that the very way you conduct your business and the lies that you spew to the world thru your shows is more in violation of morality then the people you ban from your oh-so-precious forums cause of your half-heartedly lame CoH that you enforce when you choose to, right? You DO realize that any moral high ground that you are trying to ride with that joke is seen by everyone as just that.. a joke.. right?

Please tell me you DO have some sense of your insolence.. please?

Pardon me. I admit I made a mistake and called the victim's mother the CRIMINAL MURDERER'S mother.

I have a lot more class and dignity than several posters who have the gall to call me all sorts of names.

I NEVER call anyone names. It does nothing to promote my position or point of view.

If I did call people names, it would mean that I am insecure and have nothing to say. That goes for you too.

All that says about YOU is that YOU are bullies but thank goodness I have a thick skin. Some people commit suicide when bullied.

Re: Troy Davis. I am glad that the victim's family received justice and I believe he is guilty. Justice has been served.

Karen

"If I did call people names, it would mean that I am insecure and have nothing to say. That goes for you too."

This is not true. I have strong opinions on just about everything that are hard to argue with but if an idiot is an idiot, I am still gonna call them an idiot. And part of the reason I do that is hardly because I am insecure and have nothing to say. It is because I am arrogant and I search for a challenge to my argument to help me improve or correct my argument and because I get frustrated with people who choose to lie to themselves about the facts because of predisposed biases they have been raised to coddle and that frustrates me to no end. There ARE answers to these problems. Every problem has one best answer to resolving it. Find those answers, ignore the crap. But, to say that calling people names is because one is insecure or has nothing to say is something you just tell yourself to feel some false sense of superiority. Bzz, logic fail. Thx for playing.

"If I did call people names, it would mean that I am insecure and have nothing to say. That goes for you too."

This is not true

Yes it is true. Go ask a shrink. The reason why people attack others is because of an insecurity they feel within themselves.

They believe that that attack will belittle the person being attacked to make the attacker look powerful in comparison.

Shrinks call it projection. Whatever you say about another person is actually how you feel about yourself.

I did not read the rest of your post because I already know that I am correct.

Troy Davis is dead. Justice has been served. I'm done with this topic.

PS - ANYONE who attacks others as their mode of "posting an opinion" is ignored by me.

I just click the exclamation point and click ignore this author.

It clears the space on the screen because I don't see their posts but I do see the posts of people trying to make a point.

@Karen in Los Angeles:

And you have no right to call it revenge. That is disgusting that you would position their justice as revenge. How dare you.

I hope you never experience what this family did and I thank the Lord that they actually found the murderer of their family member so they could get justice.

Don't you ever call it revenge because it was not revenge.

You're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine. I have a right to say what I think just as you have a right to voice your thoughts. I believe an eye for an eye is revenge. You can twist my words to make it seem as though I'm positioning the McPhails' justice as revenge but that doesn't mean you're correct or accurate in your re-positioning of my thoughts. After all, if Troy Davis was truly innocent, then they did not get their justice, did they?

What you don't have the right to do, Karen, is dictate to me or anyone else what we can or cannot call something, or dictate how we express our opinions. Maybe you think it's just a way of expressing your outrage at my thoughts, but it really doesn't make for a reasonable, rational discussion.

Then again, maybe it's not reasonable, rational discussion that you're looking for. Given your comment, "It's too bad you all couldn't drag him behind a truck on a broken asphalt until he died." and other gems, perhaps you're just looking for attention, an outlet for anger, or something else. You come across as a bully, Karen, not as someone who wants to discuss her well-considered opinions. If that's the case, bluster away. The ignore button is easy to find.

@Karen

Yes. Cause the most mature way to handle something you don't like is to stick your fingers in your ears and go "LALALALALA". That makes you no better. Soo, what you are saying is you are weak and cannot handle ANY kind of confrontation. That's just... sad. It is no wonder, then, that your opinions are what they are.

*facepalm*

Simply put- people were lied to by the media for the sensationalism effect.

http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=46347

And another column going over information that the media isn't revealing about the case.

http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/09/21/there-is-no-travesty-of-justice-in-georgia-executive-troy-davis/

Regarding the bloody shorts- Davis claimed he ran away before/right as the first shot was fired. He wasn't close enough, and never claimed to have went to the officer's defense. Did he just go roll around in his blood for @!$%#s and giggles?

Karen in Los Angeles

I am against the death penalty

I am not certain how I would feel about the death penalty if one of my loved one's was murdered.

I think I would prefer life in prison without parole.

But that is ME.

I believe that IT SHOULD BE UP TO THE VICTIM'S FAMILY if two punishments are available for a convicted criminal.

In this case, the family wanted the death penalty and I support them.

Karen in Los Angeles,

It should not be up to the victim's family to decide the punishment of the accused.

The victim's family is over flowing with emotions.

People who are in mental states of extreme emotions - cannot objectively decide what is justice. Nor, can these people objectively decide - what is an injustice!

Many empirical studies conducted by researchers on the death penalty - have found that the death penalty is overwhelmingly and discriminatorily applied to African Americans, Latinos, and poor Caucasians.

Karen...are you stating that folks of other classes - just happen to be perfect and do not commit crimes that merit prosecution and imprisonment?

If so, let me remind you of the criminals that continue to comfortably sit - in their swivel-back leather chairs - on Wall Street.

Upon deep and critical examination, law students - yes, law students - have been able to prove the innocence of inmates who were maliciously prosecuted by prosecutors - and ultimately convicted by juries.

This inhumane and barbaric practice should be outlawed in the United States.

However, the outlawing of the Death Penalty in the U.S. probably will not happen.

We have too many backwards thinking people in our country.

Well stated. The Believers in the US have not changed since landing here in 1492. Still carrying on with the archaic beliefs that got them kicked out of Europe.

Cygnus,

It is a known fact that criminals continue to commit crimes in jail. They commit crimes against correction staff, against other inmates, and in fact it is known that criminals/gangs can still "reach" into the streets even locked in solitary confinement 23 hours a day.

So your life in jail position does not work.

Furthermore, the only reason death penalty is expensive is because of countless court appeals. However, the point is that plenty of our criminals should not even be afforded the extra appeals after a death penalty worthy conviction. I submit that if a violent criminal (lets say with several violent criminal convictions in his past) is found guilty of murder, or rape, or attempted murder they go straight to death penalty. No point in wasting money on his appeals.

If the evidence is extremely clear, or if the violent criminal has a long history, then goodbye. I understand the argument about perhaps killing an innocent person, but that is not the case the majority of the time. Nobody is so unlucky that they are going to be wrongfully convicted of rape when they are 20, then wrongfully convicted of kidnapping when they are 30, and then wrongfully convicted again for another incident. By the time someone racks up several violent felonies, it is time for them to die.

Much so...

And he looks like such a nice guy.

Yeah. A fine, upstanding citizen no doubt.

Pfffffffft.

Carol

No doubt the police officers family felt the same way as you do.."what a travesty" except he's been dead for over 20 years now. Where's his justice??

