Troy Davis

Although I am somewhat of a supporter of the death penalty, I do believe that it is crucial that alleged criminals get fair trails. So often in this county we have failed to protect the rights of many of our citizens and they have either been railroaded by the law or not given a fair chance by the courts. I know that there are many cases that come to light when the day of execution draws near. Often it is just one last attempt for the convicted to save there own skin. Who can blame them? What most recently comes to mind is Stanley Tookie Williams III.

Tookie was put to death by the State of California in 2005. As too be expected, there was a general movement by anti death penalty groups to save his life just before his execution. Although Tookie appeared to have changed his ways and became an anti gang proponent, it is still pretty straight forward that he committed the murders that he was convicted of. Not only was there a witness, but there was physical evidence to boot.

In the case of Troy Davis it is not so straight forward. There is a lot of speculation as to the integrity of the evidence. Not so much as to getting hung up on technicalities, but more so to inconsistent testimony from witnesses, no physical evidence, no attempt to find a "missing witness" and even witness tampering. There is a diverse group of activists showing support for Davis. Activists include your standard anti death penalty proponents, but also conservatives like Bob Barr. I think in this situation it is not only whether or not the death penalty is just, but is this case just?

The truth of the matter is that if we as nation allow our states to implement the death penalty, we need to make sure that we are Not Executing Innocent People. It has happened before and it cannot happen anymore. I am not saying that Davis should be off the hook if he indeed committed the crime. Surely, shooting another man in the face in cold blood warrants capital punishment in my book. Let's just be sure that we've got the right man before another life is unnecessarily lost. Let's give this man an appeal and if we cant, let's at least keep him alive. Just my thoughts. If you wish to help the cause, click here.

Up date:

Stay of execution issued for Georgia prisoner

Posted: 12:27 PM ET

(CNN) — The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay of execution Friday for a Georgia death row inmate who had been scheduled to die on Monday, his attorney said.

Troy Davis was convicted in 1991 for the murder of a Savannah police officer three years earlier. He has always maintained his innocence in the killing of Officer Mark MacPhail, and since his conviction, seven of the nine witnesses against him have recanted their testimony.

The Court of Appeals granted a 25-day stay so Davis’ attorneys can file a new habeas corpus brief with a lower court, Davis’ attorney, Jay Ewart, told CNN.

Ewart said Davis’ attorneys will argue that his execution would be a violation of the 8th Amendment. The amendment reads, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”