Troy Davis

I have kept myself busy all day, but it's been a very sobering, heavy heart kind of day for me. I just learned yesterday about a man named Troy Davis. This New York Times editorial is where I first learned about him and his case.He is a Georgia state inmate facing the death penalty for killing a police officer. His execution has been scheduled and then postponed for appeals four times.

His execution was scheduled for four hours ago, but there was a (very) last-minute temporary stay from the Supreme Court. As I write this, the Supreme Court has decided not to block the execution any longer. It is set to take place in the next half an hour.

I don't know whether he is guilty or innocent, but the case against him has many problems. The case lacks much physical evidence and is mostly based on the testimony of nine eyewitnesses. From the editorial:

The Savannah police contaminated the memories of four witnesses by re-enacting the crime with them present so that their individual perceptions were turned into a group one

The police showed some of the witnesses Mr. Davis’s photograph even before the lineup.

His lineup picture was set apart by a different background.

The lineup was also administered by a police officer involved in the investigation, increasing the potential for influencing the witnesses.       

Seven of nine witnesses against Mr. Davis recanted after trial.

Six said the police threatened them if they did not identify Mr. Davis.

The man who first told the police that Mr. Davis was the shooter later confessed to the crime (and is one of the two eyewitnesses who did not recant).

The United States should not be on this list of countries that still practice the death penalty. I'm not up on my geography, so tell me if I am wrong, but the U.S. appears to be one of two developed countries (Japan being the other).

I'm categorically against the death penalty, but realize it probably will not be repealed. That aside, I think it is reprehensible that a man is being executed when there is this much doubt.

I am not proud to be an American today.