Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Troy Anthony Davis Granted Last Minute Stay of Execution by U.S. Supreme Court
Share:
by duo | September 23, 2008 at 02:02 pm
824 views | 38 Recommendations | 28 comments
Photos
Troy Anthony Davis Granted Last Minute Stay of Execution by U.S. Supreme Court
uploaded by duo
TROY ANTHONY DAVIS, who was scheduled for execution at 7:00 p.m. today in Georgia's death chamber, was granted a last minute stay of execution by the United States Supreme Court. The condemned man did not know he had been granted the stay until he saw it on the news just two hours before he was to die.
(Troy Davis and his mother are pictured at right.)
**********************
U.S. Supreme Court stays Georgia execution
JACKSON, Georgia (CNN) -- The U.S. Supreme Court granted a last-minute reprieve to a Georgia man convicted fewer than two hours before he was to be executed for the 1989 slaying of an off-duty police officer.
Troy Anthony Davis first learned that his execution had been stayed when he saw it on the news, he told CNN in an exclusive phone interview minutes after the stay was announced.
Davis has long said he didn't kill a Savannah, Georgia, police officer, and the U.S. Supreme Court was the last option for Davis to have his execution postponed. It was scheduled to move forward at 7 p.m. ET.
Davis, 39, was convicted in 1991 of killing Officer Mark MacPhail as MacPhail responded to an altercation in a Burger King parking lot.
Seven of the nine witnesses who initially testified that Davis was the killer have recanted. There was no physical evidence presented at his trial, and no weapon was found. But Davis' petitions for a new trial have been denied.
On Tuesday, Davis refused his last meal, according to the Georgia Department of Corrections, which will still provide him with macaroni and cheese, pinto beans, green beans, lettuce and tomato salad, corn bread, fruit cobbler and tea.
Many had asked Georgia to grant Davis a new trial: celebrities like Susan Sarandon, Harry Belafonte and the Indigo Girls; world leaders such as former President Carter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Pope Benedict XVI; and former and current U.S. lawmakers like Bob Barr, Carolyn Moseley Braun and John Lewis.
Amnesty International has issued a 39-page report questioning his conviction, and protesters have been gathering at the Georgia Capitol in Atlanta this week. Davis is scheduled to be executed at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson.
MacPhail's mother, Anneliese MacPhail of Columbus, told media outlets last week that she is "disgusted" by the calls to spare Davis' life and is not convinced by Davis' supporters' claims that there is a more likely suspect.
*****************************
UPDATE
On Mon, 9/29/08, <denmark@online.no> wrote:
Good news for now. Here is a message from activists in Georgia....
I'm happy to let you know that we have learned that there will not be a decision from the US Supreme Court until Wednesday at the earliest. Since the warrant for Troy Davis' execution expires on Tuesday at noon , he is SAFE for the time being. If the US Supreme Court comes back with a bad decision on Wednesday, Georgia will have to seek a new execution warrant for him which must be given at least ten days in advance of the execution date. So dear friends, Troy Davis is safe for now.
Please join us every night this week at 7pm at the Georgia State Capitol, Washington Street steps, to vigil for this case.
With continued hope,
UPDATE 10-13-08
Updated: Oct 13, 2008 05:16 PM EDT
By Michelle Paynter
SAVANNAH, GA (WTOC) - The United States Supreme Court is expected to make a decision tomorrow regarding Troy Anthony Davis.
Davis is on death row for the 1989 murder of Savannah Police Officer Mark MacPhail. The Supreme Court is schedule to release it's decision between 10am and noon on whether they will take on the case.
Davis and his family want a judge to grant him a new hearing based on witnesses recanting testimony they gave against him during his trial.
"We'll know tomorrow whether we'll be celebrating or continuing our fight, but either way we'll be continuing it," said his sister Martina Correia. "This case has national ramifications of protecting innocence nationwide and I'm praying they rule on the merits of the case and not little technicalities and that's what we've been fighting.
"The world is watching," Correia said. "The world is watching the United States Supreme Court, they're watching Chatham County, they're watching Savannah."
Last month the Supreme Court issued a stay of execution two hours before he was scheduled to be executed.