Yep! Mumia, OJ, and this guy are all innocent. HA!!!

The american Democracy BOUGHT O.J. His Freedom

Same as The WEALTHY Scam from GOP Melt Down from 2007 till NOW.............

Lizzie63

Yep! Mumia, OJ, and this guy are all innocent. HA!!!

hell....EVERYONE in prison is innocent - just ask them

...or their mama

Nice Stereotype

great GOP Propaganda though..............................

ever been in the joint?

...and who's GOP?

Not me...

OLD GOP 1960

Nice Stereotype

great GOP Propaganda though..............................

and furthermore, during the trail of the guy who attempted to murder my brother, I had to listen to his idiot family members take the stand to attest to his "character" and hear them say that they thought the charges were "false"

....go find some other sucker to preach to

"He was judged" by people that were coerced into telling the judge and jury lies. His "appear;""couldn't confined the judge" that 7 of the 9 people that recanted their testimony did not make a difference. Just like George Bush Jr and his "weapons of mass destruction" Saddam "had". It is the same thing, people that will not listen to reason have to bear tne ENTIRE COST OF THEIR BAD DECISION. When this guy is proved to be innocent AFTER HE IS MURDERED I believe the judge AND prosecutor should be tried for murder, convicted, and sent to have their own "little injection cocktail.

old gop this story has nothing to do with the gop, get a life and get over it

Yes what a travesty that a police officer was gunned down.

As for this man being sentenced to death, I have to ask all of the "Christians" out there if they agree with this man being sentenced to death? If you don't agree with it then I have to ask why? I mean you were taught that Heaven is a glorious place where you feel no pain, sorrow or any other "bad" feelings. I for one would rather face that reality than sitting behind bars waiting for the grim reaper to come calling.

I never understood why Christians get so worked up over a death when they are suppose to dedicate their lives to living by the lords word and if they do they will be rewarded by being able to go to heaven. So being put to death is bad how for this guy??????

Dano If you want someone dead, than you are no better than the murderer himself. Killing someone doesn't give you justice, it just gives you revenge. Wanting to see an innocent person dead, is just being a cold blooded individual.

"No doubt the police officers family felt the same way as you do.."what a travesty" except he's been dead for over 20 years now. Where's his justice??"

There is no justice in executing a person who is possibly innocent.

The fact that it has taken 20 years is not justice, it's a travesty as no case should still be open for 20 years. I don't know the specifics of the case, but they should decided a long time ago to put his to death or not. Our system is not perfect, but it is the only thing that is keeping the lid of the Pandora box as society is shaky as it is. Either carry out his sentence or let him go!

Steve columbus- Nobody is wanting "to see an innocent person dead"......just the guilty ones. And it is not "revenge" it is justice.

@HChris - the fact is there is a young man that is not possibly dead, he is DEAD. Our justice system has given Davis 22 years of the benefit of the doubt. Do you know what the definition of insanity is?? It's doing the exact same thing over and over again and expecting the outcome to change. The possibility of Davis being a murder is a fact!!!!!!!

I believe that the death penalty is justified in some cases. But I always say better let one criminal go free than to let an innocent man die.

Why couldn't his death sentence been commuted to a life sentence by now? It's been 22 years.

Why couldn't his death sentence been commuted to a life sentence by now? It's been 22 years.

Yes, it's been 22 years! And in 22 years there has never been anything that has proven him innocent!!

LKessler- Why??? Because it is the law........

"He has had ample time to prove his innocence," said MacPhail's widow, Joan MacPhail-Harris. "And he is not innocent."

Wrong Miss MacPhail. He wanted to take a polygraph test and his request was denied. So how can he prove his innocence if he can't get the tools to prove it. You want to be mad at someone, be mad at the LYING witnesses who recanted their stories and, if true, the police that provoked them to lie.

Jasmine -- why did he wait 22 years to ask for a polygraph? His defense attorneys could have set one up when he was first accused. Why did they wait until the 11th hour? Why didn't they have one done prior to any of the appeals as further evidence to his innocence? Seems kinda late in the game to me to be asking for a polygraph -- AFTER the original trial, AFTER all the court appeals, AFTER all the legal means to stop the execution have been exhausted. Doesn't that seem odd?

I love the fact that Troy Davis had undoubtably shot someone in the face in that same period of time, but we all want to focus on whether or not he shot the cop instead.

I cannot see how you people can make such hateful comments. I knew this man. He came from a single parent family and overcame so much. Over three years I spent mentoring this young man and saw each step of progress he made. He was just getting his life together to enter GED classes and then this happened. A terrible case of mistaken identity. Anyone who wants a reference of character for this guy please feel free to contact me.

Mark in Chicago

Manager

Lincoln Park Zoo Primate House.

does it matter? he'd guilty and he is DEAD. next? watching some of the video and looking at the stills of the man... if he was wrongly accused, i dont think he would have the expressions he had while on the stand. worry? anger? Nope, -smug-. if you innocent and falsely accused, any expression other than worry, concern... thats all i saw looking at the pics: a smug perp. the last one is telling enough: content to know he will die... so again. next subject?

what can we say at this point? Other then the fact that this happened in the south and our lunatic right wing Christians are in charge.....they definitely scare me.

And Roy Orbison "Crying over you" Thanks for saving me about $45000/year to keep this scum in jail.

The judicial system has been wrong many times in the past, esp. when it was a black male. I wonder if a white male would have received a better response to his appeal, then did this man. If the prisoner is innocent, then the family will never feel or know that justice was served honorably. They will be guilty of killing an innocent man and have that on their conscience for the rest of their lives as well. Because we are all human subject to error repetitively, there should not be a death penalty. A murdered person's job should never mandate the death penalty as well. Any life taken is just as valuable of a person as the next.

An Independent Thinker,

When does the thinking start?

The judicial system has been wrong many times in the past, esp. when it was a black male.

The original court that tried Davis, with a jury of 7 blacks and 5 whites, found him guilty and sentenced him to die (unless you don't think that counted because you're one of those people that don't think black people can sit in judgment on trials. Better for them to drink out of a separate water fountain, sit in the back of the bus, and be refused service in restaurants, eh?) The case was also reviewed by the Georgia State Supreme Court, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia, and the US Supreme Court. So all of them had it in for this black man is what you're saying? Might want to take the thinking part out of your moniker.

"@HChris - the fact is there is a young man that is not possibly dead, he is DEAD. Our justice system has given Davis 22 years of the benefit of the doubt. Do you know what the definition of insanity is?? It's doing the exact same thing over and over again and expecting the outcome to change. The possibility of Davis being a murder is a fact!!!!!!!"

