Posted on 09/07/2011 3:15:39 PM PDT by Halfmanhalfamazing
The 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham in Texas remains one of the most controversial death penalty cases in modern U.S. history, with forensic evidence that indicates an innocent man was put to death.
Now, activists in Austin would like to make Mr. Willingham Texas Gov. Rick Perrys running mate.
With Mr. Perry surging to front-runner status in the Republican primary race, a slew of activities are planned to raise the profile of the Willingham case, and the aftermath that directly involved Mr. Perry. Anti-death penalty activists that run Cameron Todd Willingham website are recruiting activists in Iowa and New Hampshire to dog the Texas governor on campaign trips, said Scott Cobb, one of the recruiters. A rally in Austin on Oct. 22 will feature exonerated death row inmates from around the country, and Willingham family members. Plus a new documentary on the case, Incendiary, will get showings Sept. 23 in Austin, Sept. 30 in Washington, and Oct. 21 in Iowa City.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.wsj.com ...
perry ping
This may not sound pc but no human made institution is perfect. So there are bound to be some innocents getting the capital punishment.
They are casualties of an imperfect human system. The system is still good if vast majority of those put to death are guilty.
Was Cameron Todd Willingham convicted
by twelve jurors ?Yes; end of discussion.
Very biased article.
In the original trial investigators said it was arson. Defense experts said it wasn’t. At best, the forensic evidence was inconclusive. Secondly Willingham had a history of spousal abuse and confessed privately to his ex wife that he did it.
A Texas jury decided he did it. The governor does not have the right to unilaterally overturn a jury verdict. He may commute the sentence if the pardons and paroles board recommends clemency which they did not do in this case
A politician held responsible for his decisions? Is this a joke?
The problem is in capital cases you’ve got state and federal courts up and down the line that take a drink of the cup, so to speak, before one of these guys gets the needle. It’s true here in California, and it’s true in Texas. I’m a Palin supporter, but this is BS.
Sometimes an innocent is executed. More often, I think, a guilty man is wrongfully set free to kill again. There can be no perfection in any system.
Cameron Todd Willingham was not perfect, either, with convictions for burglary, DUI, grand larceny, and supplying intoxicants to minors.
Let me guess: Perry alone handed down the conviction. What, no,....... twelve jurors did? Oh, well then surely he handed down the sentence. What, no,........ twelve jurors did and a judge issued the order in accordance with given criminal law? Well then, Perry surely must have pushed the plunger or flipped the switch himself. What, no, a state executioner performed his duty in accordance with a lawful sentence issued by a standing judge.
Justice is imperfect, but it is better than the alternative. Perry allowed the will of the jurors and judge, who has sat through the testimony and witnessed the evidence, to stand. What the hell is wrong with that? idiots!
He got off easy.
I do believe Perry wasn’t on the jury.
The governor of Texas does not have the power to stop an execution under the Texas constitution. Of course, to leftists, consititutions are things to be used as they desire and ignore as they desire.
bump
This is just plain silly.
"I hope you rot in hell, b----. I hope you f------ rot in hell, b----. I hope you f------ rot, c---. That is it."
His last conscious act on earth was to give her the finger.
That's their "innocent" angel.
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