Texas executes wrong man!

[alhoon]

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0515/tex...89-report.html
The gist: Because of various mistakes and coincidence, the wrong man was executed in 1989 for a crime he didn't commit.

That is why I believe Death penalty should be abolished. Because there is a chance, even small chance that you'll kill the wrong guy. A life sentence means that a guilty criminal will not disturb the people anymore. Death penalty while it could potentionally be considered deterent, has too high a cost: It can kill the wrong person.


Of especial importance is this
"Up to the day he died in prison of cirrhosis of the liver, Hernandez repeatedly admitted to murdering Wanda Lopez, Liebman said."

I wonder, what will happen to the investigators that gathered up a hasty trial, ignored clues and led an innocent man to his unjust death?

[Sphere]

If you really want to be outraged read about the Connick v. Thompson case recently decided by the Supreme Court.

It is a blank check for prosecutorial misconduct.

[MathiasOfAthens]

If you really want to be outraged read about the Connick v. Thompson case recently decided by the Supreme Court.

It is a blank check for prosecutorial misconduct.

Uning believable:

But Justice Thomas ignores substantial evidence in the record that Connick’s office was a virtual cesspool of prosecutorial misconduct. Indeed, at least four prosecutors were aware of the withheld evidence in Thompson’s armed robbery trial. The responsible prosecutor had actually confessed to a colleague that he had withheld the lab report. Connick had had a number of prior convictions reversed for Brady violations. Connick himself openly admitted to never having cracked a law book subsequent to becoming district attorney in 1974.

I wonder if Thomas ever cracked a law book?

Guy spends 14 years on death row and doesnt even get a penny of compensation...

[Treize]

Uncivilised country is being uncivilised. No big deal really.

[Blaze86420]

Uncivilised country is being uncivilised. No big deal really.

Texas isn't a country.

[Col. Tartleton]

Texas isn't a country.

Yes it is.

Country: A nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory.

Texas is a group of people, it has a state government, and its' got territory.

[Stavroforos]

Yes it is.

Country: A nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory.

Texas is a group of people, it has a state government, and its' got territory.

Just like England and Scotland are countries, good one.

[HissingNewt]

Texas isn't a country.

Not yet.

[ivan_the_terrible]

Not yet.

You mean not anymore...

[HissingNewt]

You mean not anymore...

Texas will rise again!

[Their Law]

It was going to happen eventually. If you support the death penalty you have to accept that this will occur.

[Abendstern]

It was going to happen eventually. If you support the death penalty you have to accept that this will occur.

Its not like locking someone innocent away for what 23 years is any better. Their life is ruined either way and the damage cant be undone.

[John I Tzimisces]

This is my only qualm with the death penalty. It doesn't seem worth it, to me, if you execute 99 men who are absolutely guilty and one man who turned out to be innocent.

[Babur]

This is my only qualm with the death penalty. It doesn't seem worth it, to me, if you execute 99 men who are absolutely guilty and one man who turned out to be innocent.

if only necromancy was possible

but on-topic, if I recall correctly one of the last cases of capital punishment in the UK was also a miscarriage of justice?

[mrmouth]

This is my only qualm with the death penalty. It doesn't seem worth it, to me, if you execute 99 men who are absolutely guilty and one man who turned out to be innocent.

Name me a perfect system?

[boofhead]

If you support the death penalty you have to accept that this will occur.

Unless it was applied when the evidence is 100% certain, e.g. 200 witnesses, 40 bodies buried in a man's basement, caught on camera with no doubt as to identity etc etc. Up the ante on the evidence.

''Beyond 'reasonable' doubt'' doesn't cut it when it comes to the DP.

''Beyond any doubt'' does.

[Primo]

http://www.twcenter.net/forums/newth...newthread&f=19

Why do you link us to the "post a new thread in the political mudpit"- site?

[DarthLazy]

Why do you link us to the "post a new thread in the political mudpit"- site?

I mean no one noticed?

[Primo]

I mean no one noticed?

Yeah, and no one but you noticed my post, either.

[alhoon]

Why do you link us to the "post a new thread in the political mudpit"- site?

Sorry. Edited my first post

I'm kind of on the fence about the death penalty, for one it ensures that us taxpayers aren't paying for the scum of the earth's free lodging, free food, and free healthcare. Unfortunately, as has been shown, there is a chance of the wrong person being killed.

Yeah, but the cost of the trial and investigation that goes before a man is sentenced to death (not in this case, I mean generally) is usually bigger than the cost of keeping them alive in a cell.

while still having one of the most just legal systems in the world, accidentally execute the wrong man and hear endless hubub about it.

Any official report that USA's legal system is one of the most just in the world? Because if it's just an opinion, I have to say that I disagree.

A legal system where three strikes get you landed in jail forever, that has death penalty, that in some states Marijuana is considered worse than Crystal Meth, that has a window for things like "I punched him and he fell from the steps and died. I didn't mean to kill him" = involuntary manslaughter etc...

Is not one of the most just in the world.