Coleman said he was innocent right up to his execution
Update: Guilty!
Gov. Mark R. Warner on Thursday ordered DNA evidence retested to determine whether a man convicted of rape and murder was innocent when he was executed in 1992.
If the testing shows Roger Keith Coleman did not rape and kill his sister-in-law in 1981, it will mark the first time in the United States a person has been exonerated by scientific testing after his execution
“This is an extraordinarily unique circumstance, where technology has advanced significantly and can be applied in the case of someone who consistently maintained his innocence until execution,” said Warner.
No comment.
The only thing this could do is convince more people that the courts DO make mistakes and the Appeal Courts are too hampered in their review.
It is fine and dandy that there are Appeal Courts to review. The unfortunate side is the onus to prove the Trial Court made a mistake is such a high hurdle that few make it. Sure there are some high profile cases that have their convictions overturned, but they are less then 10% of all cases heard. When Prosecutors and Judges are elected, there is now a requirement that they do what the electorate wants, not what justice deserves.
Capital cases may be heard several times in higher courts, but when the lawyer was only paid $1000 to represent the accused, there is little chance that the conviction will be overturned. Recently the Supreme Court, in another 5-4 decision, dismissed an appeal where the lawyer was reported to sleep during part of the trial because the appeal lawyers could not prove that the accused did not receive a fair trial.
Recently the Illinois Governor pardoned ALL death row inmates. This was after journalism students at North Western University had proved that 12 death row inmates were innocent of their crimes. They documented a pattern of intimidation by police and prosecutors on witnesses, not sharing exculpatory evidence with the defense, presenting fabricated testimony, lying on the witness stand, and other malfeasance. Even though this practice had gone on for years and it is quite probable that innocent people were executed, not one prosecutor was ever disciplined, or disbarred and not one cop was ever charged. As a result, there is no incentive for the prosecutors or police to see the accused gets a fair trial. The Illinois experience can not be an isolated system.
As paul pointed out, from 80% to 64% in a decade is a lot. I believe this case could very well lower death penalty supporters even more.
kill them all and let GOD sort it out.
paul,
You are correct. They had their sentences commuted instead of pardoned.
Yet the reasoning remains the same, the Governor had serious doubts about the legal system.
Depending on the circumstances, DNA evidence is very unlikely to truly exonerate someone, but can show them to be guilty.
“Stop the presses — it turns out that rapists and killers are also liars,” Michael Paranzino, president of a group called Throw Away the Key, said in a statement.
that about sums it up for me…
“An innocent man is going to be murdered tonight” I wonder who, because it certainly wasn’t him. Guilty as charged!