Quote:
Originally Posted by capt_noonie  What was the crime?
I can't believe he sits in prison for 20 years, yet Casey Anthony is free. |
A brief summary of the situation is that basically during the 80's a police officer was shot and several witnesses implicated Troy Davis as the gunman.
The weapon was never found. However, since then I believe 6 of the 7 witnesses have recanted their testimony. Some have indicated that the police stated that if they did not implicate Troy Davis then they will go down as an accomplice. Another witness was asked to sign a testimony provided to them, although the witness later admitted to being illiterate so he had no idea what he was agreeing/signing. The last witness who has yet to recant his testimony is according to several of the witnesses, the true gunman-- who were at the time afraid to come forward.
While DNA evidence is not necessary to convict someone of murder (the weapon was never found) the circumstantial evidence of this case (i.e., witness testimony) has fallen apart. Time and time again Troy Davis has asked for a new evidence hearing so that the new found evidence (i.e., witnesses asserting that police coercion took place) can be brought for possibility of a new trial, however I think last time I heard the judge ruled that there was no evidence of police coercion so they denied his request.
Apart from national attention to this death penalty case, the international community has also pleaded that Georgia not sentence this man to death. Many of the European powers have admonished Georgia for keeping this man on death row. Although, I cannot know for certain if he is guilty or not, all I know is that people have been set free (i.e., Casey Anthony) on much more solid (in my opinion) circumstantial evidence.