Defending the Truth

NEW ORLEANS - A federal jury awarded $14 million Friday to a former death row inmate who came within weeks of execution but was exonerated.

read on here:
$14 million for exonerated ex-inmate - Crime & Punishment - MSNBC.com


I don't know why they didn't do DNA testing when they first started doing DNA testing years back?? I really feel bad for this guy..

This is why we must not kill people.

They didn't need to do DNA testing to determine blood type, which is what cleared Thompson of the killing.

What I don't get is why the one judge "resentenced Thompson to live in prison without parole"?

And why didn't defense attorneys at the original trial in 1984 have access to the crime lab report? Or did they just find new evidence in 1999?

So many details were left out of that little snippet of a news story!

This does NOT mean that Capital Punishment is wrong or unjust.

What it DOES mean is that the courts DANGED WELL better make sure there is 100% certainly, and absolute guilt - without question - before an execution.

None of this mob lynching crap.
None of this hearsay conviction crap.

100% irrefutable evidence. No less.

So tell me what do you think will stop all the killing and raping,. more money, a caring pat on the shoulders,maybe a "I am thinking of you" card every other day...NO.we have to have the death row,and we have to make sure we have the right crook.

Maybe one day when mankind is smart enough to work together we can have that great world,But it won't be in our life time...too bad I sure would love to see this world you liberals keep bragin about...

I don't know. I don't have the answers. Obviously, the death penalty isn't doing anything about it.

...and until then, just hope we get it right? As evidenced by the article, we DON'T always get it right ... and there is damned little checking done on executions that have already taken place.

Agreed 100%

The problem with the "anti-capital punishment" crowd is that they want to make it look like EVERY conviction is like this: just waiting to be overturned by the REAL evidence.

But it's not. The overwhelming majority of executions (possible 99%?) are carried out with absolutely no question as to the convicts guilt.


Personally, I'm not big on capital punishment one way or the other. There are perfectly legitimate arguments both for and against it.

But one thing I am absolutely sure of. Before an execution takes place, there MUST be 100% irrefutable evidence that the person is guilty. No question.

You what's cool about this discussion? Even those infavor of capital punishment agree that is an unsavory method of dealing with social problems. They even agree that ultimately it should be abolished.. Just not YET.

Well i would say that this is PRECISELY what has to be addressed. Capital punishment can only be abolished when the majority deems that it is no longer necessary to have capital punishment in order to maintain law and order.

Nations like Denmark, Canada and a bunch of other liberal softie nations have abolished capital punishment by majority vote.. And honestly their crime statistics aren't as bad as the US's.

Unfortunately a host of other things like the proliferation of weapons and the lack of social security cause higher crime rates. Once THOSE issues are dealt with, capital punishment will become unnecessary.

But then begins the battle for gun control and social welfare.. which will be opposed tooth and nail.. In this situation i'm kinda glad that i'm not american. This particular transition is going to be very rough and i'ld hate to be on either side.

As it is i can comment onit and let it be hee hee hee

Denmark?
Canada?

Say, what's the population - per square mile - in Canada? Virtually non-existent!

So is Canada irrelevant in this discussion? Yes, 100%.

And Denmark? Denmark is a TINY little dot on the map. Your comparison is like me saying that North Dakota has FAR LESS crime then California. Durrrrr...

In addition, you have more immigrants moving to the United States, every year, then are immigrating to all other countries of the world COMBINED. Do you suppose this might effect crime? I know for a FACT that it DOES.


You're not even BEGINNING to scratch the surface in the right places.