DNA tests tell us half of all death row inmates in America are innocent


In 1997, Illinois halted executions when DNA testing found 52% of their deathrow inmates were innocent.
The people who were exhonorated are: Rolando Cruz, Alejandro Hernandez, Verneal Jimerson, Dennis Williams, Joseph Burrows, Gary Gauger, Carl Lawson, Perry Cobb, Darby Tillis.
In Texas, the following people were found innocent AFTER execution. Texas still executes prisoners.
Frank Basil McFarland was executed for a rape/murder despite multiple inconsistencies in the state’s case, altered evidence, purchased and coerced testimony, and suppressed evidence of guilt. After execcution, he was found innocent by DNA testing.
Troy Farris was convicted of the murder of a police officer. DNA proved he was innocent. Gov. George W Bush deny clemency. Troy Farris was execcuted.
Jerry Lee Hogue was convicted of an arson/murder. Another individual later admited to the crime, but was denied further investigation by Gov. Bush. Mr Hogue was execcuted.
David Stoker was convicted of capital murder based on the testimony of three witnesses, who later recanted their testimony. Doubts aside, Gov. Bush executed Mr. Stoker.
Richard Wayne Jones, was convicted of a murder despite strong evidence that his sister’s boyfriend had committed it. DNA testing was denied by Gov. Bush, and approved his execution.
Willie Williams and Joseph Nichols both shot at their murder victim, but only one hit him. In order to execute both, Texas argued that each had killed the man; in one trial, the state argued that Mr. Williams had shot the victim and Mr. Nichols had missed, and in the next trial, the state argued that Mr. Nichols had shot the victim and Mr. Williams had missed. Both were convicted of capital murder. Mr. Williams was executed by Gov. Bush; Mr. Nichols is still on death row.
James Lee Beathard was convicted of capital murder based on the testimony of the admitted murderer, Gene Hathorn. Still, Gov. Bush executed Mr. Beathard, though he was innovent.
Gary Graham was convicted of capital murder on the basis of one eyewitness’s testimony. Despite DNA evidence that provees otherwise, Mr. Graham was executed by Gov. Bush.
David Wayne Spence was convicted of capital murder although no physical evidence linked him to the crime and almost every witness against him admitted that his or her testimony had been purchased or coerced. DNA evidence says that another man had committed the triple murder. Nevertheless, Gov. Bush executed Mr. Spence.
Cost
A study released on March 6, 2008 found that in USA taxpayers have paid at least $37.2 million for each of execution both innocent and guilty. Can you believe tax payers are willing to pay that much money to kill an innocent person? pdf link      

life_goes_on - I agree entirely.

those committing a crime that brings the death penalty have already passed the point of no return.
They kill more readily.

if a defendant is black and illiterate they are MUCH more likely to face the electric chair.
if a white woman is the victim, they are pretty much gone gone

and, who are we, to take anothers life ?

gizmo_2655 wrote on Aug 9^th, 2010 at 6:25pm:

Rape has never attracted the death penalty, unless of course your black & it's a white women & it's before about 1970 in southern USA.

athos wrote on Aug 9^th, 2010 at 4:54pm:


And??...
It's better to make an occasion mistake by executing the wrong man, than it is to remove the 'threat' of the death penalty.....

Mistakes are very tragic, YES...but the death penalty stops enough crimes to still make it justified....