*****************************
Mary Neal
: http://wrongfuldeathoflarryneal.com
Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill Visit Online at: http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/AIMI
Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. ~ Matthew 25:37-40
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Crowd Power
duo
Stone Mountain, Georgia, United States
Most Recommended Stories in World
Recommendations (38)
Anonymous user
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (28)
at 15:16 on September 23rd, 2008
Congratulations, I know you worked hard on this!
Source: news.aol.com
at 15:45 on September 23rd, 2008
Thank you so much, Tina. Many, many people worked hard for Troy. We are so grateful that their efforts were rewarded with justice by the U.S. Supreme Court. We must continue to watch and pray that Troy is granted a fair opportunity to present the evidence he feels will clear him of the crime for which he narrowly escaped death today.
I so much appreciate NowPublic for this forum. If it were not for independent news sources like NowPublic, I do not believe that some of the issues would get the wide exposure needed to solicit help and promote justice for people like Troy Davis. Journalists never know how many people may have called, written letters to the governor of Georgia and to the Supreme Court because of having seen Troy's delimma in a given media. I am sure that Troy appreciates NowPublic and all the journalists and publishers who publicized his plight over the years.
at 15:29 on September 23rd, 2008
CONGRATULATIONS to Amnesty International, ACLU, Jimmy Carter, the Pope, and millions of people who called, wrote, and prayed for Troy Anthony Davis.
Congratulations to the United States Supreme Court for coming through on behalf of justice.
Mostly, let us give thanks to God, who yet resides on His throne and listens to the fervent prayers of His people. Praises to my Father, King of kings and Lord of lords!
Congratulations to you, Troy Davis. You will live to see another day. May God continue to bless you and protect you.
Congratulations to the family of Officer McPhail. As long as Troy Davis is alive, the books are not closed on this case. Therefore, the opportunity remains to know the truth about your loved one's murder with a definiteness that I know your hearts need for real closure.
Blessings to all who are involved in this justice quest and who did not view Troy Davis' dilemma with apathy, but you participated in the struggle for justice. Give yourselves a handclap of praise!
Mary
at 15:30 on September 23rd, 2008
While this is a major hurdle, unfortunately, the battle is far from over.
Much better to win these battles this side of an execution, though.
at 15:58 on September 23rd, 2008
Thank you, Dunkelberg! You are so right, the battle for truth is not over. At least the U.S. Supreme Court agreed in granting this stay of execution that Troy's case will be given the review that he and his supporters have sought for so long.
As stated by Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn, of Amnesty International USA, “The failure of courts to hear the compelling evidence of innocence in this case means that massive doubts about Troy Davis' guilt will remain unresolved.”
Speaking on his own behalf, Troy Davis said:
"I am Innocent, and all I ask for is a True Day in a Just Court. If I am so guilty why do the courts deny me that? The truth is that they have no real case; the truth is I am Innocent.
Where is the Justice for me?"
Read Troy's entire statement entitled "Where is the Justice for me?" at this link:
http://www.nowpublic.com/world/georgia-execution-september-23-troy-anthony-davis-possibly-innocent
I appreciate the flag,
at 15:37 on September 23rd, 2008
duo, I like this story. It's good stuff.
Well this is great news for today!
at 16:01 on September 23rd, 2008
Thank you, Amy.
September 23 is my little sister's birthday! I am so pleased that nothing so tragic as the execution of a likely innocent man occurred on this day to diminish my joy at her celebration.
Happy Birthday, Ruthie!
Congratulations, Troy and family and supporters! Thanks to you, today is a day to celebrate LIFE.
Mary
at 15:46 on September 23rd, 2008
someone told me today, focus on one thing at a time. It's the only way to see what God really wants you to do. So focus on each battle, not the overall picture.
at 16:07 on September 23rd, 2008
Thanks for your insightful comments, Jim! One step at a time, Sweet Jesus!
Here is a video that says it better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGaJbG2eaEQ
at 15:51 on September 23rd, 2008
Congrats on reaching this goal, Mary.
at 16:18 on September 23rd, 2008
Karen, it is NowPublic that must be congratulated for providing this forum that allowed us to add our voices to the many thousands of other people's outcries against the injustice that almost happened in my home state, Georgia.
I am still outraged that Troy was forced to endure all of the preparations for execution today. What took so long to grant the stay, with all of the State's evidence against Troy falling apart? What a mental strain this man has endured for almost two decades! His entire youth has been spent on Georgia's death row.
