Abolish the Death Penalty in the US!!

[Stephanie]

Too Much Doubt
Troy Davis was convicted of murdering a Georgia police officer in 1991. Nearly two decades later, Davis remains on death row — even though the case against him has fallen apart.
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.

Breaking News: The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied clemency to Troy Davis on Tuesday. This means that very little is standing in the way of the state executing a ptentially innocent man this Wednesday. Join us in calling on the Board to reconsider its decision, and on the Chatham County (Savannah) District Attorney Larry Chisolm to do the right thing.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/cases/usa-troy-davis?id=1011343

[grahameb]

I used to believe in the death penalty. Not because I thought it was any kind of deterrent, but because I thought it was just. I not longer believe in it. I believe that a civilised society ought to seek better ways. An enlightened society should not seek to take any human life at all. That doesn't mean that I am not outraged by mass murderers or the actions of terrorists. I am and probably if the victim was one of my own family I might seek justice for that family member. That is my imperfect human nature showing through.
But what I do see as a gross contradiction in our own government who have abolished capital punishment on humanitarian grounds, is the fact that they do not see anything wrong in sending our forces overseas to make war and kill 1000's in the process. This does not make sense to me?

[shaman]

I used to believe in the death penalty. Not because I thought it was any kind of deterrent, but because I thought it was just. I not longer believe in it. I believe that a civilised society ought to seek better ways. An enlightened society should not seek to take any human life at all. That doesn't mean that I am not outraged by mass murderers or the actions of terrorists. I am and probably if the victim was one of my own family I might seek justice for that family member. That is my imperfect human nature showing through.
But what I do see as a gross contradiction in our own government who have abolished capital punishment on humanitarian grounds, is the fact that they do not see anything wrong in sending our forces overseas to make war and kill 1000's in the process. This does not make sense to me?

Completely agree with that well said.

[ngb1066]

I used to believe in the death penalty. Not because I thought it was any kind of deterrent, but because I thought it was just. I not longer believe in it. I believe that a civilised society ought to seek better ways. An enlightened society should not seek to take any human life at all. That doesn't mean that I am not outraged by mass murderers or the actions of terrorists. I am and probably if the victim was one of my own family I might seek justice for that family member. That is my imperfect human nature showing through.
But what I do see as a gross contradiction in our own government who have abolished capital punishment on humanitarian grounds, is the fact that they do not see anything wrong in sending our forces overseas to make war and kill 1000's in the process. This does not make sense to me?

My views exactly, Grahame.

 

[chochokeira]

Too Much Doubt
Troy Davis was convicted of murdering a Georgia police officer in 1991. Nearly two decades later, Davis remains on death row — even though the case against him has fallen apart.
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.

Breaking News: The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied clemency to Troy Davis on Tuesday. This means that very little is standing in the way of the state executing a ptentially innocent man this Wednesday. Join us in calling on the Board to reconsider its decision, and on the Chatham County (Savannah) District Attorney Larry Chisolm to do the right thing.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/cases/usa-troy-davis?id=1011343

Thanks for this, Stephanie. +1

[ngb1066]

Too Much Doubt
Troy Davis was convicted of murdering a Georgia police officer in 1991. Nearly two decades later, Davis remains on death row — even though the case against him has fallen apart.
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.

Breaking News: The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied clemency to Troy Davis on Tuesday. This means that very little is standing in the way of the state executing a ptentially innocent man this Wednesday. Join us in calling on the Board to reconsider its decision, and on the Chatham County (Savannah) District Attorney Larry Chisolm to do the right thing.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/cases/usa-troy-davis?id=1011343

Thanks for this, Stephanie. +1

He was executed last night.  We think we have problems with our criminal justice system, but in the USA defendants in capital cases, unless they are wealthy, experience very rough justice.

