Texas killed an innocent man - What should it do about it?

I have generally supported the existence of the death penalty.

The problem that I have is the shocking number of cases where they just flat got it wrong.

I would like to see an indefinite moratorium on the death penalty until such time as our advanced science can confirm or deny the older convictions.

In Dallas, they have the "Conviction Integrity Unit" in the DA office that seeks to determine through DNA and other newly available science whether the conviction was sound or not.

They have gotten people out of prison that should not have been there.

 

Just send them to Australia.



DD

 

Off-topic: I read the article when it first came out and I asked myself how does a father who is awaken by his daughter telling him there is smoke/fire leave the room/house without her? I can't wrap my brain around it.

On-Topic: Some of these Judges, DAs, and experts are in dire need of some humility. The arrogance in this case reminded me of the NY Palladium nightclub case where the DA reconfigured their theory to argue that the suspects still did it after new evidence called the convictions into question. Somewhere along the line some of the people who have a heavy hand in the justice system lose sight that this is a person's life.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/nyregion/03palladium.html?_r=1

 

Agreed. It's a petty, purely emotional form of punishment. It isn't any more effective (for keeping the rest of us safe) than putting someone away forever but it's definitely less reversible.

 

The same holds for defense attorneys, and rightly so. Perhaps the only real injustice is that we would never fund or staff (public or private) defense counsel as well as we would prosecutors, and we would never, ever elect a judge or DA for protecting criminals' rights. Not a big fan of elected judges either, kind of think the judiciary's most important job is to make unpopular decisions.

 

The problem with the judicial system is the jury. You have 12 people who in most cases will already have biases. Just like 12 black jurors won't convict OJ, I doubt 12 white men would have an impartial view of a young black man.

 

I have to say I'm for the death penalty but maybe that is because I live in California. No way that guy would have been executed here. Maybe Texas just needs to "lighten up".

http://www.deathpenaltyinfo.org/number-executions-state-and-region-1976

 

I don't see why this is a death penalty case. It's a case of "poor man gets screwed by the government because our justice system literally doesn't give a damn".

The ironic thing is, if this guy wasn't executed, I bet none of us would even know of this tale. Just like none of us hear about thousands of other similar cases that happens all the time because the justice system is really, really biased towards the poor and the minority.

Death penalty in of itself isn't bad. Some crimes needs to be punished by a good old gunshot to the head. And at least it serves somewhat of a deterrant.

 

Too pragmatic for a Republican. You=Democrat.

 

You have no idea how wrong you are on these points.

 

I am sorry, but I disagree.

 

But isn't the new healthcare reform bill going to expand the death penalty to old people and people who don't buy government-run insurance?

I've been told it is just like Nazi eugenics, so I'm kind of curious to see how this rolls out.

 

I agree. I can't see where the death penalty serves any purpose other than vengeance, and my God asked us to leave that up to Him.

 

das ist richtig

 

Someone is going to respond, "oh yeah..what about 'an eye for an eye' and all that???"

To which I'll respond: "yeah, how much of the code from Leviticus do you keep aside from honoring the death penalty for murderers? think eating shellfish is an abomination? have you stoned your children yet for mouthing off to you?"

Then I'd probably post this funny letter:

http://johnmacrants.blogspot.com/2006/03/letter-to-dr-laura-and-rev-pat-and-gwb.html

Dear Dr. Laura,

Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.

a) When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odor for the Lord (Lev 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

b) I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

c) I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.

d) Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?

e) I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?

f) A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an Abomination (Lev 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?

g) Lev 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?

h) Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev 19:27. How should they die?

i) I know from Lev 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

j) My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev 24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.

Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.

 

I love that one...

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to MadMax again.

 

Yeah, Texas needs to "lighten up" & light up.....

 

The standards for the death penalty are already what you describe. As long as our justice system is run by humans it will always be inherently imperfect.

 

For all the post saying that the prosecutors should be held accountable. I don't believe they can be held accountable criminally, as long as it is shown that they weren't deliberately supressing evidence, but I think they can be tried in a civil court.