This is the second time that Troy was removed from his cell into the chamber situated closest to the death chamber. It happened last year as well, when the Pardon and Parole Board decided to grant him a stay of execution. A spokesman for the Board said last July that the Board refused to allow Troy's execution without first examining the evidence that had come in since his conviction. However, this year, that same Board rejected Troy Davis' plea for a stay of execution, although he was denied a new trial in the meantime. When asked by reporters why the Board denied clemency on September 12, the Board refused to give any answer whatsoever.
This was amazing to me.
at 18:01 on September 23rd, 2008
One of the most vigorous people working on this vital issue, who goes by the name of Tom Paine, took my suggestion this afternoon and called Jimmy Carter's office, who informed him that Jimmy was "doing something about it." I know he put out a press release yesterday afternoon, and maybe he did more, like call some of the Justices. I wouldn't be surprised, and Carter is such a humble self effacing man that we may never know all he did.
Let's up hope that the Supreme Court will issue a writ of Mandamus, I believe it is called, remanding the lower court to give him a new trial, which is all Troy has been asking for, for a long time.
I have my own article posted at opednews.com on this subject. It is the same one as above, minus a few details but plus a few details, right off CNN. The Comments are important to me and will be read by thousands, so be sure if you wish to comment you copy this entire link, with no line breaks, only a hyphen, between an- and the number which follows:
http://www.opednews.com/articles/High-court-to-rule-whether-by-By-Rusty-Dornin-an-080923-817.html
IN conclusion, I have to agree with the poster above who said this is far from over. However, for the Supreme Court to take it up is a major victory. Let us pray that the same guys, the 5-4 majority who gave Bush the victory in 2000, are not wound up in their desire to kill another African American in a 21st Century lynching.
Give TROY DAVIS A NEW TRIAL!
Thanks so much, and I look forward to reading your ideas and responses.
Stephen Fox, Contributing Editor, New Mexico Sun News
stephen@santafefineart.com
at 18:18 on September 23rd, 2008
Thanks for visiting me on NowPublic, Stephen, and commenting on this story. Thanks for your reminder that this condemned man remains condemned, regardless of this temporary reprieve by the U.S. Supreme Court. Troy has hurdles left to climb before receiving what he calls a "True Day in a Just Court."
President Jimmy Carter has a heart for righteousness and justice, and so do thousands of other people who diligently worked to ascertain a stay of execution for Troy Davis. I trust that they will continue advocating for a new trial so that the world can evaluate the new evidence Troy's lawyers claim will exonerate him of the murder charge that almost got him killed today.
Thanks again for your comments, Stephen! Your OpEdNews article was very informative, also.
Mary
at 19:13 on September 23rd, 2008
duo, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 19:31 on September 23rd, 2008
Thank you, Rhonda. Thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court, I like this story myself!
Thank you again, justices. Better late than never.
at 19:44 on September 23rd, 2008
You are very welcome, duo.
at 19:56 on September 23rd, 2008
Wow, Rhonda. I have been reviewing the comments to this story and to the news of Troy's stay of execution on other sites. We're all such a bunch of HAPPY CAMPERS tonight. It is wonderful to have something to feel good about in the news for a change, isn't it?
at 20:02 on September 23rd, 2008
duo, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 20:47 on September 23rd, 2008
Thanks, Paschen. I sure appreciate it. I just feel like grabbing the bunch of you and doing a group hug as we all dance around!
at 20:03 on September 23rd, 2008
Yes it is, Mary. Thank you for your efforts on Troy's behalf.
at 21:04 on September 23rd, 2008
Rhonda, I am a real tail-ender on this thing with Mr. Davis. It was Amnesty International, the ACLU, lots of student volunteers who manned telephones for many hours gathering support, Mr. Davis' family, who stand by him throughout this long and not-over-yet ordeal, President Jimmy Carter, that great born-again humanitarian and mediator, world leaders like Pope Benedict XVI and Bishop Desmond TuTu, who I understand spoke out against the travesty that killing Troy without absolute proof of his guilt would have been, as well as many thousands of people like us, Rhonda, who wrote and placed telephone calls to officials on Troy's behalf.
Troy Davis' stay of execution is a great day for humanity! Many of my Care2 friends and fellow members are people from all over the world, and they were also working hard for justice on Troy's behalf.
