Troy Davis - Guilty or Innocent?

[Abigail Crabby]

Originally Posted by Okiebug61

This is the part that scares me the most.

There was no physical evidence tying Davis, then 20-years-old, to the shooting and several witnesses at his trial later recanted their testimony.

The victims have not gained anything from this execution. Their hearts are hardened with anger and until they can let go of the anger nothing has really changed.

I agree - how they could take his life without concrete evidence and with recanted testimony is scary indeed.

It would seem we *the govt* is becoming immune to it's own rules of evidence.

How long before Soylent Green

[MsTinkerbelly]

..........Troy Davis maintains innocence in final words
By The Associated Press | AP – 10 hrs ago


Here are his final words, as witnessed by an Associated Press reporter:

"I'd like to address the MacPhail family. Let you know, despite the situation you are in, I'm not the one who personally killed your son, your father, your brother. I am innocent.

The incident that happened that night is not my fault. I did not have a gun. All I can ask ... is that you look deeper into this case so that you really can finally see the truth.

I ask my family and friends to continue to fight this fight.

For those about to take my life, God have mercy on your souls. And may God bless your souls."

[SoNotHer]

Remember as well he was denied the opportunity to take a polygraph and until the end, he maintained his innocence.

How did we ever get to this place?

[kannon]

Nothing will change until the standard of guilt (beyond a "reasonable" doubt) is modified. It's impossible to prove guilt beyond any doubt. The states murder people based on theories. They've killed over 400 people in Texas since the death penalty was reinstated. Over 200 at the hands of Rick Perry. When he was questioned about it during the republican debate the crowd cheered him on. That's scary. If you look at the stats - you can see how racist our justice system is. Top of the list of executionees are black perpetrators with white victims. It's like we modified our lynching practice to suite the taste of the 21st century. It's truly disturbing.

[Julie]

A tragedy took place last night on the 30th anniversary of The International Day of Peace - How ironic to kill a potentially innocent man, in Georgia on this day.

It has been less than 24 hours and I can only imagine the grief and loss his family is feeling. Not to mention all of us who have been a part of his story and have done our part to write our people in congress and try to get his execution revoked.

Maybe we need to focus a little on sending our positive thoughts to his family and to Troy. I don't usually get all spiritual on the boards - but a human being was put to death last night, in our country.

Perhaps we can internally send our healing to him, so his journey is smooth and to his family. Also, to the family of the victim who was killed. They will have a lot of struggling to go through in the coming months. This will unfold and the facts will come out.

Rest in Peace Troy.

Julie

[suebee]

The live coverage I watched played this at the end of the broadcast. I'd never really listened to the lyrics before. Smooth journey Mr. Davis. Your life had great meaning despite the circumstances of your death.

[nowandthen]

Yes, Two men where killed yesterday by the states they live in GA. Troy Davis and Texas Russel Brewer. One Innocent or One guilty neither should have died at the hands of the state. One did a unspeakable crime against James Byrd, One was sent to death on lies, lack of proof and recanted testimony. I find still today that killing to show folks killing is wrong is morale reprehensible and feel less safe in the world today as a result of state sanctioned violence.

[Dominique]

[QUOTE=SoNotHer;422657]Remember as well he was denied the opportunity to take a polygraph and until the end, he maintained his innocence.

Polygraphs are not admissable in any court, this is one point I'm missing.

Many many manygreat points have been brought up (and you can bet I was looking things up, case law included) but the polygraph thing. They are not accurate. Anxiety can give a false read. Medicines can give a false read. Even poorly administered testing, can give a false read, these are some of the reasons they are not admissable.

Not one word of this on my local news for two days.

[MissItalianDiva]

[quote=Yellow band;422753]

Originally Posted by SoNotHer

Remember as well he was denied the opportunity to take a polygraph and until the end, he maintained his innocence.

Polygraphs are not admissable in any court, this is one point I'm missing.

Many many manygreat points have been brought up (and you can bet I was looking things up, case law included) but the polygraph thing. They are not accurate. Anxiety can give a false read. Medicines can give a false read. Even poorly administered testing, can give a false read, these are some of the reasons they are not admissable.

Not one word of this on my local news for two days.

Georgia is actually one of the few states where that type of testing can be used in a court of law. However I personally believe it was declined to be used for the simply fact that a higher court was reviewing the case and I know from case law polygraphs are not a norm or accepted much into federal proceedings.

However I wish if not for any other reason that he would have been granted permission to take one. It's the least this country could have done after locking him up like an animal for 22 year with 16 of that being done on death row. It's almost like our legal system just did not want to see the truth here.

I am not one to racially separate anything but I would be willing to put money on the fact that if Troy Davis was a white man we would not be having this discussion this morning. Ugh my stomach is still turning this morning. I am just flat out sickened and saddened by what has taken place.

[Dominique]

[quote=MissItalianDiva;422760]

Originally Posted by Yellow band

Georgia is actually one of the few states where that type of testing can be used in a court of law. However I personally believe it was declined to be used for the simply fact that a higher court was reviewing the case and I know from case law polygraphs are not a norm or accepted much into federal proceedings.

However I wish if not for any other reason that he would have been granted permission to take one. It's the least this country could have done after locking him up like an animal for 22 year with 16 of that being done on death row. It's almost like our legal system just did not want to see the truth here.

I am not one to racially separate anything but I would be willing to put money on the fact that if Troy Davis was a white man we would not be having this discussion this morning. Ugh my stomach is still turning this morning. I am just flat out sickened and saddened by what has taken place.

That is on the lines of why I was looking up case law. And thank you for the post BTW. So much about this I am not understanding, as is the case with most of us. 16 years he spent in an 8 ft by 8 ft cell, 23 hours a day. That in it's self seems so inhumane (to me) and again, back to the polygraph...do you think he could of passed one...imagine his own mental torment. I'd bet no natural light comes into a death row inmates cell. That one hour a day he is out,does that include shower....(3 times a week) I realize they were grasping for straws, I really do. I appologize I didn't make myself clear-er....but do you think he'd of passed that polygraph, even if it was admissable? Can you imagine how living the way they had him living/ and with the propencity existing he is innocent, HELLO? WILL ANY BODY LISTEN TO ME, (tick tock tick tock tick tock) thats why I wasn't getting the polygraph thing. I was afraid it would have sealed his fate. But today, in retrospect. He had nothing to loose.