If you have strong feelings about the death penalty

[skipos]

you will probably want to follow this story. In my opinion, it is never too late to know the truth.

DNA TO DECIDE IF INNOCENT MAN WAS EXECUTED

RICHMOND, Virginia (AP) -- 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, according to death penalty opponents.

Warner said he ordered the tests because of technological advances that could provide a level of forensic certainty not available in the 1980s.

"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, a Democrat who leaves office January 14.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/LAW/01/05/dna.execution.ap/index.html

[Heidi]

1. I agree, skipos.

:kick:

[Mutley]

2. Too little, too late.

The man is already dead for a crime he possibly didn't even commit.

[oldtime dfl_er]

3. his murder will not have been in vain

Not entirely. If he is exonerated, it could be the start of publicity bigger, even, than the Innocence Project could hope to attain.

[Mutley]

7. That would be a cause worth dying for in my book.

But no one asked Roger Keith Coleman, or his family, if he thought it was worth dying for.

[tyedyeto]

4. You are correct that it will be too late for him but

for others who are on death row and are innocent, it may give them hope.

[Mutley]

8. That is true.

The silver lining, as they say. Very little I read on DU will get my blood boiling like discussions of the death penalty, though. Especially some of the recent ones.

[skipos]

5. Also, he might be proven guilty. Shouldn't we want to know for sure?

As it says in the article, DNA testing has come a long way since he was exectuted in 1992.

[Mutley]

6. I would like to know for sure, yes.

But I am one who is opposed to the death penalty no matter what the crime. Call me crazy.

[tyedyeto]

10. I'm in the same camp as you are....against the death penalty. n/t

[madokie]

11. In my way of thinking if a person is worthy of death,

then by all means life is punishment. I don't mind paying my part to keep them incarcerated.

[Mutley]

13. Nor do I.

[trotsky]

12. If you're crazy, so am I. n/t

[Walt Starr]

9. A word of warning on this case

The prosecution had a pretty solid case and DNA tests were introduced as evidence against this guy. They were not as definitive back then as they are now, so there was a margin of doubt, albeit fairly small.

When coupled with the other evidence, the jury really had to return a verdict of guilty based upon the reasonable doubt standard. From the evidence presented at trial, there was no reasonable doubt as to this man's guilt.

The caution I give is this:

Should it turn out this man was, in fact guilty, it will eaken the hands of the anti-DP activists with the general public. Pro-DP peopole will be able to point to this case and say, "Look, this guy did not have the strongest DNA tests presented against him and after tests were performed, more than a decade after his execution, there is not even a shadow of a doubt as to his guilt."

This case could be extermely detrimental to teh cause of those who oppose the death penalty.

For myself, I support an across the board nationwide moratorium on the DP at this time. When it comes to individual cases, I have to look at them on an individual basis until such a moratorium is in place.

[skipos]

14. Walt, you are pro DP, are you not?

I am not sure how to take your warning if that is the case. Regardless, if he is proven guilty it doesn't hurt the anti-DP cause at all. After all, most of us anti-DP types do not favor the DP regardless of guilt.

[Walt Starr]

16. It will hurt the anti-DP with the General Public if he's guilty

Those who are wavering will be less likely to support overturning the DP if this guy is shown beyond any shadow of a doubt that he's guilty.

and looking at the case, that's the most likely scenario here.

[oldtime dfl_er]

18. but the DP picture is larger than that

I oppose the death penalty in all cases, so it wouldn't affect me either way. The issue of the DP is a moral one, and I would hope peoples' opinions wouldn't be swayed by one case no matter how it turns out. Certainly, the issue of potentially executing the innocent is one element of the argument against the death penalty, but it isn't the entirety of the argument by any means. On such an important question, people need to weigh all the pros and cons, and not just base their opinion on one element.

[Walt Starr]

19. Actually, no, it isn't bigger than that

Want to stop the DP, you need to alter the political climate.

Right now, the DP is supported. Change people's minds on the issue and the DP will go away.

[KayLaw]

15. Thank you

I'm really interested in this and read a book about his case. I came away believing in his innocence and want to know the results. It's been a long time since I read the book but as I recall it's highly unlikely he could have been at the scene of the crime.

I don't believe in the DP because I don't trust the government, especially ambitious prosecutors. Look how crooked these politicians are. How can anyone trust them with the lives of citizens?

[Clarkansas]

17. Thanks Warner! You are doing the right thing.