Posted on 03/01/2010 2:04:45 PM PST by Dallas59
More than a decade after he died in prison, Fort Worths Tim Cole wrongly convicted of rape finally received a pardon from the state.
Gov. Rick Perry sent out a statement saying that he gave Cole the states first posthumous pardon, saying he was innocent of the rape conviction that put him behind bars more than 25 years ago.
I have been looking forward to the day I could tell Tim Coles mother that her sons name has been cleared for a crime he did not commit, Perry said in a written release. The state of Texas cannot give back the time he spent in prison away from his loved ones, but today I was finally able to tell her we have cleared his name, and hope this brings a measure of peace to his family.
This comes days after the state Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended that Perry issue the pardon.
(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...
From the article:
Gov. Rick Perry sent out a statement saying that he gave Cole the states first posthumous pardon, saying he was innocent of the rape conviction...
Bad eyewitness ID of a suspect is a real issue. Bad police work makes it even worse, because if you show a witness a picture of the suspect, then ask the witness to to pick the suspect out of a lineup, there is a tendency to pick the guy whose picture you have seen before. Especially if the actual perp is not in the line up.
Texas has a very good system now -- when the police use it. A request is made to the Department of Public Safety, saying they want a photo line for suspect X. Assuming he/she has a drivers license photo, or ID photo, on file, the DPS creates a digital lineup sheet with X, and seven other people of the same age, sex, ethnicity, skin color, and hair. Since all the photos come from the Drivers License records, suspect X is not singled out because, for instance, his picture is the only mug shot in a lineup.
“Isnt it strange how the real rapist seems to have felt so much guilt over this but committed multiple rapes?”
People tend to justify and rationalize their own actions. I would think that all serial rapists view women as sex objects and not fellow human beings. Statistically it is thought that 3 to 4 percent of men are sociopaths. A much higher percentage have some sociopathic tendancies.
“Hmmmmmmm...that probly wont cost the State of Texas too much....”
It should cost them a Hell of a lot.
Hmmmmmmm...that probly wont cost the State of Texas too much....
It should cost them a Hell of a lot.
Probly will...
14 yrs at $80,000 per yr....a good chunk but still not enough...IMO. This young man lost more than money could ever buy and he can never be replaced. This is such a tragedy.
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