I think God is proud of all His children tonight, with the kind of pride parents feel when they see their offspring getting along and working on some project together. Wouldn't it be nice if we sons and daughters of Adam approached all of our problems this way? WELL DONE, HUMAN RACE! WELL DONE.
at 22:07 on September 23rd, 2008
duo, Yia. Thats wud am tokin bout. I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 23:20 on September 23rd, 2008
Thanks, Panzerlawyer! Makes one feel all warm and fuzzy inside to know Troy isn't at the undertaker's today.
at 10:06 on September 24th, 2008
By the way, I neglected to mention that President Jimmy Carter and his lovely wife, Rosalynn, have always been on my heroes list. They are two people who live the life we read about in the Word. Although they need no introduction, you can read about them here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalynn_CarterBless them both!
Mary
at 01:16 on September 26th, 2008
Changed.
Mary
at 00:02 on September 30th, 2008
No decision was reached today by the United States Supreme Court regarding whether Mr. Davis will have the opportunity to present his new evidence of innocence at trial. This article now carries an update explaining this development.
at 23:52 on October 13th, 2008
Troy Davis update: Supreme Court is expected to make a decision by tomorrow. Pray for Troy, for our High Court, and for democracy.
Blessings,
Mary
at 13:15 on October 14th, 2008
This message was posted under the picture to another Troy Davis article. I am posting here to give higher visibility to the message:
DOUGLAS FIELD (not verified)
at 06:26 on October 14th, 2008 new WILL PRO LIFE US SUPREME COURT JUDGES ALLOW AN EXECUTION OF A POSSIBLE INNOCENT AMERICAN ???lawyersforpooramericans@yahoo.com USA, WHERE JUDICIAL INJUSTICES BEING INFLICTED ON POORER AMERICANS NEEDS CHANGE !!!
SENATOR OBAMA PLEASE LET THE AMERICAN VOTERS KNOW YOUR FEELINGS AND THOUGHTS ABOUT AMERICA’S FUTURE REPAIR AND RENOVATION OF A BROKEN JUDICIAL SYSTEM THAT CONTINUES TO ALLOW THE EXECUTION OF EVEN POSSIBLE INNOCENT AMERICAN’S LIKE TROY DAVIS OF GEORGIA ?????
BEING THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD SENATOR OBAMA, DON'T WE NEED AS THE LEADERS OF THE FREE WORLD TO BEGIN ONCE AGAIN TO RE-INVEST THE PROPER MONIE$ IN OUR OWN US JUDICIAL SYSTEM, ASSURING ALL OF OUR CITIZENS THEIR RIGHTS TO FAIR TRIALS WITH PROPER LEGAL REPRESENTATION ??SADLY SENATOR OBAMA,ANOTHER POSSIBLE innocent poorer black american ALSO NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT FOR JUSTICE AND REASON ??? DOES GOD NEED TO LOBBY OUR US CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS OF THE FREE WORLD ON BEHALF OF OUR poorer american’s SENATOR OBAMA,OR ARE YOU WATCHING OUT FOR THEM ??
***SURELY OUR US CONGRESS & US SUPREME COURT BOTH KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A STATE MURDER OF troy davis IN GEORGIA, OR A POSSIBLE EXECUTION OF troy davis IN GEORGIA ???
OUR US CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS OF THE FREE WORLD CONTINUE TO DENY MIDDLE CLASS AND WORKING POOR AMERICANS PROPER LEGAL REPRESENTATION EVEN THOUGH WRONGFUL EXECUTIONS & FALSE INCARCERATIONS CONTINUE ALL ACROSS AMERICA ???
*** 700 BILLION $$$ AVAILABLE FOR US BAILOUT, & NO $$$ FOR ALL POORER AMERICANS PROPER LEGAL REPRESENTATION ???????
WHERE ARE AMERICA ‘S RELIGIOUS LEADERS ??????????
SENATOR OBAMA, THIS JUDICIAL INJUSTICE HAS BECOME AN AMERICAN ART FORM, AND NO LONGER CAN BE KEPT HIDDEN OR SECRET FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE EVEN IF CERTAIN (501c3) U$ RELIGIOU$ LEADER$ HAVE BEEN $ILENCED ?