 

[chochokeira]

I used to believe in the death penalty. Not because I thought it was any kind of deterrent, but because I thought it was just. I not longer believe in it. I believe that a civilised society ought to seek better ways. An enlightened society should not seek to take any human life at all. That doesn't mean that I am not outraged by mass murderers or the actions of terrorists. I am and probably if the victim was one of my own family I might seek justice for that family member. That is my imperfect human nature showing through.
But what I do see as a gross contradiction in our own government who have abolished capital punishment on humanitarian grounds, is the fact that they do not see anything wrong in sending our forces overseas to make war and kill 1000's in the process. This does not make sense to me?

Well said, Grahame. I have always regarded the death penalty as medieval and barbaric, so I'm delighted that we no longer have this in UK. I'm a Stop The war protestor, so I strongly agree with you regarding our forces too.

[Stephanie]

Too Much Doubt
Troy Davis was convicted of murdering a Georgia police officer in 1991. Nearly two decades later, Davis remains on death row — even though the case against him has fallen apart.
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.

Breaking News: The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied clemency to Troy Davis on Tuesday. This means that very little is standing in the way of the state executing a ptentially innocent man this Wednesday. Join us in calling on the Board to reconsider its decision, and on the Chatham County (Savannah) District Attorney Larry Chisolm to do the right thing.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/cases/usa-troy-davis?id=1011343

Thanks for this, Stephanie. +1

No problems chochokeira!

Shame on the state of Georgia; shame on the US Supreme Court! Yet another broken justice system!

[andrea]

people ask for the death penalty because the courts dish out stupid sentences for serious crimes, look at the lockerbie terrorist, released on compassionate grounds! how many people lay dead in their graves due to his actions?

im not an advocate of the death penalty, but, for terrorism they should hang, sorry.

[grahameb]

people ask for the death penalty because the courts dish out stupid sentences for serious crimes, look at the lockerbie terrorist, released on compassionate grounds! how many people lay dead in their graves due to his actions?

im not an advocate of the death penalty, but, for terrorism they should hang, sorry.

It is a terrible crime Andrea. One said once that Justice tempered by too much mercy becomes injustice.

[ngb1066]

people ask for the death penalty because the courts dish out stupid sentences for serious crimes, look at the lockerbie terrorist, released on compassionate grounds! how many people lay dead in their graves due to his actions?

im not an advocate of the death penalty, but, for terrorism they should hang, sorry.

The Birmingham 6 would have been hanged if there had been the death penalty for terrorist murders.  Apart from the moral objections, the problem with the death penalty is that a miscarriage of justice can never be remedied.

There are strong grounds for believing the so called Lockerbie bomber is not guilty of that terrible crime.  If he had not been released on compassionate grounds his fresh appeal would have been heard.  Jim Swire, father of one of the victims and one of the spokesmen for the relatives of those killed, believes Al-Megrahi to be not guilty.


 

[grahameb]

people ask for the death penalty because the courts dish out stupid sentences for serious crimes, look at the lockerbie terrorist, released on compassionate grounds! how many people lay dead in their graves due to his actions?

im not an advocate of the death penalty, but, for terrorism they should hang, sorry.

The Birmingham 6 would have been hanged if there had been the death penalty for terrorist murders.  Apart from the moral objections, the problem with the death penalty is that a miscarriage of justice can never be remedied.

There are strong grounds for believing the so called Lockerbie bomber is not guilty of that terrible crime.  If he had not been released on compassionate grounds his fresh appeal would have been heard.  Jim Swire, father of one of the victims and one of the spokesmen for the relatives of those killed, believes Al-Megrahi to be not guilty.


 

Yes I had my doubts as to whether he was guilty or not? As you say if the death penalty was in force then any injustice could never be rectified. Bit the best justice system in the world there will always be mistakes. With all our human imperfections At best the death penalty will be carried out by the law and not by justice. If someone is executed for some crime he did not commit, then the real culprit found and executed where is justice then? It is found wanting since 2 deaths have paid for one murder and one of those deaths will be an innocent man. Who will pay for that crime? Will they execute those who had a hand in putting him to death? If we take the law to its logical end and eye for an eye, as Gandhi said, "the whole world would be blind".