Monday, July 16, 2007

90-Day Stay of Execution Granted for Troy Davis

AP notes:

The state Board of Pardons and Paroles has granted a 90-day stay of execution for Troy Davis, who was to be executed tomorrow in the killing of a Savannah police officer in 1989.

Lawyers for Davis spent more than five hours today pleading with the board to grant a reprieve, arguing that Davis is Davis innocent of the murder of Officer Mark MacPhail.

Prosecutors were given a chance during the closed-door hearing to rebut the request for clemency for Davis, who was to be executed tomorrow at at 7pm.

The board’s options included granting a stay of his execution while it considers the issues.

Also today, Davis’ lawyers filed an appeal before the state Supreme Court of an earlier decision by a Chatham County judge to deny a stay of Davis’ execution.

Among the people who argued for clemency for Davis during the parole board hearing were friends, family and US Representative John Lewis, an Atlanta Democrat and civil rights icon. Five witnesses who testified at trial spoke to the board on Davis’ behalf, Ewart said.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Officer Mark MacPhail and his family are denied justice yet again. This cop killing piece of vermin needs to pay for his crime. A jury of his peers found that he committed the crime and sentenced him to death. Therefore, beyond a reasonable doubt, he did it. He should pay for what he has done.

Anonymous said...

Abolish the Death Penalty ASAP. The failure rate is far to high. When we take a life Guilt should be an absolute. This case is proving otherwise.
I did not always feels this way, only recently when I was educated as to all the flaws in this very system. MY heart bleeds for the family that lost a beautiful young man out their to protect and serve, that is an awful loss to say the least. But if we punish, especially by way of taking a life, (that is not reversable, my frined) let us be absolutely certain that we have exausted all Avenues in search of the truth and we are beyond positive that we have the true killer. Thank You... gina
WHEN IT COMES TO THE DEATH PENALTY THERE IS ZERO ROOM FOR ERROR.... OTHERWISE ABOLISH AND IT SEEMS THAT IS WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO.

Anonymous said...

I am happy he got the 90 days and am poised and ready to take more action to see that he lives past those 90 days.