Troy Anthony Davis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Troy Anthony Davis was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1989 murder of Mark Allen MacPhail, a Savannah, Georgia police officer, solely on the basis of eyewitness testimony.[1]
In 1989, twenty-year-old[2] Davis was a coach in the Savannah Police Athletic League who had signed up for the United States Marine Corps.[1] McPhail, who was moonlighting as a security guard, was shot attempting to break up a melee in a fast-food restaurant parking lot.[2] Davis admitted he was at the scene,[2] though the murder weapon was never found, and no physical evidence linked the crime to Davis, who asserted his innocence.[1] His conviction occurred in August 1991.[1]
After seven of nine eyewitnesses recanted, his limited ability to appeal his conviction, due in part to the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act,[1] brought his plight to international attention.[1][2] Prosecutors argued that it was too late to present the recantations as evidence.[3] No state or federal court had been willing to rehear the case.[2] The U.S. Supreme Court denied his petition for an appeal in June 2007.[2]
His execution was scheduled for 17 July 2007.[1] On 16 July, U.S. Congressman John Lewis spoke to the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles on Davis's behalf, suggesting that one of the two witnesses who had not recanted was the real killer.[4] Four thousand letters were received by the board written on his behalf, including letters written by Desmond Tutu, Harry Belafonte, and former FBI director William Sessions.[4] Sister Helen Prejean, Amnesty International US director Larry Cox, and the Council of Europe all spoke out against the planned execution.[5] The Vatican's nuncio to the U.S., Monsignor Martin Krebs, sent a letter on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI to Governor of Georgia Sonny Perdue urging him to spare Davis's life; however, Georgia is one of three U.S. states where the governor has no power to grant clemency.[6]
A ninety day stay of execution was granted on 16 July by the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles.[7] While Davis expressed gratitude for the stay, the slain officer's widow decried the ruling as encouraging lawlessness and cop killing.[8]
On 3 August, 2007, the Georgia Supreme Court voted four to three to hear a discretionary appeal of Davis's 1991 conviction.[9]
On 17 March 2008, the Georgia Supreme Court denied the appeal.[10]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g Lowe, Brendan (2007-07-13). Will Georgia Kill an Innocent Man?. Time Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
- ^ a b c d e f Supporters seek reprieve for death row man. Melbourne Herald Sun (2007-07-17). Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
- ^ Whoriskey, Peter (2007-07-16). Execution Of Ga. Man Near Despite Recantations: Some Witnesses Now Say He Is Innocent. Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
- ^ a b Lewis, John (2007-07-16). Rep. Lewis' statement at Davis hearing. Atlanta Journal Constitution. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
- ^ Carrier, Fanny (2007-07-17). US inmate’s execution on hold. AFP / The Sunday Times. Retrieved on 2007-07-18.
- ^ Eckenrode, Vicky (2007-07-21). Pope makes plea to spare life of Troy Davis. Savannah Morning News. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
- ^ Skutch, Jan (2007-07-17). Davis wins 90-day stay of execution. Savannah Morning News. Retrieved on 2007-07-17.
- ^ Lowe, Brendan; Associated Press (2007-07-16). Stay of Execution for Georgia Man. Time Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-07-23.
- ^ Skutch, Jan (2007-08-07). Parole board bows out of Davis clemency bid. Savannah Morning News. Retrieved on 2007-08-24.
- ^ Take Action Online AIUSA 2007. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
