Thanks for the tip Covington. This is a chilling story about the 23-year death row imprisonment and ultimate execution of what was almost certainly an innocent man. It has all the hallmarks of a police investigation gone wrong: shoddy evidence collection, conflicting testimony ignored, evidence witheld from the defense and, worst of all, a case based almost entirely on eyewitness identification.
Can we rationalize application of a death penalty in a system this imperfect? I have to say, no.
I whole-heartedly concur. This barbarism must end NOW.
ReplyDeleteAnother possible one tomorrow - the state is refusing to allow DNA tests that could exonerate him, despite the fact that at the time that the coroner determined the crime occurred, the inmate had an alibi.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-dna27jun27,1,707412.story?coll=la-headlines-nation&track=crosspromo
Is it just me, or do prosecutors seem to have an unnatural aversion to DNA testing?
ReplyDeleteHate to be cynical, but they're only against DNA testing when they think they've convicted an innocent.
ReplyDeleteBesides - most of the time, it's just a NEEEEgro being killed, so why go through the ordeal of trying to actually find innocence?
ReplyDeleteNow, if a rich white boy gets convicted for something (or even accused - anyone played Lacrosse against Duke lately?), then every available option will be available.
WF
Good point Wes. That's one of the lessons from this stupid Duke case. Also, note who the suspect was in the Corpus case - a Mexican-American. They grabbed the first cholo they could find, did a show-up ID, and had the gas station back up and running within an hour.
ReplyDelete