The truth is, trial by jury is not infallible. I think everyone can agree with this after all the people exonerated due to DNA testing and other advancements in criminal forensics. The problem is that once convicted it becomes almost impossible to prove one's innocence. Additionally the fact that the death penalty is popular among certain constituencies combined with the fact judges and district attorneys are often elected by those same constituencies it becomes clear that, in some cases, there might be a conflict of interest. The fact is we only hope that our judicial system helps to uncover the truth - I admit that in the majority of cases I believe we do find truth - but for those that slip through the cracks there needs to be a reasonable path to a new trial and the chance of proving their innocence. You might be interested in the story of Johnny Frank Garrett - there's a documentary about him. Pretty chilling.

LS and js: excellent points--and yet, if an innocent man was put to death--how is that justice?

I hope both families find a way to live with this...

How does the victim's family get justice if the guy that actually pulled the trigger is never known because the system can't bother itself to figure out the whole story?

I think sometimes the most powerful emotion for a victim's family is that somebody pay for the crime. So, when a person is charged, the family latches on to that person as the killer. You see this repeatedly, with the victim's family sitting in the front row at a trial and demanding a conviction, before guilt or innocence has even been established according to our judicial system. The fact that numerous mistaken convictions have been documented does not matter. It is about revenge and retribution.

The sad thing is, I doubt that the McPhail family will find the peace they crave. It does not matter if their son's killer is dead. It is their son' s death that hurts them and that will never change.

Black males may have been through plenty of injustice in the judicial system in the past when portions of it were just as racist or more so than the general population. However, that is so far from the case now as to be laughable in this case. Mr. Davis was given more opportunities than almost anyone else in history to have his verdict overturned. The argument that he was given special privilege BECAUSE he was a black male would hold much more weight.

I am sure many of the folks in the judicial system are aware of past injustices. It is more likely that they allowed a little more time and maybe more appeals for fear of repeating adding to these past injustices.

All the court decisions in the world don't prove that one is guilty. If one is not guilty, it only proves the law is fallible (especially in certain states) and the death penalty should probably not be an option. A wrong decision of this magnitude never gave anyone closure.

That only means that he has had multiple times to lose his life for possibly being falsely accused. This takes us back to the fairness of capital punishment. Is it in societies best interest to put a person to death if there is reasonable doubt that they are innocent? In this case, he was found at the time to be guilty. There now exists some elements that he might not be guilty. Should we not err on the side of caution when it comes to someones life?

n00...and what is to say they "get it right" this time?? He had his day in court. Now lets put an end to this travesty. The poor victim and family have less rights then this guy. What have we become where we value criminals more then the law abiding.

When witnesses recant (and when there is no proof that they were earlier FORCED to lie) there is one little problem - were they lying then or are they lying now? Mr Davis certainly had an excellent legal team which tried everything - but still, courts, judges and all other instances found the facts and procedure in this case sufficient - and therefore justice MUST be served. Because otherwise, that would mean that no matter what the courts decide, their verdict can be overruled by the street, internet, NGOs and celebrities. Therefore, I have a question to all those who answered - would you REALLY like that justice in USA is served by street, internet, NGOs and celebrities?

If 7 out of the 9 witnesses recanted their statements about this man why is he still being put to death? Maybe it is because we are in Georgia and the same Good Ole Boys rules are still the same as they were in the 1960's. This man and his family are just as much victims as the police officers family,and by killing this man what closure will it bring???

@maciej, the fact of the matter is that the testimonies of 7 of the 9 witnesses have recanted their statements. That in my eyes is basis for resonable doubt. I understand justice for the family but shouldn't that family receive the "right" justice? Putting a man to death when you know testimonies are not accurate is just wrong and from where I stand, an example of "anyone" must pay rather than "someone" must pay.

Shelly,

We won't have to hear about it next year this time. You either believe in the jury system or you don't. I will say I hope this guy is guilty...

@suzi-G - it was not one court, it was ALL the possible courts during 20 years! That means the whole American judicial system! And this system does NOT validate execution warrants all that easy - just take the recent case of Duane Buck in Texas - even a CLAIM of racial bias in sentencing was enough for Supreme Court to delay the execution and take the case for a detailed examination. But the same Supreme Court didn't find disqualifying flaws in Troy Davis case...

@Glenn

I feel for the victim's family. If my brother or father was killed, I'd want justice, but if witnesses said they lied to convict an innocent man, I would like to know why and who they saw killed the person.

He had appeals to his original case, not a new trial. The reason why people want to execute him quickly KNOWING ABOUT THE RECANTED TESTIMONIES is they don't want to admit that the justice system was wrong.

Look, I want the right guy to pay. I just don't want a justice system to big headed to admit when its wrong. Human error is expected when humans run the system.

How would you feel if you got convicted by 7 out of 9 admitted liars with no dna evidence or murder weapon?

Don't sugar coat it because the fact is that appeals courts are slanted to keep the conviction going. There have been cases where a ton of DNA data shows a person innocent and the appeal court still rejects the appeal. Appeals are very rarely granted even when there is overwhelming evidence of innocence.

Innocent man and nothing but lousy people participating in an injustice.

A CLEAR case of REASONABLE doubt has been established yet the Georgia version of justice still wants to claim another victim to satisfy the slain officer's family's blood lust. So many people on this thread pretend like no one's ever been falsely accused and railroaded as history has shown countless times.

To all those people cheering or demanding that Troy Davis be put to death after reading that 7 of 9 witnesses recanted their testimony, pray that some similar situation doesn't happen to you!

Wheras I do not know if he is, or is not, guilty, ... I know that ALL proseceutors are zealous about getting a Conviction ANY way they can, & truth means very little to them, when and IF it stands in the way of a CONVICTION. Appeals Boards are apparently often of the same mind, virtue, etc. On the OTHER hand though, --- when you have terrorists and outright murderers whom were seen on tv/video/etc shooting or murdering without ANY doubt we still dink around with them for 20/30/40 years. OUR legal system RANKS (that's STINKS/SMELLS) of too much intervention of our Federal Govt AKA: Senators, Congressmen, etc. After all, ... our Govt, wants to allow ALL ILLEGAL ALIENS a PASS-KEY to CITIZEN-ship. What a JOKE our GOVT is and has been for the last 50/60/70 years. Just look at our USPS system (broken) and our GOVT paying RED China 41 cents out of every dollar that crosses their hand ... and our GOVT standing there ready to give-um sum more too!!! What a broken joke we Meximericans are getting to be. Sad, yes very sad.

@askari - if ever I am stupid enough to:

- carry illegally a loaded gun on me,

- hang with known criminals ("Redd" Coles),

- shoot and wound an unarmed guy (Michael Cooper) in face just because he crossed me,

- beat a homeless man without any apparent reason

- after all that get into a fight with a security guard

I certainly can expect to get into a lot of trouble. But as long as I didn't shoot anybody to death I do not think I am gonna be executed...

macej, you should NOT expect to be executed for crimes that are not considered capital offenses.

He was judged and convicted by a jury of his peers - his case was appealed, re-appealed and reviewed by all possible courts and instances - and the verdict was confirmed and re-confirmed again and again -

He's lucky he didn't get convicted in Texas...

Asarki-the trial, appeals are over. Juice him up.