LETS ALL HOPE OUR MEDIA FRIENDS CONTINUE TO SHOW AN INTEREST IN REPORTING ON THIS AMERICAN HORROR FACING THESE (TENS OF THOUSANDS) FORGOTTEN AND TRAPPED POORER AMERICANS, AND HOW THIS PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDER HANDLES THIS VERY SERIOUS ISSUE FACING AMERICA’S LATINO AND BLACK AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ?
WITH 80% OF THE BLACK AMERICAN VOTERS SAYING THEY SUPPORT SENATOR OBAMA IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, IT IS ONLY FAIR FOR EVERYONE TO KNOW PRIOR BEING ELECTED OUR NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HOW THIS DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TRULY FEELS ABOUT THIS AMERICAN JUDICIAL INJUSTICE CONTINUING TO INFLICT GRAVE HARM ON THE BLACK & LATINO AMERICAN FAMILIES AND THEIR COMMUNITIES NATIONWIDE ?
*** WHEN GOD’S FACE BECAME VERY RED *** THE US SUPREME COURT GAVE ENEMY COMBATANTS FEDERAL APPEAL HC RIGHTS LAWYERS AND PROPER ACCESS TO US FEDERAL COURTS,AND POORER AMERICANS (MANY EVEN ON DEATH ROW) ARE DENIED PROPER FEDERAL APPEAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO OUR US FEDERAL COURTS OF APPEAL, AND ROTTING IN AMERICAN PRISONS NATIONWIDE ?????????
**** INNOCENT AMERICANS ARE DENIED REAL HC RIGHTS WITH THEIR FEDERAL APPEALS ! THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE $LOWLY FINDING OUT HOW EA$Y IT I$ FOR MIDDLE CLA$$ AND WORKING POOR AMERICAN$ TO FALL VICTIM TO OUR U$ MONETARY JUDICIAL $Y$TEM.
****WHEN THE US INNOCENT WERE ABANDONED BY THE GUILTY **** The prison experts have reported that there are 100,000 innocent Americans currently being falsely imprisoned along with the 2,300,000 total US prison population nationwide.
Since our US Congress has never afforded poor prison inmates federal appeal legal counsel for their federal retrials,they have effectively closed the doors on these tens of thousands of innocent citizens ever being capable of possibly exonerating themselves to regain their freedom through being granted new retrials.
This same exact unjust situation was happening in our Southern States when poor and mostly uneducated Black Americans were being falsely imprisoned for endless decades without the needed educational skills to properly submit their own written federal trial appeals.
This devious and deceptive judicial process of making our poor and innocent prison inmates formulate and write their own federal appeal legal cases for possible retrials on their state criminal cases,is still in effect today even though everyone in our US judicial system knows that without proper legal representation, these tens of thousands of innocent prison inmates will be denied their rightful opportunities of ever being granted new trials from our federal appeal judges !!
Sadly, the true US *legal* Federal Appeal situation that occurs when any of our uneducated American prison inmates are forced to attempt to submit their own written Federal Appeals (from our prisons nationwide) without the assistance of proper legal counsel, is that they all are in reality being denied their legitimate rights for Habeas Corpus with our US FEDERAL COURTS and will win any future Supreme Court Case concerning this injustice !
For our judicial system and our US Congressional Leaders Of The Free World to continue to pretend that this is a real and fair opportunity for our American Middle Class and Working Poor Citizens, only delays the very needed future change of Federal Financing of all these Federal appeals becoming a normal formula of Our American judicial system.
It was not so very long ago that Public Defenders became a Reality in this country.Prior that legal reality taking place, their were also some who thought giving anyone charged with a crime a free lawyer was a waste of taxpayer$$.
This FACADE and HORROR of our Federal Appeal proce$$ is not worthy of the Greatest Country In The World! ***GREAT SOCIETIES THAT DO NOT PROTECT EVEN THEIR INNOCENT, BECOME THE GUILTY !
A MUST READ ABOUT AMERICAN INJUSTICE:
1) YAHOO 2) GOOGLE MANNY GONZALES THE KID THAT EVERYONE FORGOT IN THE CA PRISON SYSTEM.
** A JUDICIAL RIDE OF ONES LIFE !
lawyersforpooramericans@yahoo.com (424-247-2013)