Troy Anthony Davis-Georgia-9/21/2011

[Simpleaim]

I just heard on the news that he's been denied clemency.

[Grinning Grim Reaper]

Troy Davis execution: Georgia pardons board denies clemency

Georgia man who insists he was wrongly convicted of killing a police officer in 1989 set to be executed on Wednesday

Georgia's pardons board has rejected clemency for death row inmate Troy Davis, who has attracted high-profile support for his claim that he was wrongly convicted of killing a police officer in 1989.

According to his defence lawyers, the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles on Tuesday rejected Davis' request for clemency after hearing hours of testimony from his supporters and prosecutors.

"I am utterly shocked and disappointed at the failure of our justice system at all levels to correct a miscarriage of justice," Brian Kammer, one of Davis's attorneys, said after the decision was announced.

Davis is set to die on Wednesday for the murder of off-duty Savannah officer Mark MacPhail, who was killed while rushing to help a homeless man who was being attacked. It is the fourth time in four years his execution has been scheduled by Georgia officials.

David was convicted at a 1991 trial almost exclusively on the basis of nine witnesses who all said they had seen him carry out the shooting. Davis was present at the scene, but has always insisted that another man, Sylvester Coles, attacked the homeless man and shot MacPhail when he intervened.

The murder weapon was never found, and there was no DNA or other forensic evidence.

In the years since the trial, seven of the nine witnesses have come forward and recanted their evidence, saying they were put under pressure to implicate Davis by the investigating police. Other witnesses have come forward to say that they had heard Coles confess to killing the police officer.

The parole board heard from one of the jurors who originally recommended the death penalty for Davis. Brenda Forrest told the panel that she no longer trusted the verdict or sentence: "I feel, emphatically, that Mr Davis cannot be executed under these circumstances," she said, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

The board also heard from Quiana Glover, who testified that she had heard Coles confess in June 2009 to having been the killer, at a party where he had been drinking heavily.

Following the arguments for clemency, members of MacPhail's family and
the prosecution side were expected to call for the execution to go ahead.

Brian Evans, a death row specialist at Amnesty International's US branch, said that the extraordinary outpouring of support for Davis was partly of a reflection of changing attitudes in America towards executions.

Opinion polls suggest the US has softened its view from its once hardline pro-capital punishment position, and is now fairly evenly divided between defenders of the death penalty and those who see life without parole as a satisfactory alternative.

The Guardian

[Freedom]

You are right:

ATLANTA, Ga. - Georgia's pardons board rejected Tuesday a last-ditch plea for clemency from death row inmate Troy Davis despite high-profile support for his claim that he was wrongly convicted of killing a police officer in 1989.

Davis is set to die on Wednesday for the killing of off-duty Savannah officer Mark MacPhail, who was slain while rushing to help a homeless man being attacked. It is the fourth time in four years his execution has been scheduled by Georgia officials.

Steve Hayes, spokesman for the Board of Pardons and Paroles, said the panel decided to rejected Davis' request for clemency after hearing hours of testimony from his supporters and prosecutors.

The decision appeared to leave Davis with little chance of avoiding the execution date. Defense attorney Jason Ewart has said that the pardons board was likely Davis' last option.

Davis' lawyers have long argued Davis was a victim of mistaken identity. But prosecutors say they have no doubt that they charged the right person with the crime.

MacPhail's relatives said they were relieved by the decision. "That's what we wanted, and that's what we got," said Anneliese MacPhail, the victim's mother. "We wanted to get it over with, and for him to get his punishment."

"Justice was finally served for my father," said Mark MacPhail Jr., who was an infant when his father was gunned down. "The truth was finally heard."

Kim Davis, the inmate's sister, declined immediate comment on the decision.

Amnesty International USA director Larry Cox said in a statement that the decision was "unconscionable."

"Should Troy Davis be executed, Georgia may well have executed an innocent man and in so doing discredited the justice system," Cox said.
 

 source: http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/dpp/news/local_news/wait-continues-for-troy-davis-decision

[Grinning Grim Reaper]

Amnesty International USA director Larry Cox said in a statement that the decision was "unconscionable."

"Should Troy Davis be executed, Georgia may well have executed an innocent man and in so doing discredited the justice system," Cox said.

You can scream yourselves hoarse ANTIs...and it won't do one bit of good!

[AlanUK]

At last somebody has stood up and been counted. I hope justice will be served tomorrow. Go Georgia. Mr. Davis your Journey on the Gurney ticket is ready for collection.