If this man is innocent and they kill him,they (authorities) will be coming to kill one of us next.

Were the prosecution witnesses coerced into testifying against him?

Not ALL of the witnesses recanted their stories. Done.

Let me say straight off that I believe some people need to be put to death for a safe and sane society. Some circumstances are are so egregious and the guilt unquestionable that trial and execution should proceed in swift order.

This is not one of those cases. There are too many shadows and sufficient room for doubt. But Georgia will not concede that. Institutions have as much ego, perhaps more, than individuals and courts are notorious for their obduracy in admitting error. Georgia is set on an execution, not justice.

Annaliese MacPhail will not find peace or closure from the death of Troy Davis. I doubt she will ever find either. Her healthy grief and anger have morphed into a twist in her psyche. Her anger and demand for vengeance are now integral to her sense of self. If anything, the death of Troy Davis will leave her deflated and desolate.

jkatze, I agree!

Justice isn't always done and it seems like the state of GA is determined that SOMEONE will pay for this cop being killed. I believe in the death penalty when absolute proof of ones crime is established. This was circumstantia with no physical evidence. There were witnesses that have recanted since the trial; yet that is the most compelling reason that he was convicted in the first place. Seems that the right thing to do would be to at least delay the execution. It would be a travesty for an innocent man to be put to death for a crime that he didn't commit.

"I'm really going to be satisfied when it's done." Anneliese MacPhail.

No, Mrs. MacPhail, you will not be. The death of Troy Davis is not the antidote for the poison coursing through your veins.

If you have ever waited for and sat through not one but two murder trials you would know that for months before the trial the defense and the prosecution attorneys go back and forth about what evidence can and cannot be used. I was the first witness in my daughters first murder trial, and the judge slept through my testimony. He also let the jury forman stay on after he approached police officers in the case and informed them that "he's a nice looking kid, and as far as I am concerned he's innocent." Thankfully it ended in a mistrial, and in the second trial more of the evidence was allowed to be admitted and he was convicted. He was found trying to was the blood off in the river. BU

@jkatze - the family of a murdered man has the RIGHT to want the murderer executed, because we, citizens, we renounce to use the violence in exchange of the guarantee of the state, that it will protect us and serve the justice for all - therefore wanting justice to be served is fair and just - and I am extremely shocked by your statement.

maciej, I am extremely shocked that seven out of nine witnesses recanting doesn't strike you as reasonable doubt! Do you figure someone has to be executed for this crime even if it is the wrong person?

...was judged and convicted by a jury of his peers - his case was appealed, re-appealed and reviewed by all possible courts and instances - and the verdict was confirmed and re-confirmed again and again - it is therefore time now that he answers for his crime according to law...

You forgot the two most important elements to this statement (one at the beginning, and one at the end):

A black man.... ....in the State of Georgia.

I hate to pull the race card, but this is Georgia, and this or any other state in the Southeast is not exactly noted for this stellar reputation on civil rights.

Why the "jury of peers" garbage.? Isn't it usually non-felon, upstanding citizens on jurys.? Not theiving, lowlife, murdering, rapist?

He was judged and convicted by a jury of his peers - his case was appealed, re-appealed and reviewed by all possible courts and instances - and the verdict was confirmed and re-confirmed again and again

What matters most is what is known now, not what happened with the case in the past.

That's why the death penalty is so horrible...because you cannot undo mistakes.

It seems some people aren't willing to undo mistakes even before the execution has taken place. Asking yourself "What if he is not guilty of the crime" is a sign of strength, not weakness. A lot of weak people writing comments on MSNBC news.

If he's so guilty, why would the witnesses recant?

I mean, if I saw someone shoot another man, let alone a police officer dead, I would testify what I saw and just be done with it.

I wouldn't recant.

Kindly, read my earlier post; 7 witnesses have not "recanted". To fully recant, the witness would have to say that they completely lied on the stand. None have admitted to that. A few have, at best, stated that they could not make a positive identification NOW; however, not one has ever stated that they saw anyone else commit this crime. In addition, one of the witnesses who now states they might not be able to now actually identify Davis, per se, has still described the events of the shooting and the clothes Davis and Coles were wearing and it leads to only one conclusion, Davis was the shooter.

Several of the witnesses who helped convict Davis at his 1991 trial have backed off their testimony or recanted. Others who did not testify say another man at the scene admitted to the shooting.

So the article is lying or wrong?

robbopaloobop says:

.... and you, in my opinion, are mentally ill.

Well actually, jkatze makes a very good point, which is that crime victims often report that the execution of the perpetrator does not "satisfy" them at all.

Justice is one thing and vengeance is another. Killing criminals is not justice. I could, however, make a very good argument that it is a combination of vengeance, ignorance, and the false belief that killing criminals makes us safer.

Your "feelings", robbapoop, are not the basis on which our legal system is founded. There's a bit more to it than that.

maciej said:

@jkatze - the family of a murdered man has the RIGHT to want the murderer executed, because we, citizens, we renounce to use the violence in exchange of the guarantee of the state, that it will protect us and serve the justice for all - therefore wanting justice to be served is fair and just - and I am extremely shocked by your statement.

Well I'm shocked at your fundamental misunderstanding of the word "renounce"...among other things. I think we can all agree that we like "the justice", but the question of what constitutes justice is not as settled as you think - and for good reason. What you seek is not justice but vengeance, and reasonable people want no part in that. Vengeance is for people blinded by fear or anger. Justice is for the rest of us, and justice is what our legal system is all about.

Factofthematter: You're catching on. As I stated, the Davis supporters over and over cite this magic 7 out of 9 number; however, if you read exactly what was said by these witnesses in the subsequent hearings and appeals they are not really recantations. Some say they couldn't make the ID now if they had to, some say that they aren't sure about some other things but none of they have said Davis didn't do it. No one with any credibility whatsoever ever ID'd Coles as the shooter. The decision issued by the Federal Court in 2010 subsequent to the hearing conducted to determine the weight of these so called recantations and new evidence is 171 pages long. 171 pages of detailed analysis of each and every bit of disputed testimony and the conclusion is clear. Nothing has changed since the trial and at trial he was found guilty. And, as far as this being tantamount to some sort of modern-day southern lynching, this was a federal court with the responsibility to report it's findings back to the Supreme Court of the United States. I agree that taking a human life in any fashion is a waste: however, in Davis' case, his life was wasted away the day he earned his street nickname RaH, "Rough as Hell"

You guys realize you're defending a murderer ?

It wasn't his first trouble with justice. Plus a jury made of a majority of black people and black judges set him to death penalty. So please enough with the 'bad Georgian racist justice bullsh**'

While I'm for a DNA test, the witnesses swore to the court at the time that he murdered the man. Anyone can conceive that they retracted because they had pity for him ? And knowing he'll be executed anyway, they wanted not to be the execution's cause.

This case however unfair it is doesn't shake my faith in death penalty. If we had to end all laws or applications because of an alter decision, we would go nowhere. I hope he won't become a hero and a symbol, because he doesn't deserve it even if he was completely innocent of this crime (which he is NOT).

