Georgia Executes Troy Davis

The execution of Troy Davis took place last evening. It had been delayed for a few hours as the word on a possible stay by The Supreme Court was awaited. It did not decide to act on the request.

Anyone who knows me know that tend to the Catholic view on all issues life, whether it be abortion or death penalty so my viewpoint on this is pretty standard fair.

I do not believe in the death penalty. The merits of this case seem to be especially egregious. Davis convicted of killing a police officer based primarily on the eyewitness testimony of nine people. Of those people seven have now recanted and the other two are dubious at best.

I do not know if Troy Davis was guilty of that murder. There is no doubt that earlier in the evening he was in a fight, that he had evidently shot a man earlier in the night in a fight. In short he was no angel.

Still cop killers are hated and if folks are thought to be cop killers the blue shield closes around and it is a rare case where a conviction is not gained.

One of the issues in these cases is it is very rare for a poor man with court appointed representation to be able to defend himself well. It seems that in America health care and justice are meted out on a pay to play basis. The more money you have the better chance of success in both areas.

I do not know if Troy Davis is guilty. I do know that there are enough doubts about the evidence and the guilt that a delay in his execution or better yet a commutation to life in prison was called for.

The innocence of youth is remembered. Looking at facebook last night I saw that many of my son's friends were posting about the case and the injustice of it all. I remember when I felt that sure of everything.

I am sure that I am against the death penalty. I am not sure that I know of his innocence. I think we are arrogant as men if we believe that we know who is guilty enough to kill in all cases.