Troy Davis Execution

CanwllCorfe · 09-22-2011, 04:39 PM

What are your thoughts, friends?

VEGANGELICA · 09-22-2011, 08:31 PM

I oppose capital punishment and am horrified by the practice, so I opposed Troy Davis' execution whether or not he was innocent or guilty, Corfe.

His case was especially troubling since so many of the witnesses who originally claimed he pulled the trigger recanted their testimony:

Quote:

Troy Davis | Amnesty International USA

The case against him consisted entirely of witness testimony which contained inconsistencies even at the time of the trial. Since then, all but two of the state's non-police witnesses from the trial have recanted or contradicted their testimony.

Many of these witnesses have stated in sworn affidavits that they were pressured or coerced by police into testifying or signing statements against Troy Davis.

One of the two witnesses who has not recanted his testimony is Sylvester "Red" Coles — the principle alternative suspect, according to the defense, against whom there is new evidence implicating him as the gunman. Nine individuals have signed affidavits implicating Sylvester Coles.

I'm glad that Troy Davis at least got to know that thousands of people supported him and did not want the government to kill him. I hope his needless death will help move the U.S. away from capital punishment, a bloodthirsty practice that robs people of life unnecessarily and reminds me of other atrocities humanity has committed over the years: Roman gladiator killings; the Inquisition; drawing and quartering.

Burning Down · 09-22-2011, 08:42 PM

It was wrong. Capital punishment in general is a cop-out, in my opinion.

VEGANGELICA · 09-23-2011, 12:27 AM

The following short music video by Amnesty USA gives a good summary of Troy Davis' case and the reason his execution is considered a justice system disaster. If you don't know about the case and you like music, this is the video for you:

Troy Davis about to be killed by the state of Georgia
Music by State Radio
Video uploaded by Amnesty USA

And here is information about Troy Davis' final words:

"Strapped to the gurney, Davis lifted his head and looked at Mark and William MacPhail, the son and brother of the police officer Davis was convicted of killing in 1989. 'I am sorry for your loss,' Davis said. 'I did not personally kill your son, father, and brother. I am innocent.' For those executing him, Davis said, 'May God have mercy on your souls, may God bless your souls.' Davis then turned down an offer of a prayer. Fourteen minutes later he was dead."

From: Troy Davis Execution: Final Words, State of Death-Penalty Debate - The Daily Beast

djchameleon · 09-23-2011, 12:51 AM

I'm a bit exhausted by this topic but the nail in his coffin was that he was branded as a cop killer. Some people try to bring race into it but that's not even the real issue. Once you are branded as a cop killer, you are going to go down pretty hard even if you didn't do it. I'm just surprised that they didn't plant more evidence to bring him down with and sooner.

I agree with most of what he says near the end of the video except for the whole ban on the death penalty part.

The Board of Pardons decided to give this killer clemency though.

Quote:

The parole board in the state of Georgia spared a convicted killer from execution hours before he was due to die by lethal injection on Thursday and commuted his sentence to life in prison.

In March 1988, Crowe killed store manager Joseph Pala during a robbery at the lumber company in Douglas County, west of Atlanta. Crowe, who had previously worked at the store, shot Pala three times with a pistol, beat him with a crowbar and a pot of paint.

Crowe pleaded guilty to armed robbery and murder and was sentenced to death the following year.

"David (Crowe) takes full responsibility for his crime and experiences profound remorse," according to Georgians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, an advocacy group, who welcomed the board's decision.

Killer spared from death hours before execution | Reuters

Buzzov*en · 09-23-2011, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

I'm a bit exhausted by this topic but the nail in his coffin was that he was branded as a cop killer. Some people try to bring race into it but that's not even the real issue. Once you are branded as a cop killer, you are going to go down pretty hard even if you didn't do it. I'm just surprised that they didn't plant more evidence to bring him down with and sooner.

I agree with most of what he says near the end of the video except for the whole ban on the death penalty part.

The Board of Pardons decided to give this killer clemency though.

Killer spared from death hours before execution | Reuters

I agree with everything he said. Frankly the death penalty doesn't do ****. It costs too much as well. It is an easy way out quite honestly. Let em rott in jail instead.

Mykonos · 09-23-2011, 01:12 AM

Well, I don't think there's much I can add that hasn't been said. I'm wholly against capital punishment both morally and economically (a lot of people seem to think it's a cheaper solution to imprisonment, but not necessarily) and seeing as the testimony against him was so shady, I certainly don't think that such an irreversible punishment should have been used. What if everything comes together in a few months and we find out he's innocent? A sorry from the law won't change the fact that they essentially murdered him.

Buzzov*en · 09-23-2011, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mykonos

Well, I don't think there's much I can add that hasn't been said. I'm wholly against capital punishment both morally and economically (a lot of people seem to think it's a cheaper solution to imprisonment, but not necessarily) and seeing as the testimony against him was so shady, I certainly don't think that such an irreversible punishment should have been used. What if everything comes together in a few months and we find out he's innocent? A sorry from the law won't change the fact that they essentially murdered him.

They could use the arguement he was proven guilty in a court of law and say they had the right to excute him like the government did back in 1993 a believe when they found out the man they killed was innocent.
Not saying that is right, but they could say that.

Since he was labled a cop killer and was black on top of that he was ****ed. IMO in the eyes of the court in Georgia he was just a ****** who shot and killed a cop.

djchameleon · 09-23-2011, 01:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mykonos

What if everything comes together in a few months and we find out he's innocent? A sorry from the law won't change the fact that they essentially murdered him.

Honestly, the mother of the cop that died doesn't even care, she just wanted someone to die for the murder of her son. As long as she gets closure.

She was even quoted as saying that now the Davis family knows how it feels what we have felt after all these years.

Buzzov*en · 09-23-2011, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by djchameleon

Honestly, the mother of the cop that died doesn't even care, she just wanted someone to die for the murder of her son. As long as she gets closure.

She was even quoted as saying that now the Davis family knows how it feels what we have felt after all these years.

Okay, but if he is innocent what she said about the family knows how it feels means **** all considering he would have been put to death for something he did not do. The fact that there was no physical evidence and the fact that witnesses recanted their testimony makes it look like he was inoccent of the crime.

Her closure means **** all. So if he is shown to be completely innocent of the crime should they put the judge to death for his **** up?

09-22-2011, 04:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
CanwllCorfe Quiet Man in the Corner Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Pocono Mountains Posts: 2,480	Troy Davis Execution What are your thoughts, friends? __________________ Your eyes were never yet let in to see the majesty and riches of the mind, but dwell in darkness; for your God is blind.

09-23-2011, 01:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
Mykonos AWhatup Ganache? Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 381	Well, I don't think there's much I can add that hasn't been said. I'm wholly against capital punishment both morally and economically (a lot of people seem to think it's a cheaper solution to imprisonment, but not necessarily) and seeing as the testimony against him was so shady, I certainly don't think that such an irreversible punishment should have been used. What if everything comes together in a few months and we find out he's innocent? A sorry from the law won't change the fact that they essentially murdered him. __________________ 'Not that Becktionary, the Rhyming Becktionary!'- Bender Bending Rodriguez

09-22-2011, 08:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Burning Down The Music Guru. Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Beyond the Wall Posts: 4,858	It was wrong. Capital punishment in general is a cop-out, in my opinion.