@maciej

you are exactly right in everyone of your post . thank you for arguing with these knuckleheads so i can sit back and watch you destroy them over and over,, haha keep it up im loving it! great job indeed.. this man is guilty as sin and he will get what he should have had 20 years ago. and so will the family of the truly innocent man whom he murdered.. thanks again maciej. great job.

OK, so since you want all this death, without any remorse, like the killings in Iraq and Afghanistan, you must be either a Muslim terrorist or a US citizen the only types who really still live before the Viking times standard, like plundering (oil) and black people and keep them as slaves to use when convenient, and only then--still after all these years..--And now we apparently have a surplus!!!!

7 out of 9 witnesses says they want to withdraw, and that means nothing to you: they were the "peers" you talk about here.--sitting there again so the jury can put a black man away!--I thought that ended in the sixties!

No those 7 should have instant death penalty within 48 hours after admission to lying, and the black man should have one million Dollars a day for wrongful arrest from 1989 (so he could be on the rich list so we could learn a lesson forever), and that money should come from the liar "Blue Code" budgets in all the states, so we can get all those gun slingers off the streets! Then we should aspire to become a real western country like we already claim we are, instead of all the killings, like chasing thousands of the young to their death into telephone poles/trees when they are using their cell phones or not using their seat belts (like the cops do/don't all the time)

Obviously we have to become a democracy first and stop all that police and politician/government superiority.--In Denmark we burned down the castles hundreds of years ago!--since the owners were a lot like the rich here right now (and the government works for them).

UK almost started that a couple of month ago, and look how they quickly changed to give respect to all people.--LA had a little like that a few years ago--remember, or you choose not to?

So when the guilty go free because they were judged by their peers (I'm looking at you Pinnellas County Jurors / Casey Anthony) we suck it up and take it. This guy is convicted by a jury of his peers - gets appeal after appeal after appeal and we should let him go free. Cause its never about his right to stay alive in prison - its all about "he didn't do it" - why hasn't any of this "new evidence" been introduced before now? Do appellate attorneys sit on their butts and do nothing until the last minute.

Its not a perfect system, its not. We need professional jurors to decide cases or take your chances with a bench trial (judge only). 12 lay people cannot agree on where to go to lunch much less decide the fate of a defendant and paying them the pittance we pay juries doesn't help the process either. You can't change the rules of the game if you don't like the outcome. Don't like it - come up with a better justice system. You're going to have to literally head to the national archives with a bic lighter in the process and torch the constitution to do it but its the only way its going to get done.

I don't have a problem with the death penalty as a concept, or a form of punishment... when it's properly or justly applied. When every "T" is crossed and every "I" is dotted. When there is absolutely no doubt...

However in a case such as this, where there are SO many reasonable doubts, and such overwhelming support from the highest levels and from both sides of the political spectrum with regard to re-examining the case, it would be such a horrific shame to kill someone just because a prosecutor had 'something to prove'.

I hope and pray that 'ego be damned', they stop and think for a moment - because there is no amount of "I wish I had.." or "We should have... " or "If I'd only..." after this one...

@NeandarthalLizzie63 - really? how about it doesn't matter if not ALL the witness recanted, MOST of them did, reasonable doubt HAS been established, you don't execute anyone unless there is NO doubt. Done. Pull the bone out of your nose.

@Maciej - one day, you'll take those self-righteous, cavalier, blinders off, sadly, it won't be until tragedy has befallen you bc that's just how the world works.

While the thought that any innocent Human Being might be wrongfully executed is terrible to me, I must side with the State. This is what the very, very, very long appeals, and re-appeals process if for.

Every bit of evidence must be combed through, again, and again. When appeals run, out, then it is time to throw the switch.

Good heavens! Ignorant people screamed for Casey Anthony to be found guilty and then, executed. She was found innocent of the charges, as made by the prosecution, and under the laws of Florida, and by 12 jurors. And now, people scream for the release of a man that has gone through the whole process and then, found guilty, guilty, and guilty again?

Honestly. I am sickened by the death penalty, and so wish that it didn't have a place in our states' penal system. But it must exist. And those words are dry in my throat, but I'll bear it, regardless.

I did not want to form an opinion on this until I read the reports and case information listed from sources other than MSNBC. I have to think that most who are against this execution (and I find no fault in anyone opposing because thats your right) is probably emotion based or against it in general no matter what the facts. The news state that the witness's recanted their statements but that is not entirely true. Several witness's recanted but others stood by theirs. The defense could not prove that the recantation was accurate or emotional from knowing the death penalty was ordered.

The court introduced facts in the case do lead me to believe this man commited this crime, and I could find nothing stated that is direct evidence otherwise.

I have seen very few homicide cases where there was NO doubt, the expectation for a case is Reasonable Dooubt, and after reading the case from numerous sources I myself can not find any reasonable doubt.

It would appear all of the appellate courts and supreme court feels the same.

There is no physical proof he killed the cop and the "witnesses" have all recanted their testimony that he was the killer, at least take him off death row.

I don't like the Death Penalty (country's without the death penalty actually have lower violent crime rates), but if we're going to have one it should only be used in cases where there is clear PHYSICAL PROOF. Killing someone based only on another person's testimony leaves too great a chance for accidentally executing someone who is innocent.

Tim - glad you were not on the jury........

The whole ideal of the legal system is to be fair. If there is evidence and facts that can help this man survive another day it should be heard. Regardless!

The whole ideal of the legal system is to be fair

And it is time to admit the truth: Our courts, like our House of Representatives, are dysfunctional - they do NOT achieve the results the founding fathers envisioned.

I would say that if the execution is to go forward, then only he who is without sin should inject the first medication....

Yeah by his Peers, and they could NEVER be wrong.... Heck look at the Grand outcome of Casey Anthony, and the perfect innocence of killing her 2 year old daughter....

YOU ARE WRONG Mr. maciej. The only thing you have is facts, the rest of us have pure emotion so we must be right, and so who needs your stupid facts.

The witnesses recanted because they were coerced by the NAACP and their peers around them for doing the thing over 20 years ago.

So just go poke yourself in the eye with a wet fish!!!

He will be executed in a few minutes the SC just denied his appeal.

How could anyone see so much reasonable doubt and still execute someone.

The News has been bringing some of the original jurors on who said knowing what they know now Troy Davis would have been found innocent.

Hear this out, an opinion on whether he should live or die is an opinion and the law indicates that one must be chosen, so no fact or belief is right or wrong until the court gives their opinion, of which we carry out. Therefore no opinion or use of religion can truely save a life, however action on the matter will.