[0000]

Woah, never thought I'd see this case end either way! The press around this case has been quoted/re-quoted so many times now nearly all the news stories say the same old soundbites, and have been doing for what seems like forever.

After watching this case for a few years I can say I don't think I've ever seen a case develop this much hype. I think amnesty's email to the board (which obviously did not have much of an effect) was their single biggest email action ever...

The reaction to this will be huge.

[JeffB]

"I am utterly shocked and disappointed at the failure of our justice system at all levels to correct a miscarriage of justice," Brian Kammer, one of Davis's attorneys, said after the decision was announced.

I imagine that that's verbatim from page 1 of the capital defense attorney's playbook under the category of "we failed to keep the murderer alive".



Brian Evans, a death row specialist at Amnesty International's US branch, said that the extraordinary outpouring of support for Davis was partly of a reflection of changing attitudes in America towards executions.

Opinion polls suggest the US has softened its view from its once hardline pro-capital punishment position, and is now fairly evenly divided between defenders of the death penalty and those who see life without parole as a satisfactory alternative.


Bullshit Brian.....  Evidently you weren't watching the Repubican debate when the audience practically gave Rick Perry a standing ovation when he was questioned about Texas's volume of executions under his watch...   

[deeg]

Even in liberal CA support for the death penalty is in the mid 60%.  Not exactly 50/50. 

Dee

[Denis]

Georgia Senator Joins SCHR to Urge Execution Staff to Strike & Refuse to Kill Troy Davis

Date of Publication: 09/20/2011
Atlanta – Today, the day before Troy Anthony Davis is scheduled to be put to death by lethal injection, Georgia Senate Democratic Whip Vincent Fort and Southern Center for Human Rights Executive Director Sara Totonchi have issued a joint statement calling upon the individuals charged with carrying out the execution to refuse to participate in the killing of a possibly innocent man. 

Davis is scheduled to be executed on Wednesday, September 21 at 7:00pm at Georgia Diagnostics & Classifications Prison in Jackson, Georgia. The statement, included below and sent to all parties mentioned, appeals to the basic humanity of individuals who each play roles in carrying out an execution including the private medical company that contracts with the state to be involved in executions and the Corrections staff at the prison.   

Statement from Senator Vincent Fort and Sara Totonchi to Those Who Will Carry Out the Execution of Troy Davis

“The execution of Troy Davis is immoral and wrong.  Almost all of the witnesses against him have recanted.  The courts and the parole board have failed to use their power to prevent this imminent miscarriage of justice. However, Troy Davis' execution cannot take place unless human beings at the Georgia Diagnostic & Classifications Prison make it happen.  They can refuse to kill Troy Davis.
 
We call on Dr. Carlo Musso, CEO of Rainbow Medical Associates, the organization contracted by the Georgia Department of Corrections to oversee executions, to decline to participate and not allow any physician or other medical personnel associated with his companies to participate in the immoral execution of a possibly innocent man, Troy Davis.  We also call on all employees of Dr. Musso’s businesses, Rainbow Medical Associates and CorrectHealth, Inc., who have any involvement with implementing the Georgia Department of Corrections execution protocol, to refuse to participate in the execution of Troy Davis. Remember your humanity and that your oath is to facilitate healing, not killing!

We are calling for a general strike or sick-out by all but a skeleton staff of the Georgia Diagnostic Prison on September 21st, 2011.  We say to the prison staff: If you work on that day, you will enable the prison to carry out the execution of a possibly innocent man.  Please remember your humanity! 
 
We specifically call on Georgia Diagnostic Prison Warden Carl Humphrey to refuse to carry out the execution of Troy Davis, because he may be innocent.  Warden Humphrey, remember your humanity.   You have the power to stop this immoral execution.  Use it!
 
We call on the Deputy Warden of the Georgia Diagnostic Prison to refuse to prepare the lethal injection drugs for injection into Troy Davis' veins.  You have the power to disrupt this immoral execution.  Remember your humanity and refuse to participate!!

We call on the prison nurses, who prepare the IV lines through which lethal chemicals will flow through Troy Davis' veins:  Refuse to participate in the execution of Troy Davis, because he may be innocent.  You are human beings who have the power to stop this immoral execution.  Your oath is to facilitate healing, not killing!
 
We call on the corrections officers who are assigned to strap Troy Davis to the lethal injection table:  Refuse to carry out your tasks tomorrow!  You have the power to stop this immoral execution.  Call in sick!
 
