Comment from Scott Cobb
Time August 26, 2009 at 10:47 am PDT

The Texas death penalty has recently received two major blows, the trial of Sharon Keller on charges of incompetence and misconduct and now the news that Texas probably executed an innocent person.

If you are shocked that Texas executed a person who was innocent of the crime for which he was executed, then join us in Austin at the Texas Capitol on October 24, 2009 for the 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty.

http://www.marchforabolition.org

At the 7th Annual March in 2006, the family of Todd Willingham attended and delivered a letter to Governor Perry that said in part:

“We are the family of Cameron Todd Willingham. Our names are Eugenia Willingham, Trina Willingham Quinton and Joshua Easley. Todd was an innocent person executed by Texas on February 17, 2004. We have come to Austin today from Ardmore, Oklahoma to stand outside the Texas Governor’s Mansion and attempt to deliver this letter to you in person, because we want to make sure that you know about Todd’s innocence and to urge you to stop executions in Texas and determine why innocent people are being executed in Texas.”

“Please ensure that no other family suffers the tragedy of seeing one of their loved ones wrongfully executed. Please enact a moratorium on executions and create a special blue ribbon commission to study the administration of the death penalty in Texas. Texas also needs a statewide Office of Public Defenders for Capital Cases. Such an office will go a long way towards preventing innocent people from being executed. A moratorium will ensure that no other innocent people are executed while the system is being studied and reforms implemented.”

Now is one of the most critical times ever to organize and march against the Texas death penalty.

Come to Austin for the 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty.

Comment from Rachael
Time August 26, 2009 at 2:32 pm PDT

I don’t believe the news that an innocent man may well have been executed will come as any surprise to those who have any experience of the Texas judicial system. What is disturbing is that even given stories such as this one, the state of Texas continues to pursue other executions where the evidence is equally shaky. The case of Tony Egbuna Ford is one such case.

Convicted SOLELY on eyewitness ID, the case against Tony consisted of an “identification” whereby Tony appeared at number 5 in the photo spread. The witness picked out number 4. The number 4 was subsequently overwritten with the number 5 with no explanation by the detective in the case. (Tony’s attorney has copies of both the original and amended statements). The second eyewitness picked Tony out of the same line up her sister saw AFTER seeing Tony’s face plastered all over the news and having ample time to discuss the photo spread with her sister. The eyewitnesses were asked just moments before trial “does that look like the man who shot your brother?” whilst prosecutor’s pointed at Tony from outside the courtroom. The eyewitnesses said only “maybe”. Yet moments later they testified they were positive it was him.

Tony’s case has far more depth to it than this space will allow, and it isn’t an isolated case – many many cases exist where the evidence is at best flimsy. It is about time people let those in power know we will no longer accept this. Justice isn’t about making someone pay for a crime. It’s about making the right person pay.

Comment from Tully
Time August 26, 2009 at 3:43 pm PDT

This illustrates my only real (and it’s very real and substantial) objection to the death penalty — that it should be reserved for cases in which the defendant is guilty beyond any doubt, not just beyond a reasonable one. We know from repeated examples that innocent people can indeed be convicted on less-than-certain evidence, that witnesses can be mistaken, that jail-house snitches are unreliable, and that prosecutors can and sometimes do push through questionable convictions. I don’t know that Cameron Todd Willingham was innocent, but the evidentiary review indicates that there certainly IS serious doubt about his guilt, major problems with the evidence and identifications and testimony that the jury and judge were not allowed to consider.

If someone is wrongfully convicted of a crime and sentenced to life without parole, there is still the chance for mistakes to be corrected. Once they’ve been executed, there is no such chance. Clearing one’s name does not bring them back from the grave. There should be a higher standard of proof for the death penalty.

Comment from Stephen Greene
Time August 26, 2009 at 8:50 pm PDT

IMO Mr. Todd Willingham had bad lawyers. How could his lawyers not get him off?
Did he go through all of his appeals? Just like Mr. Michael Richard did not get his apppeals in on time and the lawyers are blaming the judge for closing at 5.
Guess all days plus the hour time difference is not enough for laywers!
JMO!

Comment from Stephen Greene
Time August 27, 2009 at 2:04 pm PDT

“They took our daughter, they raped her, they murdered her and they tortured her. They didn’t just kill her,” said Gary Christian, Channon’s father. “If there’s ever a case in this state that deserved the death penalty… What were they thinking?”

“They let us down,” said Mary Newsom, Chris’ mother. “I feel like we let Chris down. We told Chris we’d get them all.”
—————————–
Its a shame this case did not happen in Texas. All 4 would get the DP!

Comment from Tina Church
Time August 28, 2009 at 12:51 pm PDT

With all due respect Mr. Greene, it wasn’t until I received a letter late January 2004 less than a month from when Mr. Willingham was scheduled to die. I got the ball rolling and getting a fire expert Dr. Gerald Hurst. It might behoove you to learn the judicial system in Texas, and know that it is broken, not just flawed.

Comment from Interested
Time August 28, 2009 at 1:13 pm PDT

Tully :
If someone is wrongfully convicted of a crime and sentenced to life without parole, there is still the chance for mistakes to be corrected. Once they’ve been executed, there is no such chance. Clearing one’s name does not bring them back from the grave. There should be a higher standard of proof for the death penalty.

Not always Tully,

Often the life sentence does not afford the same opportunities for appeals or trial on new evidence that death row does afford. A life in prison without the possibility of anyone reviewing the case again is still a death sentence – just a much longer one.

I’m not saying that’d be a reason to execute I’m saying it’s another indicator that the judicial system in it’s entirety needs a serious examination.

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Time August 28, 2009 at 11:43 pm PDT

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