Did Texas Execute An Innocent Man?  |
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|  ...and is Governor Perry now trying to cover it up by replacing three members of the Texas Forensic Science Commission who were investigating the case as they reached a crucial point in their investigation?
Cameron Todd Willingham was convicted of the 1991 murder of his three daughters who died in a fire the jury was convinced had been arson. He was executed in 2004, despite evidence that the fire had not been arson. Here's an excerpt from the article for which I have provided the link below:
The Beyler report concluded that the ruling of arson at the heart of Willingham's conviction "could not be sustained" by modern science or the standards of the time. The report, filed in August, said the state fire marshal who testified in Willingham's trial approached his job with an attitude "more characteristic of mystics or psychics" than with that of a detective who followed scientific standards.
Here's the link (hope it's clickable!): http://www.cnn.com/2009/C...
Here's more from the article:
Innocence Project co-founder Barry Scheck compared the shake-up to the Watergate scandal's "Saturday Night Massacre," when embattled President Richard Nixon sought the removal of a special prosecutor investigating his administration.
"Rather than let this important hearing go forward and the report be heard, the governor fires the independent chairman and two other members of this commission," Scheck said. "It's like Nixon firing Archibald Cox to avoid turning over the Watergate tapes."
The Innocence Project seeks to help prisoners who were wrongfully convicted. Its 2006 report on the Willingham case concluded that "an innocent man was executed." That report led to Beyler being hired by the Forensic Science Commission to review the case.
Neither Bassett nor Levy would say whether they believed political considerations were behind their replacement, though Bassett said in a written statement that the investigation should not be dropped "because there might be political ramifications."
(End of excerpt)
Any thoughts? Will this hurt Perry in his reelection bid or won't the people of Texas care if he knowingly executed an innocent man?
Annie
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1.  EnemyofEmpire (279)
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3 years ago
| |  The link's not working but that's only because you've accidentally included two line breaks and the word 'here's' in the link. All people have to do is take the link and delete that last bit in the address bar, then it works fine. Back to respond when I've read the article.
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| EnemyofEmpire (279)
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3 years ago
| | It looks to me like Perry's trying to at least stall, if not derail the investigation completely. The criticism of the Fire Marshall who initially investigated the case is very strong to say the least so there's clearly something wrong with the initial investigation to prompt such strong criricism. Perry's selection of a hard liner like Bradley, a personal appointee of his, only reinforces my suspicions that he's trying to derail the whole thing. Looks like a cover up to me.
Will it hurt Perry if it is? I don't know, they seem to like executions in Texas so it might not. But if the whole thing turns out to be a wrongful execution and a cover up then maybe that will be the end of Perry; and strengthen any campaign voices to get rid of the death penalty. I hope so. | | | |
 anniepa (11669)
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3 years ago
| | First of all, thanks for the advice about the link! I'll have to go back and try to correct the ones that don't work.
Next, to the discussion topic, I agree with you, it sure does looks like a bit of a cover-up. You're also right about the attitude about executions in Texas, at least according to things I've heard on TV, but I'd HOPE that no matter how pro-death penalty someone may be they'd be concerned about about an innocent person being executed. That's my main problem with capital punishment, the chance, no matter how remote, of something like this happening. I've had this argument with some of my conservative friends but as far as I'm concerned putting 100 cold-blooded killers to death doesn't make it acceptable to put just ONE innocent to death! That make the government as bad as the murderers, in my opinion. For someone to refuse to delay an execution when there's even the tiniest shred of doubt is terribly wrong and apparently Perry did just that and now he's afraid for the truth to come out. I also hope this is the end of political career because I think he's a nutcase!
Annie
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| 2. whiteheather39 (15574)
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3 years ago
| |  I certainly hope that it does hurt his re-election bid. I hope that anyone from any state would be appalled at the thought of an innocent person being executed.
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| anniepa (11669)
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3 years ago
| | AMEN!! I don't think this is a left or right or Democrat or Republican issue at all. Some people are in favor of the death penalty and some are not for a variety of reasons but I can't see who anyone, no matter how they feel about the issue in general, could think it's acceptable for an innocent person to be put to death and I can say I'd never support or vote for someone of any party or affiliation who had possibly knowingly allowed that to happen.
Annie | | | |
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| 3. ZephyrSun (3727)
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3 years ago
| |  It's always sad when an innocent person is wrongfully convicted but, if the courts determined innocence by the claims of the defendents than no one would ever go to jail or be sentenced to death. With that being said, I think that the people of Texas will realize that bad things happen sometimes.
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| anniepa (11669)
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3 years ago
| | I'm surprised, Zeph, to be honest! So I'm sure I've got this straight, are you saying it's acceptable for this to have happened? I KNOW "bad things happen sometimes" and always will but I don't think there is EVER any excuse for an innocent person to be executed. The evidence should be SO definitive without even the tiniest shadow of a doubt for anyone to even be sentenced to death and after the sentencing if anything at all comes out that MAY point to a wrongful conviction, no matter how slim a chance of it, it should be acted upon.
Annie | | | |
| ZephyrSun (3727)
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3 years ago
| | It's probably my only conservative view, I've seen too many senseless acts of violence to be so carefree about punishments of crime. Too many states have the death penalty and don't use it enough. Like I said, sometimes bad things happens it's like that in every aspect of life and we as a society just have to realize that. | | | |
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