Stop the Execution of Troy Anthony Davis
The Joliet Diocese Legislative Advocacy Network is asking you to advocate for the commutation of the death sentence for Troy Anthony Davis.
Troy Davis faces execution for the murder of Police Officer Mark MacPhail in Georgia, despite a strong claim of innocence. 7 out of 9 witnesses have recanted or contradicted their testimony, no murder weapon was found and no physical evidence links Davis to the crime. The Georgia Board of Pardon and Paroles has voted to deny clemency, yet Governor Perdue still has the power to step in and commute Davis’ sentence. Please urge him to demonstrate respect for fairness and justice by granting clemency to Troy Davis.
Background
Restrictions on Federal appeals have prevented Troy Anthony Davis from having a hearing in federal court on the reliability of the witness testimony used against him, despite the fact that most of the witnesses have since recanted, many alleging they were pressured or coerced by police. Troy Davis remains on Georgia death row, and may be scheduled for execution in the very near future.
Troy Davis was sentenced to death for the murder of Police Officer Mark Allen MacPhail at a Burger King in Savannah, Georgia; a murder he maintains he did not commit. There was no physical evidence against him and the weapon used in the crime was never found. The case against him consisted entirely of witness testimony which contained inconsistencies even at the time of the trial. Since then, all but two of the state's non-police witnesses from the trial have recanted or contradicted their testimony. Many of these witnesses have stated in sworn affidavits that they were pressured or coerced by police into testifying or signing statements against Troy Davis.
One of the two witnesses who has not recanted his testimony is Sylvester "Red" Coles – the principle alternative suspect, according to the defense, against whom there is new evidence implicating him as the gunman. Nine individuals have signed affidavits implicating Sylvester Coles.
Advocacy groups around the world have taken up Troy Anthony Davis' cause.
More information: Troy Davis website http://www.troyanthonydavis.org/
ACTION
Please write Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue
Through Webform: http://gov.georgia.gov/00/gov/contact_us/0,2657,78006749_94820188,00.html
By Fax:
203 State Capitol
Atlanta, GA 30334
Phone: (404) 656-1776
Fax: (404) 656-5947 and 404-657-7332
Model Letter (Modify, Cut & Paste)
I am writing to urge you to use your authority as Governor of the state of Georgia to commute the death sentence of Troy Davis, in order to ensure that Georgia does not put to death a man who may well be innocent. I believe you have the power to do so, and I believe you must use it in this case.
According to the Georgia Constitution, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles does not have “exclusive” authority to commute sentences in death penalty cases. After the Georgia Constitution was ratified, the Georgia Legislature divested the Governor of the power to grant pardons or paroles, but it has never divested the Governor of the power to commute sentences, including death sentences.
In this extraordinary case, where a man with a strong claim to innocence may well be executed without a court ever holding a hearing on his claims, I urge you to act in the interests of justice and commute Troy Davis’ death sentence. An execution in this case, without a proper hearing on significant evidence of innocence, would severely compromise the integrity of Georgia’s justice system.
As you may know, Mr. Davis was convicted of the 1989 murder of police officer Mark MacPhail, a conviction based solely on witness testimony, and seven of the nine non-police witnesses have recanted or contradicted their trial testimony. The courts, citing procedural rules and time limits, have so far refused to hold an evidentiary hearing to examine these witnesses. Executive clemency exists, and executive action is required, to preserve justice when the protections afforded by our appeals process fail to do so.
I strongly urge you to take such action now and commute the death sentence of Troy Davis. Thank you for your attention to this extremely serious matter.
Catholic Teaching on the Death Penalty:
"Even in the midst of difficulties and uncertainties, every person sincerely open to truth and goodness can, by the light of reason and the hidden action of grace, come to recognize, in the natural law written in the heart, the sacred value of human life from its very beginning until its end, and can affirm the right of every human being to have this primary good respected to the highest degree. In a special way, believers in Christ must defend and promote this right." "Life, especially human life, belongs only to God: For this reason, whoever attacks human life in some way attacks God Himself." "Not even a murderer loses his personal dignity, and God himself pledges to guarantee this." (Gospel of Life, Pope John Paul II)
