This is exactly why the death penalty is a bad thing...

G-MAN2004 · 21 Sep 2011 at 20:20

A potentially innocent man is being executed in just a few hours in the US, despite no physical evidence against him.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/cases/usa-troy-davis

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.

http://m.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/21/troy-davis-10-reasons?cat=world&type=article

I wish him the best of luck.

RomanNose · 21 Sep 2011 at 20:22

Won't be the first innocent man to be executed in America, it's a shame that if it does go ahead it won't be anyone's responsibility.

Brian8bit · 21 Sep 2011 at 20:26

Stolly · 21 Sep 2011 at 20:38

There are too many innocent people in the world.

DAnDan · 21 Sep 2011 at 20:52

I would say the problem isn't the penalty itself, it's that it's being used in a case that (I'm just going by what you've said, I've not read the case myself) isn't proven.

Had he been proven (beyond doubt), then I wouldn't have too much problem with the use of the death penalty (for only the most serious crimes of course).

Monkeynut · 21 Sep 2011 at 20:54

To Kill a Mockingbird is a very apt story in this case.

Evilsod · 21 Sep 2011 at 20:57

I don't see why this is a failing of the death penalty and not a failing of the US justice system?

Glaucus · 21 Sep 2011 at 20:58

Yep it's crap.
And apparently there's no possible way to stop it.

Not only the witness's but isn't there massive doubt and evidence that the ballistic evidence was totally wrong/made up.

Death penalty should never be used, but used when there is such doubt is absolutely barbaric and I can't understand why they are going ahead. Everyone involved should now face death penalty for the murder of this man.

Glaucus · 21 Sep 2011 at 20:59

Evilsod said:
I don't see why this is a failing of the death penalty and not a failing of the US justice system?

It's both, a death penalty can never be rectified.

rexehuk · 21 Sep 2011 at 21:01

Looks guilty. Kill him.

jp_bl_68 · 21 Sep 2011 at 21:01

Evilsod said:
I don't see why this is a failing of the death penalty and not a failing of the US justice system?

Aren't they inextricably linked?

DAnDan · 21 Sep 2011 at 21:05

jp_bl_68 said:
Aren't they inextricably linked?

Depends on your opinion on the death penalty I guess. The case in point is that the problem lies with the court finding the wrong result. Any penalty would be wrong, it's just that giving him the death penalty is as wrong as it can get.

G-MAN2004 · 21 Sep 2011 at 21:07

Evilsod said:
I don't see why this is a failing of the death penalty and not a failing of the US justice system?

Because without the death penalty, the failings of any country's justice system would only result (in this case) in a potentially innocent person being imprisoned and not having their life taken away.

Morgoth · 21 Sep 2011 at 21:08

He doesn't even look like a baddie.

Antar Bolaeisk · 21 Sep 2011 at 21:08

The death penalty is definitely wrong, not only is there no going back if an innocent person is convicted, but it only punishes those left behind be they families or friends of the deceased.

It's also an easy way out for some of the scum who should be put to work in chain gangs.

kaffe · 21 Sep 2011 at 21:13

...state executing a ptentially innocent man this Wednesday.

If this is true that's awful.

But I'm sorry, the reporter can't type.

Killerkebab · 21 Sep 2011 at 21:17

A sad day for justice

They interviewed the victim's families and they said something along the lines of "now we can finally get justice". The death penalty is punishment for the sake of revenge and has no place in a civilised society imo

DampCat · 21 Sep 2011 at 21:18

G-MAN2004 said:
A potentially innocent man is being executed in just a few hours in the US, despite no physical evidence against him.

http://www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/cases/usa-troy-davis

http://m.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/sep/21/troy-davis-10-reasons?cat=world&type=article

I wish him the best of luck.

None of that is evidence against a death penalty. It's evidence against idiots in charge of a justice system.

Evilsod · 21 Sep 2011 at 21:22

G-MAN2004 said:
Because without the death penalty, the failings of any country's justice system would only result (in this case) in a potentially innocent person being imprisoned and not having their life taken away.

I'm not getting into a philosophical debate over the death penalty.

This has nothing to do with it. The real issue here is how woeful the US justice system obviously is if there is no physical evidence, lab reports are now considered to have been made up/wrong and witnesses have admitted to being pressured into it. There is a place for a death penalty but whether you agree with that sentiment or not, the man clearly doesn't even have enough evidence against him to justify being imprisoned never mind executed.

Moothead2 · 21 Sep 2011 at 21:24

Bloody hell, the witnesses sound like they were pulled straight out of a Phoenix Wright game if the story about their inconsistencies and contradictions is true.