Suspected killer loses final appeal in death row case (Troy Davis).

A US parole board has denied clemency to Troy Davis, clearing the way for his execution in a case that has become an international cause celebre for death penalty opponents.

"The board has considered the totality of the information presented in this case and thoroughly deliberated on it, after which the decision was to deny clemency," the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles said in its statement on Tuesday.

The panel, which convened on Monday in the state capital, Atlanta, and deliberated overnight, added that board members "have not taken their responsibility lightly, and certainly understand the emotions attached to a death penalty case", but nevertheless had rejected his appeal for clemency.

Davis was convicted of shooting to death an off-duty police officer who intervened in a brawl in a car park in Savannah, Georgia in 1989, but there was no physical evidence and several witnesses later recanted their testimony.

The campaign to spare his life drew high-profile support from former US president Jimmy Carter and Pope Benedict XVI, helping Davis escape three previous dates with death during more than two decades of legal manoeuvring.

All avenues now appear exhausted as Georgia's governor does not have the power to stay executions and experts said any last-minute filings to the state courts or the US Supreme Court would likely prove unsuccessful.

Barring an unexpected turn of events, Davis will be put to death by lethal injection at 2300 GMT on Wednesday (0900 AEST Thursday) at a prison in Jackson, south of Atlanta, with the victim's widow and children looking on.

"I am very convinced that he is guilty," Anneliese MacPhail, the mother of the slain police officer, Mark MacPhail, told CNN. "I will never have closure. But I may have some peace when he is executed."

MacPhail's widow, Joan MacPhail-Harris, described efforts to keep Davis from execution as a series of lies and said she and the couple's children, who were toddlers at the time of his murder, would attend the execution.

"We are the true victims here," she said.

But Davis repeatedly has maintained his innocence and his supporters pointed to a corrupted justice system in the deep South, saying a black man was wrongly and hastily convicted of killing a white police officer.

"I am utterly shocked and disappointed at the failure of our justice system at all levels to correct a miscarriage of justice," Davis lawyer Brian Kammer said as rights groups and anti-death penalty activists rushed to condemn the decision.

Amnesty International said the prosecution's case against Davis long ago had been shown to be flawed.

"Seven out of nine original state witnesses recanted or changed their original testimonies, some alleging police coercion," said Amnesty's US director, Larry Cox.

"Ten people have pointed to one of the remaining witnesses as the actual killer. There is no murder weapon that links Davis to the crime. Any notion of physical evidence that demonstrates Davis' guilt has been debunked."

Amnesty called a protest rally at the Georgia state capitol exactly 24 hours before Davis is due to become the 34th person to be executed in the United States this year.

At a protest outside Monday's parole board hearing, an estimated 150 to 200 demonstrators carried signs saying "Justice, Free Troy Davis" and "We are Troy Davis".

Another placard read "Too much Doubt. Save Troy Davis."

/Discuss.

I'm gonna go with not guilty do to no evidence, but I must confess that I haven't been following the case closely

The cop's last name made me lol. Also, this is pure B.S. No evidence and he is sentenced to death? I'm not the least surprised.

what made this murder worse than the countless others that dont result in death penalties?

Wouldn't people who support the death penalty want this to go back to trial? I mean, they always say the legal system gets it right most of the time, executions are warranted, etc., so if there's evidence affecting his case which has come to light since the last courtroom proceeding I would think they would want it to go back to trial in order to get it right. Anyways, I think it's ridiculous on Georgia's part, they're not even asking for a pardon from the penalty itself, merely a stay so that the case be re-opened. What message is Georgia sending by refusing that? They're sending the message that they don't care about getting the facts right, they just want to kill him.

Wouldn't people who support the death penalty want this to go back to trial? I mean, they always say the legal system gets it right most of the time, executions are warranted, etc., so if there's evidence affecting his case which has come to light since the last courtroom proceeding I would think they would want it to go back to trial in order to get it right. Anyways, I think it's ridiculous on Georgia's part, they're not even asking for a pardon from the penalty itself, merely a stay so that the case be re-opened. What message is Georgia sending by refusing that? They're sending the message that they don't care about getting the facts right, they just want to kill him.

theone86

what made this murder worse than the countless others that dont result in death penalties?

