Word: ‘Justice demands no less of us’
August 22, 2009 at 11:35 am by Thomas Wheatley in Word/FoundOn Aug. 17, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that condemned death row inmate Troy Davis deserves a chance to present new evidence in his case. Attorneys have long argued that Davis didn’t kill Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail in 1989 and that key witnesses have recanted testimony.
“The substantial risk of putting an innocent man to death, clearly provides an adequate justification for holding an evidentiary hearing.”
— U.S. Justice John Paul Stevens, writing for the majority Aug. 17
“We should be prepared to go to the moon and back in order to avoid executing an innocent man. Every stone must be turned, every possibility fully explored, every alternative narrative put to rest to the extent possible. Justice demands no less of us.”
— From an Aug. 19 Augusta Chronicle editorial
“He should have been dead two years ago … Every delay is awful for us every time. I’m not saying Davis’ family isn’t suffering either. But Davis had a choice. Mark didn’t … I want it to be over.”
— Anneliese MacPhail, mother of the murdered police officer, in the Aug. 19 New York Times
August 23rd, 2009 at 12:27 pm
I am a proponent of capital punishment, but I am very hopeful that Troy Davis will get a new hearing. Given the facts we have, putting him to death would not be justice.
August 23rd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Here’s Lee Camp’s spin on the decision:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jo6nTrLIOkI