Innocent man offered clemency after death,not a death penalty case but we need to look at the death penalty
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Sorry if I wasn't clear. I was asking for the name of an innocent person who was executed.
Not many completely innocent were executed. Sometime it's a matter of an accomplice being blamed for pulling a trigger when it was actually his pal that carried out the deed.
Sorry if I wasn't clear. I was asking for the name of an innocent person who was executed.
There haven't been any recent cases where they've been proven, in the courts and had the ruling overturned, post mortem, there's been cases where more than reasonable doubt has been raised, but they haven't gotten it to court, etc. It goes to what I said in my previous post, it takes time to get this all through the judicial system, and once someone's dead, it's often only the family that'll keep fighting, support groups, lawyers and such move on to someone who's still alive, that they can save.
Another problem in many cases of this nature, including people wrongfully put in jail, is that the prosecutors often times will fight their release every step of the way, not necessarily because they think the conviction was right, but they don't want to be proven wrong. There's a good reason for that behavior, when it's proven that the judicial system is not to be trusted, it has a huge impact on their approval and credibility amongst the population. Sadly, sometimes they'll deny someone their right to a new day in court, simply to save face.
But sorry if I wasn't clear, in the part of my post you quoted, I said innocent people on death row or people who'd been executed.
Personally I think it's far worse that any innocent man is sent to jail at all, than having a killer walk free, in fact, I'd say it's a sign of a healthy judicial system, when a killer does walk, from time to time. We don't need to like it, but we should be proud that we follow a system what we think we know isn't the deciding factor, but what we can prove.
You do realize that DNA is not available or evidence in EVERY murder case, don't you?Also, have you ever thought about the quality of the defendant's attorney in every murder case? Do you think all attorneys who represent defendants in murder trials are competent, let alone at the top of their field as criminal defense attorneys? Have you ever heard of Ineffective Assistance of Counsel? Yes, mistakes are being made even today in 2010 in murder trials. Our justice system is imperfect, so why would you expect a perfectly correct result in every murder trial?
of course, that is why I have said, often, only should the death sentence be given in cases where the evidence in overwelming and the crime is beyound belief..
If we got rid of the death penalty and made the most severe sentence, life in prison without parole, I wonder how long it would be before people would be complaining about life without parole? I'm on the fence right now regarding the death penalty. I'm starting to feel like LWOP is a better sentence...think about it. 25-year-old kills someone and is sentenced to Death Row. 10 years later, they are executed so they spent 10 years in prison. But if they are sentenced to LWOP, and die at age 80, then they'll spend 55 years in prison. But you always hear about those cases where a murderer is sick in prison and some people are yelling for them to release them so they can die at home. If we use LWOP as the most severe sentence, we have to stick with it.
of course many people would find a way to claim even life in prison is wrong plus there is no way anyone can be assured a person will not get out of prison..I don't care what some say, there are always slip ups and escapes..
of course, that is why I have said, often, only should the death sentence be given in cases where the evidence in overwelming and the crime is beyound belief..
Nita
Isn't that what is needed for a conviction anyway?
The death penalty should be maintained for the most heinous crimes in which we are 100% certain of guilt. If I were on a jury, I would never give a death penalty to somebody unless I was 100% sure of guilt (no doubt). I could find them guilty if I were 90% sure (reasonable doubt).
There are people who deserve the death penalty. Another thing I would like to see is a return to public executions- preferably hangings- so it could serve as a deterrent.
I've been against it for decades.
For the worst offenders the death penalty gives mercy to those facing 50 years in a SuperMax. Many go insane ending up smearing feces on walls to get some sort of stimulus out of life.
For stranger rape it is even worse with the innocence project estimating 30% of those convicted who continue to voice their innocence are innocent.
For the worst offenders the death penalty gives mercy to those facing 50 years in a SuperMax. Many go insane ending up smearing feces on walls to get some sort of stimulus out of life.
For stranger rape it is even worse with the innocence project estimating 30% of those convicted who continue to voice their innocence are innocent.
I agree seems that life in a supermax without the possibilty of parole is a more severe punshiment then laying them on a table and putting them to sleep like a loyal dog
The death penalty should be maintained for the most heinous crimes in which we are 100% certain of guilt. If I were on a jury, I would never give a death penalty to somebody unless I was 100% sure of guilt (no doubt). I could find them guilty if I were 90% sure (reasonable doubt).
There are people who deserve the death penalty. Another thing I would like to see is a return to public executions- preferably hangings- so it could serve as a deterrent.
As a person who was for the death penalty for many years, I've been rethinking about this for reasons such as this.
Someone rep'ed me today on this post.
Wow, 8 years later and as a conservative I've leaned more to the left on this. Especially with more people being freed with better DNA testing.
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