We call on the members of the Injection Team:  Strike!  Do not follow your orders!  Do not start the flow of the lethal injection chemicals.  If you refuse to participate, you make it that much harder for this immoral execution to be carried out.
 
Each and every one of you are human beings with the power to refuse and resist participation in an immoral execution of a man who may be innocent. We implore you to use this power. Please remember your humanity!”


Media Contact: Kathryn Hamoudah 404/688-1202 khamoudah@schr.org

http://www.schr.org/action/resources/georgia_senator_joins_schr_to_urge_execution_staff_to_strike_refuse_to_kill_troy_da

[JTiscool]

I'm sorry to ask this but please list the evidence that shows he is guilty. I need to be reassured because I made a horrible mistake of looking at the in session page @_@

No, I think he is guilty as sin but I want the evidence to shove up the page's 

[Simpleaim]

Go to this page

http://www.crimeandconsequences.com/crimblog/

It shows a summary of the orders from the hearing in Savannah. Davis is guilty. The "recanted" witness fantasy is false.

[Simpleaim]

But then again, antis never bother themselves with facts, only rumours.

[JTiscool]

Thank you. I had a retard moment. Reading too much liberal crap does that to you 

[Sylar24]

i'm so glad to se this one getting done with this case was the one that made me absolutly pro DP as i belive all cop killer must die!

[Granny B]

"Georgia Senate Democratic Whip Vincent Fort...... issued a joint statement calling upon the individuals charged with carrying out the execution to refuse to participate in the killing of a possibly innocent man."

Guess who most likely will not get re-elected to office!



Picture of Troy Anthony Davis


But lest we forget, let's remember Davis' victim and his family.
 
Slain officer's son: "I never knew my father"
Posted: Aug 19, 2009 3:31 PM CDT Updated: Jun 22, 2010 3:10 PM CDT

    
Mark Allen MacPhail Sr.        Mark MacPhail Jr.

By Don Logana - bio | email

SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - Twenty years ago, 27-year-old Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail was shot and killed in a parking lot.

On Wednesday, exactly two decades after his death, friends, family, supporters and others honored his memory with a rally and wreath laying ceremony.

See 20th anniversary rally of MacPhail murder.

Wednesday morning's rally at the Chatham County courthouse was about remembering a man who had lost his life in the line of duty, leaving behind a wife and two small children.

"I was too young and this is my chance to say goodbye Daddy," said his son, Mark MacPhail Jr. at the rally. "To tell him how I feel and we all still think about him. I never knew my father, only from what other people tell me about him and how much I look like him."

A picture of officer MacPhail covered signs and shirts as a large group of supporters came out to honor his memory and remember how he was killed.

"It's heartening. It makes me swell to know people still think about him and care to see justice done," MacPhail Jr. said.

"It was my worst nightmare. Any officer's worst nightmare," Sgt. David Owens with Savannah-Chatham police told WTOC.

Owens was the first officer on the scene the early morning of August 19, 1989. He found MacPhail face down in the parking lot.

"I did what I could to save his life. I tried so hard. The fact that Mark Jr. is here is a living testament. It was very difficult," Owens said.

"You did your best," MacPhail Jr. told him.

The 20th anniversary of Officer MacPhail's death falls just days after the man convicted of murdering him, Troy Anthony Davis, was granted another hearing in federal court by the US Supreme Court to prove his innocence.

See Supreme Court grants Davis another hearing.

The MacPhail family says they have faith in the justice system.

"Justice will prevail. Justice will prevail. Justice will prevail," the group said at the rally, many of which were wearing shirts and carrying signs that said, "Justice delayed is justice denied."

After the rally, the group marched to a police memorial at the intersection of Oglethorpe and Habersham in Savannah for a wreath laying ceremony.

The MacPhail family and Owens helped place a wreath at the police memorial in honor of MacPhail Sr. and other fallen law enforcement officers.

"This is about honoring him and getting the truth out there," MacPhail Jr. said.

"The support from the people who do believe in what's right, I'm speechless," Owens said.

Among other speakers at the rally were retired Savannah police chief David Gellatly, who called MacPhail, "the best of the best."

But what many MacPhail supporters say is a delay of justice will continue as the Federal District Court waits to set a date for Davis' evidentiary hearing.

http://www.wtoc.com/story/10958004/slain-officers-son-i-never-knew-my-father