Troy Davis And Lawrence Brewer, A Tale Of Two Executions

[CowboyMcCoy]

I agree he was given a fair trial; he was given the right to appeal. He committed a horrendous crime. This was not an accident this was intentional; he dragged a man by his feet behind a truck until the man was dead. He was given the lethal injections which I have no doubt was much less painful than what Mr. Byrd endured.

I don't agree with every case where the death penalty is handed out but in this case you bet justice was served.

You may want to read the article. It's about two executions. We weren't even talking about Brewer.

 

[zrinkill]

I don't expect you'll even get what I'm saying. I was talking about his stay and the fact it didn't last long. Keep up, Zrin. Keep up!

He had 22 years to get a stay of execution and get pardoned.

Keep up benny ..... keep up.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

He had 22 years to get a stay of execution and get pardoned.

Keep up benny ..... keep up.

It doesn't work that way normally, Zrin. I won't get into why, but that's not how it works. Unless there is DNA evidence or something else that proves the system wrong, the system is slow to even take a quick peak at these cases, much less a long look or consideration until it's actually about to happen. The judge usually doesn't grant these even when there is a reasonable doubt, because they often want it to come out looking like the system isn't flawed. So they use meticulous logic to reason out legal decisions as to why they made their ruling. Like I said, I think this case could have been looked at harder. But when he's buried in prison for 22 years, there's not a lot he can do. In any case, I get your point. You like the DP. You're an eye for an eye guy. I am too in certain situations. But a questionable murder of a cop wouldn't get me to send a man to death. Prison, yes. Death no.

We'll agree to disagree. I look forward to seeing your next choice of smilies.

 

[TwoCentPlain]

Did the guy who supposedly killed the cop ever take a lie detector test?

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Did the guy who supposedly killed the cop ever take a lie detector test?

Do you believe in those?

 

[zrinkill]

It doesn't work that way

Bull ...... his case has been looked at MULTIPLE times.

He has lost multiple appeals.

He claims that everyone that ever looked at his case was racist and just wants to kill him.

In reality the case against him was more powerful than anything he could put up in defense.

 

[JBS]

The guy that was shot says he doesn't believe that Davis was the one that shot him. Sorry for the confusion, but his change was part of Davis's defense.

well, this changes things considerably...I was thinking that if for some strange reason he really didnt shoot the officer, he still killed the guy earlier..but thats not the case..I still think he did kill the officer so Im not part of the crowd that believes an innocent man was just killed on death row..with that being said, I have one last question. Did Davis' defense have anything going for them outside of the 7 people who recanted their stories?

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

Bull ...... his case has been looked at MULTIPLE times.

He has lost multiple appeals.

He claims that everyone that ever looked at his case was racist and just wants to kill him.

In reality the case against him was more powerful than anything he could put up in defense.

LOL. Again, it goes to show that most you don't get that most stays of executions are often at the last minute. The judges wouldn't have it any other way. They don't want the pressure from the public's eye most of the time. In any case, almost everyone's case is looked at multiple times.

 

[zrinkill]

LOL. Again, it goes to show that most you don't get that most stays of executions are often at the last minute.

Wow ...... you either do not get it or refuse to get it.

Guy had 22 years to prove his innocence after being found guilty. He could not.

 

[JonJon]

Bull ...... his case has been looked at MULTIPLE times.

He has lost multiple appeals.

He claims that everyone that ever looked at his case was racist and just wants to kill him.

In reality the case against him was more powerful than anything he could put up in defense.

I can see both sides. On one end, you have a guy that was proven guilty by jury and denied in every single appeals court he attempted. On the other side, you have the key witnesses changing their story and saying they were forced to testify against him. That brings about reasonable doubt to justify not going through with the execution in my book. My only question is, why did it take the witnesses so long to come forth? 22 years is a loooooong time to live with the guilt of sending an innocent man to his death, then all of a sudden, you want to confess? This whole ordeal has been a mess and something just doesn't seem right about it.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

How anyone could believe that Davis was innocent is people grasping at straws.

The ony "facts" we know for certain.

Davis was at a gathering where a person was shot, Coles was not. (according to both Davis and Coles)

Davis and Coles met up (according to both)

Coles tried to take beer from a homeless man (according to both)

An off -duty police officer tried to rescue the homeless man and was shot with the gun that was used in the earlier shooting. (through forensics and shell casings)

Mulitple witnesses stated that the person who attacked the homeless man first was not the shooter.

Before being identified, Coles turned himself into police within hours, Davis fled.

 

[DIAF]

no protests so far here, I guess Atlanta is better-behaved than I thought. I was at least expecting a little bit of anger.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

well, this changes things considerably...I was thinking that if for some strange reason he really didnt shoot the officer, he still killed the guy earlier..but thats not the case..I still think he did kill the officer so Im not part of the crowd that believes an innocent man was just killed on death row..with that being said, I have one last question. Did Davis' defense have anything going for them outside of the 7 people who recanted their stories?

According to forensic evidence, the same gun was used in both shootings. So it was either Davis or someone else with him before he met up with Coles, thus Davis would know who it was and should've said something.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

Wow ...... you either do not get it or refuse to get it.

Guy had 22 years to prove his innocence after being found guilty. He could not.

It's very difficult to overturn a conviction. To be found innocent, all you need is a single juror to believe within a reasonable doubt that you are innocent. To overturn that conviction, you need a single judge to believe your are innocent beyond all doubt.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

It's very difficult to overturn a conviction. To be found innocent, all you need is a single juror to believe within a reasonable doubt that you are innocent. To overturn that conviction, you need a single judge to believe your are innocent beyond all doubt.

A judge can also reduce the sentence to life in prison, which I think is a bit harsher than the death penalty if you ask me.

 

[Doomsday101]

A judge can also reduce the sentence to life in prison, which I think is a bit harsher than the death penalty if you ask me.

how is that? Believe it or not prison life for many habitual criminals is like home. They are somebody in prison outside just a thug. Add to that they will do anything to get off death row

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

how is that? Believe it or not prison life for many habitual criminals is like home. They are somebody in prison outside just a thug. Add to that they will do anything to get off death row

If it were me, I'd rather die than spend life in prison. I guess I was speaking from a personal view.

 

[Doomsday101]

If it were me, I'd rather die than spend life in prison. I guess I was speaking from a personal view.

I understand some of us value that freedom. Then again until your in the shoes of a death row inmate knowing the end is about to happen you may have a change of heart.

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

I understand some of us value that freedom. Then again until your in the shoes of a death row inmate knowing the end is about to happen you may have a change of heart.

I wouldn't be in his shoes, but I do think I would hold true to my thoughts. Yeah, the process would be scary. But it'd be an easy out of a terrible place....

 

[Doomsday101]

I wouldn't be in his shoes, but I do think I would hold true to my thoughts. Yeah, the process would be scary. But it'd be an easy out of a terrible place....

I'm sure you never will be in his shoes, but the will to live is also pretty powerful.