Freed man talking: Death penalty system broken

HoustonChronicle.com ^ | May 5, 2002, 6:38PM | RAY KRONE

[drjimmy]

Notice it didn't say he didn't do it. It said the evidence offered did not prove it was him.
Put your reading glasses on. Here's what the article said: "The DNA proved my innocence -- and a match has now been been made with the DNA of another man."

[Age of Reason]

But, the fact is DNA cah prove there is no match. The converse is not true.

OK, fine--but we still no longer need wory about convicting the "innocent."

I think that the fingerprint . . . . technically it cannpt prove a match, whereas the opposite is true.

You know I had aksed that question on this forum, without answer, a while back, that is: How can we know for sure that no two individuals have the same fingerprint?

And especially when fingerprints were first used (when, the 19th cent?), did they know that no two or more individuals have the same print?

I guess as I suspected, no one knows for sure?

But at all events, the justice system is not about guilt or innocence of the accused--it's a giant morality play, the object of which is to impress the people that something called justice exists.

[isthisnickcool]

You honestly think that an innocent man has NEVER been put to death in this country?

NEVER? So how far back do we go? 1800's? OK. I'm pretty sure Judge Roy Bean in Texas killed a few "innocent" men. I know he let a few guilty ones go.

Today, in Texas, it's near impossible to put a guilty person to death. It takes years to get to the point that where a person is executed. For more info. just read what our former Gov. / current President said on this subject.

The fact that Mr. Krone was put in prison has more to do with the court/conviction system than the "death penalty system". And the "court/conviction" system can fail. And that's what Mr. Krone is pointing out. But the death penalty system in modern times still does not have one documented failure. And there have been a lot of people looking for one for many years. It's a cottage industry with some law schools.

As someone pointed out. There is no perfection in the ways of man. If you want perfection then the death penalty is something you likely don't support. But in this case a man that was wrongfully convicted was not put to death. If people think that means that we should do away with the death penalty they should just say so.

[TightSqueeze]

Notice it didn't say he didn't do it. It said the evidence offered did not prove it was him.

Copied directly from the article; The DNA proved my innocence -- and a match has now been been made with the DNA of another man.

Seems like you only read the parts that conform to your position, maybe everyone should report to prison and only when you have proved your innocence can you be released. Let us all take a minute and thank God that you don’t run things.

[Protagoras]

I could tell. The high handed petulant style put me off immediately.

Someone may be forgiven for being a little high handed or seeking help to write the article after they have been up the river for ten years waiting to ride the lightning for a crime someone else committed.

[Wolfie]

Come on, the arrogant bastard should be happy to have had a cot and 3 squares a day at taxpayer expense. Whiny little bleeding heart.

[Protagoras]

So it was "the system" that saved this guys life? It wasn't his family and all those lawyers working pro bono? Oh I get it, his family is part of the "system".

[Cold Heat]

Is there one case out there where it's been proven than an innocent person was put to death?

NO! And the day that there is, the death penalty will be dead.

Now, in view of this fact, would any judge make that call?

I think not! It is very likely that innocent people have been put to death.

[Protagoras]

Notice it didn't say he didn't do it. It said the evidence offered did not prove it was him.

So you read the same article I read and you came away with the impression that the guy might have done it?

[Protagoras]

I'd like to know more about Krone other than what he includes in his little autobiographical article posted above, before I classify him as apart from the scum.

Guilty of something eh? Until proven innocent eh?

I would like to know a little more about you that what I know before classifing you as apart from the scum.

[Geezerette]

I live in Arizona and admit I never really followed the case until it came up weeks ago. My question has been this: What suspicious behavior on his part drew attention to him, particularly?? Did he date her? Did they have a problem in the bar?? I haven't read the details of the case, and the radio reports on the top of the hour news never did answer those questions for me.

I was hoping this article would fill in those blanks. In other words, why him?

g

[Protagoras]

Come on, the arrogant bastard should be happy to have had a cot and 3 squares a day at taxpayer expense. Whiny little bleeding heart.

Yeah you're right. And if they are truly good public servants, they should charge him for all those meals and rent on that cot.

[Protagoras]

I would like to know a little more about you that what I know before classifing you as apart from the scum.

Upon further reflection, I withdraw my desire to know more about you. I think we have adequate evidence from that one post to classify you as someone who failed the "apart from the scum" test.

[Geezerette]

I recall the report that the real killer was incarcerated and easily tagged with the DNA. I don't know, tho', how long he has been locked up.

g

[Wolfie]

And what about all that sniveling about "losing" 10 years of his life. Come on, 10 years isn't all that long, and he didn't lose it, he just spent somewhere he'd rather not be. Some people are just born to complain, that's all.

[Protagoras]

By the way WTF is “victocrat”?

It is a term coined by Larry Elder, which is a very good one, until you totally misuse it, like the poster did.

[Protagoras]

And what about all that sniveling about "losing" 10 years of his life. Come on, 10 years isn't all that long, and he didn't lose it, he just spent somewhere he'd rather not be. Some people are just born to complain, that's all.

Yeah, and think of all the good things about it. You get to meet new sexual partners all the time.

[Protagoras]

Sorry, but I can't accept your assumption that proving innocence is a criteria.

I guess it all seems to boil down to WHAT we are innocent of.

"None are rightous, no not one". (Paraphrased)

[medved]

The normal standard of "guilt beyond a reasonable doubt" is simply not good enough in capital punishment cases. There's no unhanging a man. For capital punishment, the criteria should be guilt beyond any doubt whatsoever. That would still let you hang your Mansons and sons of Sam, but would at least protect the innocent from the death penalty.

[thrcanbonly1]

We do pay the D.A. to get it right.

Arizona where all courts are Kangaroo.