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Report: Inmate wrongly executed
Chicago Tribune ^ | 5/3/6 | Maurice Possley

Posted on 05/03/2006 8:33:25 AM PDT by Crackingham

Four of the nation's top arson experts have concluded that the state of Texas executed a man in 2004 based on scientifically invalid evidence, and on Tuesday they called for an official reinvestigation of the case. In their report, the experts, assembled by the Innocence Project, a non-profit organization responsible for scores of exonerations, concluded that the conviction and 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham for the arson-murders of his three daughters were based on interpretations by fire investigators that have been scientifically disproved.

"The whole system has broken down," Barry Scheck, co-founder and director of the Innocence Project, said at a news conference at the state Capitol in Austin. "It's time to find out whether Texas has executed an innocent man."

The experts were asked to perform an independent review of the evidence after an investigation by the Tribune that showed Willingham had been found guilty on arson theories that have been repudiated by scientific advances. In fact, many of the theories were simply lore that had been handed down by generations of arson investigators who relied on what they were told.

The report's conclusions match the findings of the Tribune, published in December 2004. The newspaper began investigating the Willingham case following an October 2004 series, "Forensics Under the Microscope," which examined the use of forensics in the courtroom, including the continued use of disproved arson theories to obtain convictions.

In strong language harshly critical of the investigation of the 1991 fire in Corsicana, southeast of Dallas, the report said evidence examined in the Willingham case and "relied upon by fire investigators" was the type of evidence "routinely created by accidental fires."

(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: capitalpunishment; deathpenalty; execution; hebeatroll; innocenceproject; lies; texas; zot
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To: CMAC51

So is the problem that we are not killing these guys? Or that they are not serving life behind bars? Like I said, death is only warrented (in my opinion) if another life is at risk.


301 posted on 05/04/2006 1:53:21 PM PDT by GeoPie
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To: PrepareToLeave
Keeping them locked up doesn't keep them from killing again, viz. Clarence Ray Allen. And there is no guarantee that some pandering politician won't release them in the future.

Look around, the death penalty certainly hasn't stopped a single murder that I know of.

This is such an absurd piece of non-logic, it practically defines it. Its like saying that the death of known authors hasn't stopped a single book from being written.

There is not a single case in the history of mankind of an executed murderer killing anyone thereafter, Friday the 13th movies notwithstanding. There are countless cases of unexecuted murderers subsequently killing again and again and again and again. The death penalty would have stopped all of these countless murders.

302 posted on 05/04/2006 1:56:12 PM PDT by LexBaird (Tyrannosaurus Lex, unapologetic carnivore)
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To: Daytyn71

Sorry, judge, jury, whatever, I don't find comfort in them being accurate 100% of the time. Death sentence, in my opinion, should only be carried out when someone's life is at risk(again, if they are capable of sending out death orders from behind bars). Than and only than would I find it acceptable.


303 posted on 05/04/2006 1:56:31 PM PDT by GeoPie
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To: GeoPie
So is the problem that we are not killing these guys? Or that they are not serving life behind bars?

Even the ones serving life sentences manage to kill fellow prisoners and guards regularly. Not to mention having other people killed outside the prison, as Allen did. "Tookie" Williams came very close to killing fellow inmates more than once. Allowing known stone killers to continue to live puts everyone within their reach at risk.

Right now, there is a woman running for the Democrat gubernatorial primary whose claim to fame was her Tookie advocacy. If she had been Governor, that monster would be on the streets.

304 posted on 05/04/2006 2:05:44 PM PDT by LexBaird (Tyrannosaurus Lex, unapologetic carnivore)
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To: LexBaird

I agree that these murderers are let go time and time again. Just as the system is not perfect in releasing these criminals, it is just as imperfect in convicting the wrong people. It's a stand off. All I can hope for is putting these politicians and judges feet to the fire, for this is where the problem lies. I have to defend the lives of the innocent, no matter how few of them there are.
That's just how I'm made.


305 posted on 05/04/2006 2:12:58 PM PDT by PrepareToLeave
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To: LexBaird
Truly, I don't recall. Several respondants to me on this thread have said otherwise; consider it a general response to those "if one innocent life is spared" types.

I actually believe in both. I believe in the jury system, and I also believe that our justice system should default in favor of the defendent. If that makes me one of those "if one innocent life is spared," types, I guess I'm guilty, but I don't think I'm that extreme. I do believe, however, that if our government is going to incarcerate someone, they had better follow proper procedures and guarantee the rights of the accused. That goes double for a defendent facing the death penalty.
306 posted on 05/04/2006 2:18:40 PM PDT by Stone Mountain
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To: jeremiah

Where is the motive?


307 posted on 05/04/2006 2:32:19 PM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: traditional1

Good find, now I have motive.

What we have here is a trial by the press where the death penalty is found guilty; I imagine most of these professional witnesses also rely on "on the job training."


308 posted on 05/04/2006 3:00:22 PM PDT by Old Professer (The critic writes with rapier pen, dips it twice, and writes again.)
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To: Stone Mountain
I do believe, however, that if our government is going to incarcerate someone, they had better follow proper procedures and guarantee the rights of the accused. That goes double for a defendent facing the death penalty.

A quibble: I would say "ethical and honest proceedures". "Proper proceedures" is a moving target, subject to the whims of politicians, ambitious DAs and scoundrel defense lawyers. I am all for careful and honest deliberations, but having fufilled that obligation, I am all for executing murderers and certain other heinious criminals (child rapists, mob bosses, for ex.).

309 posted on 05/04/2006 3:33:38 PM PDT by LexBaird (Tyrannosaurus Lex, unapologetic carnivore)
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To: LexBaird

I'll buy that - clearly, "proper" is in the eye of the beholder...


310 posted on 05/04/2006 4:00:28 PM PDT by Stone Mountain
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To: GeoPie
So is the problem that we are not killing these guys? Or that they are not serving life behind bars? Like I said, death is only warrented (in my opinion) if another life is at risk.

A judge cannot release a killer back into society if they have been executed.

311 posted on 05/04/2006 7:47:28 PM PDT by CMAC51
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