Maciej, prior to the discussion you said "it is therefore time now that he answers for his crime according to law and that the family of his victim finds closure". This is an opinion and rejection of religion. A: religion and law do not collide, therefore likely this sounds reasonable to a mind whom believes Davis is a "killer" (i use "killer" lightly for the fact that this MSN article does no justice to Davis if he was innocent, while trying to state facts, also convinces nations he is guilty, by using words such as "slay" and appearing to make him sound guilty in any way possible... at least that the mood i got from the article). B: your statement exiles the morals of forgiveness and a value of life itself. As your statement mentioned "according to the law" is signifying that he should be executed. My opinion is that the execution of any human is against religion, and shame on any government for taking blood for blood. If the execution to a man is the families found closure, than it is a shame to live in a world so great of which is corrupted by the very species i belong to. If the concept that, blood for blood is not even an option to the answer, is never understood, the world will never move forward to peace. The family should not find closure with the execution of the man whom the government says is the murder, the government can pick out any man in this case to blame, and the family would find closure. No. The only closure the family can hope for is a confession and true answer. No man's death can be placed upon another man's life, however one man's life can find reason, forgiveness and faith in another man's sorrowful confession.

Wow...so many fairly reasonable rebuttals to maciej's comment were collapsed by the community...well here's one for all those who like to see government authority systems exercise the power of executioner...only ignorant peasants would be willing to allow any government process, full of flaws, oversights, and errors, the ability to execute citizens in a democracy. That right belongs to those who were harmed by the offender and no one else. This system is the net effect of a whole society of ninnies who want someone else to always do their dirty work. If I were fairly certain this guy killed my brother, I'd go after him myself and wreak revenge upon him personally...not impersonally through a bogus court system that doesn't dispense justice but only law.

As far as all those who are glad of his execution...there's no telling what's wrong with most of the backwards ass people of Georgia...maybe we northerners need to send another General Sherman down there to sort these rednecks out once and for all...

How could anyone see so much reasonable doubt and still execute someone.

Because the SCOTUS saw the facts, not some weak article on MSNBC.

As far as all those who are glad of his execution...there's no telling what's wrong with most of the backwards ass people of Georgia...maybe we northerners need to send another General Sherman down there to sort these rednecks out once and for all...

Seriously??? Bring it on, you barely pulled it off the first time. Being proud of the crimes the Union did during and after the Civil War speaks volumes.....

I think some families want healing and closure, as long as someone pays, no matter if it is the wrong person.

I watched a special about Memphis 3 and all the victim's family were 100% sure and happy that justice was served when they were convicted. There have been many wrongfully charged people, mostly blacks. Chances are they killed the wrong man.

"He was judged and convicted by a jury of his peers"

A jury of his peers which was apparently given false, questionable & misleading information. The upholding of his conviction seems to me to be more about giving the public the perception that the "justice" system was correct, not proof that it was. Once upon a time the courts where there to provide a check against government prosecutors/law enforcement convicting innocent people, these days the courts seem to be their rubber stamp.

He was convicted over and over again. There isn't much doubt of his guilt. Enough doubt to make capital punishment unthinkable? There is the argument the reasonable folks are taking in defending him.

For all those making disparaging Georgia comments, keep your ignorant butt home then.

Signed,

Georgians

TO MAC

DID YOU NOT READ THE ARTICAL?

7 of the 9 witnesses recanted their testimony

how can you have closer on a faulty court case as this

sounds more like im satisfied and its ok to put this man to death

lol very bad way of doing the right thing

dont you think?

maybe not for you

because anyone thinking its ok to put a man to death

without 100% conviction isnt using the brain god supplied them

and are not following the united states law

100% proven guilty before one can say your guilty

did this just slip away? i believe it has

united states is getting lazy everywhere

if your attitude is "just kill him and close the case"

its a pretty sad one

and when this happens to you

no one will lift a finger because this is the new united states standard

sadsadsad

@20 Year Vet

And what of the crimes of the south? Or is it that since the crimes were/are perpetrated against black folks..."that don't count none"...Sounds like some pot and kettle name calling activity to me your trying to call out the crimes of the Union army...Y'all got exactly WTF you deserved when our Ohio born General Sherman turned your corrupt house upside down and burned your states to the ground...if you don't like atom bombs...don't start wars you can't win...

I hope in your utopian world you are never the victim of crime. Where are the victims rights in this case?

it is all we have. The problem with most of these cases is that the criminals are in fact criminals and may have been at the wrong place at the wrong time BUT innocent.....not really

Ok, ignorant one & ignorant two, I have no problem with the law -- much less when it works correctly!!! But if either of you took a moment to listen to the facts of this case, obviously there is something called, "REASONABLE DOUBT"!

@ ZW

Speaking from the perspective of former victim turned survivor, where are victims' rights when the wrong person is murdered in the name of victims' rights? Will any ol blood satisfy your thirst?

so you are thew judge and jury! Thank GOD someone can do a better job then the courts.

Ahh here we go. So because the evidence has proven to back up the prosecution...4 TIMES.... it is racism because the guy is black? Really? How about the family of the police officer that he killed. Are they racist for wanting this guy to be put to justice? You can't play the race card every time a murderer is held accountable for being a murderer. Playing armchair quarterback doesn't mean you have seen everything that the 4 DIFFERENT PANELS have seen to convict him

If he was found innocent, then I'll bet the justice system works right? Just not if he's found guilty.

If there is ever any doubt that someone did not commit the crime, then the death penalty should be held until the truth is discovered.

HOWEVER, if you are found guilty beyond any reasonable doubt, then fry the lowlife. Murderers, serial killers, those who hurt children, etc. DO NOT belong in this world, and I, quite frankly, don't want my tax dollars going to house and support them. They are a waste of human life.

But according to your earlier rant you are not interested in facts, just in voicing your own prejudice against all southerners, whether they had anything to do with this case or not.

Right on Sick in the South! We should let every non-caucasian person out of prison. It wasn't their fault...they were pressured to break the law because of licving in the U.S. and all the stigma attached to that.

That's the problem Kayner: WHAT EVIDENCE? There never was any. In fact, the only tangible evidence that has been found points to the very guy who implicated Davis in the first place. But thanks to the farce of a judicial system in Georgia, it's not enough to prove that Davis isn't guilty, he must prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is innocent, which is impossible when he cannot implicate another person, and has no evidence in the first place to discredit.

If someone against whom there was no evidence was pronounced not guilty, then yes, that would be the system working. Any system that sentences someone to death just because someone else got to the police station first is not working, simple as that.

I find it odd that someone with the moniker "sickened by the south" would have the gumption to rant about prejudice.

I am a born and raised Georgian. I've spent many years in the legal field working for criminal defense attorneys and an equal number of years serving on the board of directors of victims rights groups. My best advice to you is to educate yourself before you speak in such a public forum, but then again the annonimity of the internet lends itself to such behavior I guess.

Unless you sat in this court room or served on this jury, you have no idea what happened.

I'd like to offer everyone this ABSOLUTE fact: The media reports only what they think you want to read. They NEVER report the full transcript of a trial. Your lack of faith in our justice system may be justified in your mind, but to say that it only occurs in the South discounts everything that follows from your mouth.

For race still plays a part in the prosecution and subsequent execution of African-Americans 'suspected' of crimes in the U.S., the death penalty should be removed from all states as a form of punishment!!

