Message #11219

[yankeestarbuck]

This is the fundamental problem with the death penalty.  Thousands of documents not given to the defense.  That is one of the biggest rules, disclosure.



Did anyone think that maybe Tim McVeigh was just a kook on the fringe and didn't do it, but will take the fall for immortilization in death?  That popped in my head, but the evidence was clear.  Now, it may not be so clear.  And they won't give him an appeal.  So maybe, the wrong man is going to die, again.



There was a case in Texas that a young man was convicted of murder and sentenced to die.  He claimed he did not do it and his story never wavered.  The unfortunate thing is I cannot remember his name.  The problem: a witness that could not previously be reached was located with exhonerating testimony.  She was in Europe at the time.  G.W. Bush, as governor, did not grant temporary clemency to hear the evidence and possibly and innocent man was put to death for a crime he may not have committed.



That's the problem with the death penalty.  Here in New York, two men were convicted of killing a livery cab driver back in 1987.  The real murderer stepped forward.  Now, that they're alive, they can be let out, if they are innocent.



I know that there are many reasons to put to death murderers.  Yes, life is presious and beautiful and wonderful.  You can see that in the eyes of an 8 year old child getting her chemo.  But the death penalty is a punishment you can't take back and say you're sorry.  That's not justice, that's retrobution.  And as a nation, I'd like to think we're better than that.