Dr_Manfattan

You mean "suspected killer."scorch-62

Wouldn't people who support the death penalty want this to go back to trial? I mean, they always say the legal system gets it right most of the time, executions are warranted, etc., so if there's evidence affecting his case which has come to light since the last courtroom proceeding I would think they would want it to go back to trial in order to get it right. Anyways, I think it's ridiculous on Georgia's part, they're not even asking for a pardon from the penalty itself, merely a stay so that the case be re-opened. What message is Georgia sending by refusing that? They're sending the message that they don't care about getting the facts right, they just want to kill him.

Wouldn't people who support the death penalty want this to go back to trial? I mean, they always say the legal system gets it right most of the time, executions are warranted, etc., so if there's evidence affecting his case which has come to light since the last courtroom proceeding I would think they would want it to go back to trial in order to get it right. Anyways, I think it's ridiculous on Georgia's part, they're not even asking for a pardon from the penalty itself, merely a stay so that the case be re-opened. What message is Georgia sending by refusing that? They're sending the message that they don't care about getting the facts right, they just want to kill him.

theone86

i've got to agree, cases like this can only harm death penalty supporters arguments.

i can't say whether i'm fully in support of the death penalty, but if it is to be used it has to be used only on cases where the defendant is 100% guilty.

He's not suspected if he's been convicted.

I dont know the details of the case. Hard for me to say.

He's not suspected if he's been convicted.

airshocker

He's not suspected if he's been convicted.

airshocker

Usually, being convicted is the result of having enough evidence that the defendant is actually guilty.

[QUOTE="airshocker"]

He's not suspected if he's been convicted.

shoot-first

Usually, being convicted is the result of having enough evidence that the defendant is actually guilty.

This is another case that appears to be the cops word vs. the citizen's word. There wasn't evidence and witnesses recanted. That's all the evidence they had other than some possible dbag cop's word it seems. I call him a dbag because many just abuse their power adn all they have to say is that the "perp" did it and that's that. What happened to the days of legitimate evidence and not hearsay and circumstantial crap b.s. It used to take a body and a motive and a weapon to convict people and witnesses helped the prosecution extensively. Now, all you have to have is a body and some fools word that he thinks they were capable of it. The legal system is a sham in many cases and minorities especially get a b.s. shake. This case sounds like a gross misuse of justice to condemn an innocent man. The state has to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the defendant did what was accused. That means a preponderance of EVIDENCE and not one person's word. If that was the case, then all I have to do is blame some poor schmo that I hate, especially if they have less money or status than me. The onus is on the state to prove he was guilty and they f***ed up bad. Great job dumba**es.

He's not suspected if he's been convicted.airshocker

Because everyone who has ever been convicted has always been guilty. :roll:scorch-62

I'm not speaking to whether he's innocent or guilty. The fact is he was convicted. You're no longer a suspect when that happens.

I think there are some strong racial implications here, considering the setting. I mean, I lived in Georgia and don't get me wrong, its pretty normal, but I know it kind of has a bit of a history with some racial issues. Not to mention the lack of physical evidence. I feel for the victim's families, but I think the posibility of killing an innocent man isn't worth it.

Nothing would be worse then them finding out evidence later that he was completely innocent. This is why the US really shouldn't maintain the death sentence anymore.

[QUOTE="scorch-62"]Because everyone who has ever been convicted has always been guilty. :roll:airshocker

I'm not speaking to whether he's innocent or guilty. The fact is he was convicted. You're no longer a suspect when that happens.

Yeah, I agree. Just an example of how words can sway opinion. It undeniably is more factually correct to call him a "convicted killer" rather than a "suspected killer". But it's like, I don't think he did it, and I realize that "convicted killer" absolutely DOES give off a different vibe than "suspected killer". So, we'll call him a "suspected killer" even though that's deliberately manipulative.

Yes, as damning as it sounds, we should call him what he is: a CONVICTED killer.

Now, as far as whether or not he actually DID kill the guy...that's another matter. I'm gonna start by saying that I absolutely haven't been following this guy's situation, so I'm taking anything I see with a grain of salt. However, IF the situation is entirely accurate (convicted based on no physical evidence, witnessing retracting their statements, possible coercion, etc), then it's just SHAMEFUL that he's still getting executed. That's not to say that he didn't do it. But if there's that much possibility of innocence, there's absolutely no freaking way that he should be put to death.

i remember in high school, since i live near atlanta, there was a rally or something protesting him being put to death. a kid in one of my classes was wearing a shirt that said "i am troy davis" and i asked him about it and he told me what was up, that there was some controversy over whether or not he actually did the crime. i support the death penalty, but imo, if there is this much confusion over whether or not the guy is guilty (ie. witnesses later recanting their statements) then they shouldn't put the person to death.

