Did Virginia Execute an Innocent Man?

[AGBF]

The Governor of Virginia, Mark Warner, has ordered the re-examination of the DNA of a man executed in the electric chair in 1992. It is possible that the executed man was innocent.

"Warner said Thursday he ordered the tests because of technological advances that could provide a level of forensic certainty not available when initial DNA tests were conducted.

If the tests show Roger Keith Coleman did not rape and kill his sister-in-law in 1981, it will mark the first time in the United States that an executed person has been scientifically proved innocent, according to death penalty opponents."

Innocent Man Executed?

 

[lmurden]

I read about this no wonder they are fighting the DNA testing.
Can you image the if this man is innocent?
Very sad.

 

[fire&ice]

Maybe he is indeed guilty.

 

[lmurden]

Hopefully, we will see.

 

[Demelza]

Date: 1/6/2006 10:02:24 AM
Author: fire&ice
Maybe he is indeed guilty.

But maybe he's not. Finding someone guilty beyond a reasonable doubt is not necessarily the same as having indisputable evidence that this man/woman actually committed the crime. Conversely, OJ isn't actually innocent because 12 jurors said he was. To me, this is one of the many reasons the death penalty is unethical and ineffective. You can let someone out of jail after serving a sentence for a crime he/she didn't commit (in itself, a horrific tragedy), but you can't bring someone back from the dead after exculpatory evidence is found. I shudder to think how many times this may have happened or will happen if the death penalty remains legal.

 

[FireGoddess]

It's an interesting debate. I am in favor of the death penalty, but if this man turns out to be innocent...that is the worst case scenario for this type of punishment in that he has already been executed. Very horrible thought.

However, there are so many scumbags who have done horrific things and have no remorse...and would do them again if set free...why should I pay for them to have a roof over their heads and 3 meals a day in jail for the rest of their lives when there are poor people who deserve those benefits more and haven't committed any crimes?

BTW, please don't try to convince me otherwise....I know some people are against the death penalty and some people are in favor of it. I don't presume to dissuade anyone of their opinions, I'm merely conveying mine.

 

[Momoftwo]

The other interesting fact is that the DNA evidence has been out in California in some lab for 13+ years. The question is, what is the security around it? I'd love to see the chain of custody involving it and if it's been stored properly. Blood breaks down over time and that can affect the results. Can it be guaranteed that it is indeed the evidence after all this time? And, yeah, maybe he is guilty. There was apparently a lot of evidence in this case. The irony of all this is some of the same people fighting to have the death penalty overturned using DNA evidence are the same ones who didnt' believe OJ was guilty based on DNA evidence. Remember, prisons are full of "innocent" people. Just ask the inmates.

This is also just possibly a way for Mark Warner to gain more support from the anti-death penalty groups as he runs for President. It's so political.

 

[lmurden]

Date: 1/6/2006 2:29:51 PM
Author: Demelza

Date: 1/6/2006 10:02:24 AM
Author: fire&ice
Maybe he is indeed guilty.

But maybe he''s not. Finding someone guilty beyond a reasonable doubt is not necessarily the same as having indisputable evidence that this man/woman actually committed the crime. Conversely, OJ isn''t actually innocent because 12 jurors said he was. To me, this is one of the many reasons the death penalty is immoral and ineffective. You can let someone out of jail after serving a sentence for a crime he/she didn''t commit (in itself, a horrific tragedy), but you can''t bring someone back from the dead after exculpatory evidence is found. I shudder to think how many times this may have happened or will happen if the death penalty remains legal.

I totally agree with you! I sure would like to see the evidence that shows the death penalty prevents horrible crimes. I wish that life in prison was enforced but it''s not. Oh well...

 

[lmurden]

Date: 1/6/2006 3:28:44 PM
Author: Momoftwo
The other interesting fact is that the DNA evidence has been out in California in some lab for 13+ years. The question is, what is the security around it? I''d love to see the chain of custody involving it and if it''s been stored properly. Blood breaks down over time and that can affect the results. Can it be guaranteed that it is indeed the evidence after all this time? And, yeah, maybe he is guilty. There was apparently a lot of evidence in this case. The irony of all this is some of the same people fighting to have the death penalty overturned using DNA evidence are the same ones who didnt'' believe OJ was guilty based on DNA evidence. Remember, prisons are full of ''innocent'' people. Just ask the inmates.

This is also just possibly a way for Mark Warner to gain more support from the anti-death penalty groups as he runs for President. It''s so political.

I''m sure it is political for Mark Warner, but that doesn''t take away the fact that there have been people wrongly convicted and sent to prison!

 

[tanuki]

They just released a man here in Georgia who served 26 years in jail for a rape that was proven by DNA evidence that he didn''t commit.
The authorities were able to attribute the rape to another man who is in jail for several other rapes.
All I could think was at least the real rapist didn''t murder his victim or this guy would likely have been on death row.

 

[colormyworld]

Has anybody else noticed that the people who support the death penalty the strongest also CLAIM to be the most relgious. Seem like a contradition to me. VENGEANCE IS MINE SAITH THE LORD.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 1/6/2006 5:09:31 PM
Author: colormyworld
Has anybody else noticed that the people who support the death penalty the strongest also CLAIM to be the most relgious. Seem like a contradition to me. VENGEANCE IS MINE SAITH THE LORD.

That kinda reminds me of the radical pro-life people who blow up abortion clinics with people in them??!?!!?!!? Hypocritical?!