1. There were 6 or 7 eyewitnesses to the murder.

2.He had shot another man with the same gun at a party just before he came to the Bk for food. More eyewitnesses, same bullet cases, same bullets.

3. He confessed (bragged) at the courthouse, no doubt still high. Don't be offended by the 'high' statement because he had been in the original altercation over owed drug money.

4. He has never really said he didn't do it, just that putting him to death is unfair. Well that sucks to get sober and saved in prison only to realize you are going to die.

5.Arkansas over turned the M3 case because it was pleaded out. These boys were never around the children that were killed, the DNA wasn't theirs and they are true victims of discrimination.

6. Black people, like everyone else, make their own decisions. Lawful and unlawful. And they face the consequences.

From your comment, I take it that YOU, you personnally have attended this guys trial and all of his appeal hearings or are you pulling the "Race" card against the South because of what you have heard and read in the news? Everyone knows how the news media survives by controversy. If the later is true for your reasoning, then we see exactly how the south has changed, they call it reverse descrimination, "You owe it to me because I am an African-American, not an American".

I won't paint the south with one big "dirty" brush yet it does seem that justice has failed everyone involved in the case.

Unless you sat in this court room or served on this jury, you have no idea what happened.

Well, one of the jurors did say that if they had been provided with the evidence that is available now, that he would have been acquitted.

and again I'll say "meanest one": my problem wasn't this person's lack of faith in the system, it was the ignorance with which he categorized the South. I've lived my whole life faced with these kinds of statements, which are little more than a fallback accusation for someone who has no other basis for which to make their claim, whatever that may be.

The slander of any person/culture/race is NEVER an intelligent support for an argument of any kind.

I also didn't make a statement one way or the other of Troy Davis' guilt or innocence. I've followed this case for many years myself. I have not read the full transcripts so I won't go on record with my opinion. However I will say that jurors will always second guess themselves when people are allowed to say anything to them. The rules of Court are there for a reason, they are not perfect, nor are they meant to be. Justice is not perfect. But in its imperfection, it has to be administered uniformly. That's all we can do. He's had his trials, his appeals, his hearings. Judges hear EVERYTHING, nothing is kept from them, although they do decide what jurys hear. These judges didn't hear anything concrete enough to sway them in the appeals. That has to be enough. It wasn't a jury of 12 alone, it was reheard by many others, all who came to the same conclusion.

The slander of any person/culture/race is NEVER an intelligent support for an argument of any kind.

Agreed.

The rules of Court are there for a reason, they are not perfect....

Yup. Agree here too.

These judges didn't hear anything concrete enough to sway them in the appeals. period.

Apparently the ballistic evidence didn't pan out. Thus, there is an issue with the evidence. No murder weapon.

I think the reason there are such strong generalizations of the South is because of all the instances we hear of racial injustice. Do racial injustices occur everywhere? Sure does. I live in "liberal" / "hippie" etc.. California and I experience racism regularly.

I have also traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and the level of racism I have experienced in the south is far more prevalent, intense and out in the open while I have been in the South. It was real scary. I do hope that we continue to evolve as humans and that the perception of the South can improve.

The new evidence that the 'defense' presented that said that he wasn't even there because his mommy said so? Or the evidence that the 9 eyewitnesses were all coerced into naming him as the shooter in 1991 (he wasn't there though, remember, so how would they have known him) but that it was another person nobody could name and none of the 9 could describe, or ever say they had seen or have ever seen since?

Meanest One, I think we are on the same page here for the most part. I am sure that what you felt was a genuine experience for you, but I'd ask you this:

Did it feel prevalent because you expected it to be from all you'd heard, or did it feel prevalent because someone made a direct attack on you?

We do have a ways to go as a human race, for sure. I think that the South suffers from a stigma based largely on a miniscule portion of the population, exaggerated by the media in all forms from print to movies.

For full disclosure, I am caucasian. I don't "categorize" my friends and keep count like many feel compelled to do, but suffice it to say that have friends of literally every race and religion I know of. I know many ethinicities who've suffered discrimination. As a woman, so have I. It's a fact of life, and a fact that short of a major overall of every human's psychy, we can never change. I stand by my opinion though, that all we can do is administer justice uniformly. He's been given every opportunity to provide evidence to show that the verdict was in error. Far too many people, privy to ALL the information have said it wasn't.

I do hope you'll visit the South again and instead of focusing on the eye's of strangers, look at the beauty and experience the culture and history. The fact of the matter is, this is the birthplace and CHOSEN home of Dr. Martin Luther King. He could have lived anywhere, he remained here because HE knew our potential.

OG Bobby Johnson - I see from your post that this issue is obviously very personal to you. I have no desire to fight with you, nor attack you as we are ALL entitled to our opinion. I do wonder however what you can show to support your opinion? Are there specific cases? Or is this too a generalization?

I will reiterate that my issue is that to paint an entire region of people you do not know nor have never met as racist is ignorant, and I stand by that statement. That is the education I believe the poster should seek. Know someone before you pass judgement on them.

I'll end with a quote from my own post: "The slander of any person/culture/race is never an intelligent support for an argument of any kind"

OG Bobby Johnson: As a white woman raised in the south I have seen the difference that black men are treated within the justice system. The system is beyond broke. I truly believe if this was a white man where 7 out of 9 witness had recanted he would be walking out of jail. Justice is far from blind and can be bought for the right price.

@Sickenedbythesouth - To quote the great Southern band Lynyrd Skynyrd " A Southern man don't need you around any how " - stay in the North, Yankee......

Where are the victims rights in this case?

Last time I checked, victims don't have the right to execute innocent people. I'm also pretty sure we don't waive Constitutional rights to make crime victims feel better.

The "victim's rights" argument is a red herring. Victims must wait for justice like everyone else, and delivering justice is independent of them. The lynch mob mentality may have been popular during the Salem witch trials, but we've moved past that. You're several hundred years behind the times.

Kim are you familiar with the conviction of Milton Scarborough, in the late 70s, where ALL the witnesses recanted their testimony and he is still, to this day, in prison. In fact, most of the witnesses are now dead and he is in his 80's I believe, still in prison over 30 years.

By the way, he is white.

These rash generalizations that ALL African Americans are treated unjustly in the South are untrue, hateful, slanderous and prejudicial themselves. There have been African Americans freed from unjust prison sentences all over the United States.

Caucasian Southerners, are not ALL racists any more than ALL African Americans are criminals. Hate breeds Hate. We are all human and until someone mistreats YOU personally, they deserve to be treated with common decency and dignity

Sorry OG that doesn't fly. The majority of black, white, brown and yellow families in the south are content with their lives in this generation. The ones that aren't are the ones that like to think of themselves as Original Gangstas. You be da problem homie, not dem. A straight "A" student trying to better themselves and their families isn't an OG. Only poor trash (white or black) thinks that way.

