SUPREME COURT REJECTS TROY DAVIS APPEAL
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:58 pm
People in the state of georgia need to stand up for this,and let their voices be heard.
Decision clears way for execution after last-minute stay in September.
The U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday rejected the latest attempt by
Troy Davis, a black man convicted in Georgia of killing a white police
officer, to stop his execution.
On Sept. 23, the court halted Davis's execution two hours before
he was scheduled to die as it considered his request for a new trial.
Davis has maintained his innocence and several witnesses at his 1991 trial have since recanted.
But yesterday, the court refused to consider the
constitutionality of executing a person when there is new,
substantial evidence to show he was not guilty of the crime,
thus opening the way for the state to reschedule his execution.
Civil Rights veteran, the Rev. Al Shaprton of the National Action
Network, says he is "deeply alarmed" at the Supreme Court's decision.
It is frightening and chilling that a man could be convicted of
a crime and sentenced to execution without testimony of witnesses,
no physical evidence or DNA evidence, and after seven of the nine witnesses recanted their testimony.
I visited Troy on Death Row before the last scheduled execution
and stood with his mother and sister on the day he was to be executed.
I will continue to support the family, and National Action Network will continue to stand with the lawyers as they re-argue this matter.
I will also attempt to talk with the Governor of Georgia to intervene so that this injustice is not carried out."
Decision clears way for execution after last-minute stay in September.
The U.S. Supreme Court Tuesday rejected the latest attempt by
Troy Davis, a black man convicted in Georgia of killing a white police
officer, to stop his execution.
On Sept. 23, the court halted Davis's execution two hours before
he was scheduled to die as it considered his request for a new trial.
Davis has maintained his innocence and several witnesses at his 1991 trial have since recanted.
But yesterday, the court refused to consider the
constitutionality of executing a person when there is new,
substantial evidence to show he was not guilty of the crime,
thus opening the way for the state to reschedule his execution.
Civil Rights veteran, the Rev. Al Shaprton of the National Action
Network, says he is "deeply alarmed" at the Supreme Court's decision.
It is frightening and chilling that a man could be convicted of
a crime and sentenced to execution without testimony of witnesses,
no physical evidence or DNA evidence, and after seven of the nine witnesses recanted their testimony.
I visited Troy on Death Row before the last scheduled execution
and stood with his mother and sister on the day he was to be executed.
I will continue to support the family, and National Action Network will continue to stand with the lawyers as they re-argue this matter.
I will also attempt to talk with the Governor of Georgia to intervene so that this injustice is not carried out."