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Troy Davis
Sep. 22nd, 2011 10:21 pmAs I've said before, I'm opposed to the death penalty mainly because of the possibility of an innocent person being executed. Also, it's expensive and obviously not a deterrent. That being said, I usually don't feel too emotional over most of the executions I read or hear about, and I think it's because in most cases I believe the condemned person really did do the crime.
Now comes the case of Troy Davis. I don't know he was innocent because I wasn't present when the murder took place, but unlike most of the executions I read about, I'm no way near convinced that he did it.
I read, in one of the many news pieces, that he had many chances to prove his innocence, and he didn't do that any of the times. It's not supposed to be up him to prove his innocence, is it? It's supposed to be up to the state to prove his guilt. Did the state really do that?
What's more likely to happen, seven of nine witnesses recanting their testimony from pressure by Troy Davis supporters, or nine of nine witnesses testifying against him from pressure by the police and the DA's office who hold a lot of power over them?
I don't like a justice system that makes me an armchair juror.
Maybe, just maybe, this is the case that will lead us on a path to the end of the death penalty in this country. Even if it does, it's a very long path.
...
Now comes the case of Troy Davis. I don't know he was innocent because I wasn't present when the murder took place, but unlike most of the executions I read about, I'm no way near convinced that he did it.
I read, in one of the many news pieces, that he had many chances to prove his innocence, and he didn't do that any of the times. It's not supposed to be up him to prove his innocence, is it? It's supposed to be up to the state to prove his guilt. Did the state really do that?
What's more likely to happen, seven of nine witnesses recanting their testimony from pressure by Troy Davis supporters, or nine of nine witnesses testifying against him from pressure by the police and the DA's office who hold a lot of power over them?
I don't like a justice system that makes me an armchair juror.
Maybe, just maybe, this is the case that will lead us on a path to the end of the death penalty in this country. Even if it does, it's a very long path.
...