Prohibition said:

Last time I checked a map, Memphis was in the South too. You're just substituting one form of predjudice for another. Crawl back under the rock you slithered out from under.

Just in case someone else didn't already point this out.

West Memphis is actually in Arkansas - it's not Memphis, Tennessee -- but it's still the South.

Also, I'd like to point out that indeed it was Southern bible-belt bigotry that got the WM3 locked up in the first place. Surprised that these 'Satan Worshippers" ever got let off.

Sickened By The South should be renamed to Sickened by the Truth. All this person does is spout liberal garbage and ZERO FACTS! The real facts are: this sorry sack of @!$%#e guy murdered a police officer was found guilty beyond ANY reasonable doubt, Appealed his case twice, was twice more found guilty beyond any reasonable doubt and now must pay for the horrible act of violence he perpetrated on this man, his community, his fellow officers, and mostly his family.

What about the victims rights? Keep supporting violent criminals and just one day you too will become their victim. You speak more like a convicted felon than any free non-crime committing person. Are you as incarcerated physically as you are mentally?

You pretty much rendered your entire argument invalid when you claimed the WM3 would have received different treatment because the south favors white people. The WM3 case occurred in *Arkansas* which is even more backwards and redneck than Georgia and they still couldn't get fair treatment.

As someone born and raised in the south (I still live in Alabama) I'm the first to acknowledge the corruption and willful ignorance that continues to be so prevalent down here but it no longer has much to do with race and the corruption and ignorance is hardly limited to the white citizenry (research some of the political corruption in Birmingham, AL or Memphis, TN for examples). By trying to force the issue of race into the discussion you just distract from the real problems.

uhhhh "don't" whatever the rest of your name is - you might just want to find you a better class of friends. Obviously he thinks for some reason you are receptive to that kind of email, because rest assured, I know plenty of folks who talk that way but would NEVER speak that way in front of me out of respect. Because they know I won't stand for it, even for a second. And I haven't lived here a mere 8 years, I've lived here my entire life, 40+ years. So I'd say my experience is a little more broad than yours.

I haven't seen anyone deny racism exists. It exists in the South, and the North, East, West, Africa, Europe...and on and on. If there are aliens, I'd imagine it exists there as well. Anyone who'd confine racism to the south is not only ignorant of the human condition, but as prejudice as any racist they claim to despise.

Judging solely from your post here, you appear to be one among the many exaggerators/agitators who prowl these pages just to have a forum to spew their hatred.

And again, if that is all you heard in NC for 8 years, I'd say that is much more a reflection of the people you associate with, than the South as a whole.

i dont understand why race has anything to do with it. would troy have shot if it was a black cop? absolutely. and the only reason race is still an issue is because people use it when all else fails. oh they wont set him free? racist...its such bs.. im sorry but it was a black judge that sentenced this man to death.. so come on with the uncle tom remarks.. just get over it. when you use race for everything it loses all meaning. and obviously their are still racist.. but to say thats a southern thing is just ignorant . and blacks hating whites simply for their views about a black cop killer is just as racist.. i dont care what colour this man is ,his victims family deserves to see justice done before THEY die. his poor kids that have no father and his grieving widdow are the victims now because so many idiots are ready to take the word of 7 admitted liars.. pitiful just pitiful..

Wow - 40 pages. ACORN must be working overtime. What do Europeans know about thhis case? Only what thet are reading. "The other guy did it, not me".

From what I understand, only he claims he's innocent. That is no where near enough to claim 'doubt of guilt.'

Not if the witnesses who have not recanted their stories are credible. No doubt.

Are they creditable or just obtuse and sticking to their original story so that someone pays for this crime? Seven out of nine recants should be considered reasonable doubt

So you are sure that the 7 out of 9 who are changing their stories are telling the truth now or were telling the truth then, are lying now or were lying then. Changing your story after the fact is cool an all but they swore to tell the truth and he was convicted on that information. maybe in the last 10 years those witnesses have been pressured by the family of Davis or have decided they don't like the death penalty and want to say they were lying to keep a man from being killed for their testimony whether is was true then or true now that they have changed their stories.

ScottHutch: No one is sure of anything here. The original particulars are just as shoddy. The aforementioned 9 witnesses all had past records of various "run ins" with the police. Contrary to the claim of "Aldo-3064576" #1.37 no proof of Davis ever shooting anyone was ever established. Even "Cooper" who was supposed to have been shot, testified at the original trial that Davis didn,t shoot him because Davis didn.t know him well enough to shoot him. The only 38 caliber pistol anyone ever had knowledge of belonged to "Redd Coles" who reported to the police that Davis killed the officer. Coles, also was the man who had the row with the homeless man "Young" during which the officer was killed. A 38 caliber shell casing was found at the scene, another at or close to the place where Cooper was allegedly fired upon but the forensic expert said they could have come from the same weapon. A few weeks later some casings were found near the Davis home and the expert said he was right sure these matched the one found at the crime scene and likely were used by the same weapon. Problem with that was, Davis had already been in jail for some time and some of the casings retained their bullets. From here the production sinks further into the swamp. This appears to be, at best, a case of those present "picking one" and delivering to the police.

All it takes is for 1 person to recant their story, historically speaking eye witnesses accounts are unreliable. That's why DNA is used and can disproove any and all eye witness accounts. In fact in capital punishment cases since 2000, about 5 people per year are found innocent. That's 55 people who had been convicted by 12 jurors at some time that had no reasonable doubt what so ever to believe that those 55 people were innocent. People make mistakes, that should be enough doubt for you there.

Dude, he said he did not do it. What other proof do you need?

Mark, to this day Charles Manson says he's innocent.

Do you honestly believe that if a convict says he's innocent that he IS?

You can't forget the victims. They deserve Justice.

Don't get sucked into the thought that Davis didn't do it. He confessed to the murder. What he's fighting is the death penalty, which is why it exists, to punish.

Nope. Someone said they heard him confess.

Many are calling this raw racism on the part of the state of Georgia. I do not think it is. Sad truth is; the poor and ignorant are always the most easily exploited and abused in any situation. It is just as true with police and court involvement, unless one has the resources to retain expensive legal counsel and counter advocacy experts. Since 1995 the funding for public defenders has become almost nil relative to the need, and even prior wasn't sufficient to come close to matching the resources of most jurisdictions tax funded apparatus. Additionally, since the federal enactment of the "antiterrorism and effective death penalty act" of 1996, appellant courts are severely restrained in their reviews of ejudicated capitol cases. I, with much reason, believe the whole appellant system of the state of Georgia is as unprejudiced and caring as any such system in the country, but also, is as cumbersome and dedicated to traditional protocol procedure over the actual pursuit of justice as is any other in the country. Having said this, I am especially saddened that such criteria will cause the state of my birth to kill a person whose guilt is as doubtful as it is established. Mr Davis, I sincerely grieve for you and your loved ones. I will remember!

Always misspell the word adjudicated. Sorry

If he thought his public defender, or the judge thought, was not doing an adequate job it would have been noted in the trial.