Texas may well have killed an innocent man • Hacker News Board

Re: Texas may well have killed an innocent man

#11

Post by bediger4000 » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 2:06 AM UTC

rbanffy wrote: post #9

Death penalty would be applied much more responsibly if, in case an innocent person got executed, everyone involved in the verdict, police, forensics experts, prosecutors, judge and jurors, would have to be charged of at least manslaughter. Realistically, this would only bring the systematic destruction of any exculpatory evidence.

Realistically, this would only bring the systematic destruction of any exculpatory evidence.

Is the US (Texas?) law enforcement that corrupt? That's actually pretty shocking that the only realistic outcome of holding those who execute the innocent is that the system would get even more biased.

Re: Texas may well have killed an innocent man

#12

Post by gamblor956 » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 2:27 AM UTC

bediger4000 wrote: post #11

rbanffy wrote: post #9

Death penalty would be applied much more responsibly if, in case an innocent person got executed, everyone involved in the verdict, police, forensics experts, prosecutors, judge and jurors, would have to be charged of at least manslaughter. Realistically, this would only bring the systematic destruction of any exculpatory evidence.

Realistically, this would only bring the systematic destruction of any exculpatory evidence. Is the US (Texas?) law enforcement that corrupt? That's actually pretty shocking that the only realistic outcome of holding those who execute the innocent is that the system would get even more biased.

Yes. Its even worse if you're not white. The prevailing attitude in Texas and most other southern states is that if you're being prosecuted, you must be guilty. It's what lets prosecutors get away with, literally, murder.

Re: Texas may well have killed an innocent man

#13

Post by josecastillo » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 3:17 AM UTC

Also worth noting: in 2009, the Texas Forensic Science Commission was looking into the Willingham case. Two days before the commission was scheduled to hear evidence that could have exonerated Willingham, Gov. Rick Perry ousted the chairman and two members. The hearing was canceled, and the inquiry was effectively shut down. [1]

The final report, released a year and a half later, only recommended more training for fire investigators; it did not examine exculpatory evidence, or issue any finding regarding negligence or professional misconduct. [2] Two months after that, Texas AG Greg Abbott issued a ruling prohibiting the commission from investigating evidence from prior to 2005, ensuring that the commission will not examine exculpatory evidence in the future. [3]

[1] http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/newsdesk/2009/10/david...

[2] PDF: http://www.fsc.state.tx.us/documents/FINAL.pdf

[3] http://www.texastribune.org/2012/10/24/family-seeks-clear-na...

Re: Texas may well have killed an innocent man

#14

Post by gizmo686 » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 4:45 AM UTC

bediger4000 wrote: post #11

rbanffy wrote: post #9

Death penalty would be applied much more responsibly if, in case an innocent person got executed, everyone involved in the verdict, police, forensics experts, prosecutors, judge and jurors, would have to be charged of at least manslaughter. Realistically, this would only bring the systematic destruction of any exculpatory evidence.

Realistically, this would only bring the systematic destruction of any exculpatory evidence. Is the US (Texas?) law enforcement that corrupt? That's actually pretty shocking that the only realistic outcome of holding those who execute the innocent is that the system would get even more biased.

This scenario does not seem that corrupt. Everyone involved in the case, collectivly, has significant power to destroy evidence, and they would all be facing criminal prosecution.

Re: Texas may well have killed an innocent man

#15

Post by fit2rule » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 7:56 AM UTC

xzf wrote: post #7

Atroxide wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

ON THE morning of December 23rd 1991 a fire destroyed a home in Corsicana, Texas shared by Cameron Todd Willingham, his wife and their three daughters. The fire killed the girls; Mrs Willingham was at the Salvation Army store shopping for Christmas gifts. Mr Willingham survived. The next year he was convicted of setting the fire. He was sentenced to death and executed in 2004. His conviction rested on arson investiga…

"On April 3rd Texas denied Willingham a pardon. His lawyers can reapply in April 2016." They pardoned the dead guy?

Its important if he had an estate or other heirs that might lay claim to his assets.

Sad story.

Re: Texas may well have killed an innocent man

#16

Post by bediger4000 » Tue, Apr 29, 2014, 1:04 PM UTC

gizmo686 wrote: post #14

bediger4000 wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Realistically, this would only bring the systematic destruction of any exculpatory evidence. Is the US (Texas?) law enforcement that corrupt? That's actually pretty shocking that the only realistic outcome of holding those who execute the innocent is that the system would get even more biased.

This scenario does not seem that corrupt. Everyone involved in the case, collectivly, has significant power to destroy evidence, and they would all be facing criminal prosecution.

But the District Attorneys and the Law Enforcment officers have taken the moral equivalent of Holy Vows to do the right thing, and destroying any evidence is obviously the Wrong Thing.

Doesn't law enforcement derive all of their moral authority from always doing the right thing, from treating everyone exactly alike? If there's a significant percentage of law enforcement that is just out to "get someone", they have about zero moral authority.