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 1/6/2006 5:31:07 PM
Author: FireGoddess

Date: 1/6/2006 5:09:31 PM
Author: colormyworld
Has anybody else noticed that the people who support the death penalty the strongest also CLAIM to be the most relgious. Seem like a contradition to me. VENGEANCE IS MINE SAITH THE LORD.

That kinda reminds me of the radical pro-life people who blow up abortion clinics with people in them??!?!!?!!? Hypocritical?!

Not me on the first point. I''m not a big believer in organized religion. If you have been involved first hand in having your life threatened and those around you in a most horrible way, you may feel different.

And, on the second point, I seemly don''t understand that logic about blowing up the clinics. Yes, very hypocritical.

 

[colormyworld]

fire & ice I just made a comment about an observation .I was not pointing it your way. But if the shoe fits...

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 1/6/2006 5:54:18 PM
Author: colormyworld
fire & ice I just made a comment about an observation. I was not pointing it your way

And, to some extent it rings true. Just not a generalization. The Catholics are rather consistent in their views. No life taken.

 

[Momoftwo]

I''ve also noticed a lot of those that have no problem with abortion tend to have a problem with the death penalty. That makes no sense to me either. Maybe the reason those that tend to be the most "religious" ( we use the words have faith/believers) are believers in the death penalty because they believe the Bible. I''ve always been strongly pro death penalty, but at this point, I dont'' know that it really makes a difference as long as there are people that think they can do whatever they want regardless of the punishment. My original statement had more to do with the political side and the chance that the original DNA may have been compromised.

 

[Rank Amateur]

Date: 1/6/2006 5:58:17 PM
Author: fire&ice
The Catholics are rather consistent in their views. No life taken.

The Catholic Church is consistent. It''s the Catholic people who are not, and they don''t have any say in RC policy.

 

[colormyworld]

MOMof2 Where in the Bible does it say man should kill his fellow man?

 

[Rank Amateur]

I am absolutely positive that the US has executed at least one innocent man, and maybe more.

It''s not really new. Such is the nature of the imperfect American judicial beast.

 

[fire&ice]

Date: 1/6/2006 6:12:07 PM
Author: Rank Amateur

Date: 1/6/2006 5:58:17 PM
Author: fire&ice
The Catholics are rather consistent in their views. No life taken.

The Catholic Church is consistent. It''s the Catholic people who are not, and they don''t have any say in RC policy.

Actually, I know plenty of Catholics who follow the DOGMA of the Catholic Church. And, plenty who don''t. Just like anything.

 

[colormyworld]

Such is the nature of imperfect humans. Our buy your justice system just compounds the problem!

 

[Momoftwo]

Date: 1/6/2006 6:12:17 PM
Author: colormyworld
MOMof2 Where in the Bible does it say man should kill his fellow man?

That's all you took from my statement? I sense a dislike of Christians. There are many cases of the death penalty being used in the Bible. There are hypocrites on both sides of the fence in every circumstance. I'm just tired of Christians being bashed and being called hypocrites all the time because they take stands.

Here's one example of what the Bible has to say: http://www.gotquestions.org/death-penalty.html

Here's another interesting one: http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/1528.htm

My point is simply this, Christians come at this from a belief that the Bible is the word of God.

 

[colormyworld]

I guess I made a mistake because the old testament is full of people smitting people. I just think humanity is to imperfect and the death penality is to permenant to be administered by man. God will sort it all out and every one will get thier justice in the end. All we should be doing is confining those who would prey on the innocent.

 

[Momoftwo]

Date: 1/6/2006 6:34:01 PM
Author: colormyworld
I guess I made a mistake because the old testament is full of people smitting people. I just think humanity is to imperfect and the death penality is to permenant to be administered by man. God will sort it all out and every one will get thier justice in the end. All we should be doing is confining those who would prey on the innocent.

That sounds humane and all, but I for one am tired of giving free college educations and room and board to crimminals. I still think, as in a lot of other countries, that the inmate should have to pay for their upkeep. It's definitely not my responsibility to do it.

I personally think the Sheriff in Arizona (I think that's where he is) has it right, pink clothing, hard labor and sleeping in tents for the inmates. It shouldnt' be easy or comfy

 

[colormyworld]

Yes I have read the bible fromm cover to cover on many occaisians. I don't know how you jump to the conclusion that i am bashing christians. But I have a question for you. Where in the new testament( Which is what christanity is supposed to be about). does it say that we should be killing criminals?

 

[Momoftwo]

Re read my post, I had edited it before you answered because I didn't want to be flamed for conservative views. I took out the Bible question because I decided it wasn't fair. Maybe it's because you're stuck on this religious aspect of it.

And since you asked about the New Testament:
http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/cap-pun.html

and here: http://www.theologyonline.com/DEATH.HTML


http://www.religioustolerance.org/exe_bibl2.htm

 

[colormyworld]

I stand by my edited post.

 

[Momoftwo]

So, now read mine with my edited post with links. Food for thought. The funny thing is, nowhere in this thread did I say I'm totally pro-death penalty.

 

[colormyworld]

DO you know the differance between the old and new testaments. Being a Christian is based on the new testament. The post you linked to is confusing the two. Any one that calls them self a christian should be anti death penality.

 

[FireGoddess]

Date: 1/6/2006 6:59:38 PM
Author: colormyworld
DO you know the differance between the old and new testaments. Being a Christian is based on the new testament. The post you linked to is confusing the two. Any one that calls them self a christian should be anti death penality.

Well....I call myself a Christian and I am in favor of the death penalty.....

And I should further clarify - I'm not zealous in my favor of its use...but in some cases, I find it justified.