This is a very controversial subject, there are two very strong sides on this.
One side is that he was proven beyond a doubt guilty and deserved to die, by our courts, they examined everything thorougly to determine this, and that in itself is sufficent proof.
The other side says that he was innocent, that the members of the legal system took steps to create evidence of guilt and the courts acted inappropriately in responding to evidence, biasing the case towards guilt.
If there is any chance that the argument for innocence is valid, then we have a nearly untouchable faction that has the power to put someone to death, acting on whatever agenda they please.
Before you say ....that type of thing could never happen I have faith in our justice system. Read over the case of Rolando Cruz. He was convicted and sentanced to death for a murder, twice and each time the surpeme court reverse the sentance in view of insufficent evidence, and sending it for retrial.
Eyewitness accounts that Rolando made statements indicating guilt, were strong evidence in the case. The eyewitnesses were law enforcement personnel. The 3rd trial, one of them stated doubt in regards to his memories of the event, on investigation it was found that not only did he not witness this, he wasn't even in the same state at the time. 7 members of the justice system were indicted in this..later let go and Cruz acquitted, but lost 11 years of his life to prison on death row.
To add fuel to the fire..a couple of months after the initial conviction a murderer confessed to the crime off the record..he refused to do so on the record unless given immunity of the death sentance. No one would do so, instead the public was lead to believe that Cruz was without doubt guilty. And believed it completely, having total faith in all members of our legal system, until the witness confessed to not witnessing it.
In November this year ..20 years after Cruz's conviction the murder serving out sentancing for 2 other murders was indicted in this one, the evidence includes DNA testing along with enough that the prosecuter feels the case is rock solid this time and Justice will be done, asking that the public understand the length of time it took to bring these charges but this time they wanted to make sure that a conviction was competely just.
Re: Save Tookie Williams Teach-In Nov 30th!
Date Edited: 14 Dec 2005 12:22:39 PM
This is a very controversial subject, there are two very strong sides on this.
One side is that he was proven beyond a doubt guilty and deserved to die, by our courts, they examined everything thorougly to determine this, and that in itself is sufficent proof.
The other side says that he was innocent, that the members of the legal system took steps to create evidence of guilt and the courts acted inappropriately in responding to evidence, biasing the case towards guilt.
If there is any chance that the argument for innocence is valid, then we have a nearly untouchable faction that has the power to put someone to death, acting on whatever agenda they please.
Before you say ....that type of thing could never happen I have faith in our justice system. Read over the case of Rolando Cruz. He was convicted and sentanced to death for a murder, twice and each time the surpeme court reverse the sentance in view of insufficent evidence, and sending it for retrial.
Eyewitness accounts that Rolando made statements indicating guilt, were strong evidence in the case. The eyewitnesses were law enforcement personnel. The 3rd trial, one of them stated doubt in regards to his memories of the event, on investigation it was found that not only did he not witness this, he wasn't even in the same state at the time. 7 members of the justice system were indicted in this..later let go and Cruz acquitted, but lost 11 years of his life to prison on death row.
To add fuel to the fire..a couple of months after the initial conviction a murderer confessed to the crime off the record..he refused to do so on the record unless given immunity of the death sentance. No one would do so, instead the public was lead to believe that Cruz was without doubt guilty. And believed it completely, having total faith in all members of our legal system, until the witness confessed to not witnessing it.
In November this year ..20 years after Cruz's conviction the murder serving out sentancing for 2 other murders was indicted in this one, the evidence includes DNA testing along with enough that the prosecuter feels the case is rock solid this time and Justice will be done, asking that the public understand the length of time it took to bring these charges but this time they wanted to make sure that a conviction was competely just.
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