In 1992, Cameron T. Willingham was convicted in Texas of murdering his three young daughters when he burned down his home. Now, it turns out that he was innocent. Not "let off on a legal technicality", not "convicted when there was reasonable doubt", but actually innocent - the fire was accidental, the evidence "proving" it was arson simply wrongly interpreted, either by negligence or deliberate misconduct. One other man has been freed from death row as a result, but in the case of Willingham, it is too late - he was executed in February 2004. The state of Texas executed an innocent man, and there is no way of putting the mistake right.
This is one reason why the death penalty needs to be banned. Every justice system is falliable, every court makes errors, and where execution is involved, those errors are final and fatal. This is not something that a civilised society should risk. Hopefully, this tragic mistake will result in Texans recognising this fact - but somehow I think the point will miss them.
3 comments:
That is such a tragic story. I can't believe what that guy must have gone through, to lose his family and then be convicted of killing them. The actual execution might have actually been of some relief.
The death penalty is a barbaric atrocity that has to be stopped. Thank you for posting this.
Posted by kevvyd : 5/04/2006 04:18:00 AM
Sounds like anonymous is as touchy as he is brave.
Posted by kevvyd : 5/04/2006 04:52:00 PM
anonymous - whats your point?
Robert Fisk had and does speak out against suicide bombings.
So all that leaves is that you seem to be upset that he's not a one man news network.
Do you expect him to cover EVERY attrocity that occurs in the world? or should he send you a list each week to check that it meets with your approval?
besides what does this have to do with the topic?
fraser
Posted by Anonymous : 5/05/2006 01:08:00 PM
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