Based on what I've read on multiple websites, the case seems flimsy at best. If what the reports say are accurate, I cannot believe he is going to be executed. I read in another article that the board has not overturned one of their own decisions in over 30 years. Basically, he was doomed from the start. They should have tried to get to the Supreme Court as soon as possible.stanleycup98

This is if the media is telling us the whole story. You guys know how they love to stir up drama with half truths and left out details. I will not say that he is either guilty or innocent based on what I have read in the media because it can be misleading.

yeah this is so fracked up, its not even funny. The fact that it has gotten so much publicity (I remember reading about during college like five years ago or so) for so long is also bogus; questionable/faulty witness, police corruption, no physical evidence (fingerprints, DNA, etc), etc.

Doesn't that, I dont know, provide doubt? And don't we have to prove beyond a doubt in order to convict someone?

When "seven of the nine witnesses against him have recanted or contradicted their testimony," I would say that's damn good reason to take another look at the case. It's a travesty if this execution takes place.

EDIT: It's possible they've taken that into account and there's still enough evidence against him. I'm not exactly informed on the details of this case. However, when I see that kind of a statement, it makes me seriuosly question the conviction.

No murder weapon

No DNA

Witnesses all recanted

Police Coercion

mixed up evidence

coerced testimony.

The Judge, cops involved, and parole board need to be checked out because that is BS and if they can do it to him, they can do it to anyone

First time I heard about this case, but if it true about the evidence, witnesses, and such,then seems like it has been a **** up case and they could be killing a innocent man.

He was convicted in 1991 of killing MacPhail, who was working as a security guard at the time. MacPhail rushed to the aid of a homeless man who prosecutors said Davis was bashing with a handgun after asking him for a beer. Prosecutors said Davis had a smirk on his face as he shot the officer to death in a Burger King parking lot in Savannah.CBS News

As for not finding a handgun, how many remember the guy who police shot and someone took off with the weapon only to turn it in later, I believe it was SF where it happened and resulted in at least 5 pages of arguments in this thread. Police shot that man because he shot at them while running from a train station.

I cannot ascertain if Davis is guilty or not nor can anyone else here or around the world who has signed online petitions or ranted about it via Facebook were present when the killing took place. If someone else really shot the cop, why hasn't he come right out and said so instead of relying on someone else to say it? Why not turn himself in? While it could be the killer might want to remain unknown and let a dupe take the fall for him, it could be that the state actually got the conviction right and there was no one else.

[quote="CBS News"]

He was convicted in 1991 of killing MacPhail, who was working as a security guard at the time. MacPhail rushed to the aid of a homeless man who prosecutors said Davis was bashing with a handgun after asking him for a beer. Prosecutors said Davis had a smirk on his face as he shot the officer to death in a Burger King parking lot in Savannah.

As for not finding a handgun, how many remember the guy who police shot and someone took off with the weapon only to turn it in later, I believe it was SF where it happened and resulted in at least 5 pages of arguments in this thread. Police shot that man because he shot at them while running from a train station.

I cannot ascertain if Davis is guilty or not nor can anyone else here or around the world who has signed online petitions or ranted about it via Facebook were present when the killing took place. If someone else really shot the cop, why hasn't he come right out and said so instead of relying on someone else to say it? Why not turn himself in? While it could be the killer might want to remain unknown and let a dupe take the fall for him, it could be that the state actually got the conviction right and there was no one else.

If someone else really shot the cop, why hasn't he come right out and said so instead of relying on someone else to say it? Why not turn himself in?WhiteKnight77

[QUOTE="WhiteKnight77"]If someone else really shot the cop, why hasn't he come right out and said so instead of relying on someone else to say it? Why not turn himself in?Genesis-X

crisis these people could be sending an innocent man to death. what the hell is wrong with them.

crisis these people could be sending an innocent man to death. what the hell is wrong with them.

TheShadowLord07

Like I said in the other thread. Racism at its finest America...MgamerBD

Like I said in the other thread. Racism at its finest America...MgamerBD

[QUOTE="MgamerBD"]Like I said in the other thread. Racism at its finest America...Mafiree

[QUOTE="Mafiree"][QUOTE="MgamerBD"]Like I said in the other thread. Racism at its finest America...MgamerBD

[QUOTE="MgamerBD"]Like I said in the other thread. Racism at its finest America...Piroshki