SIGNAL BOOST: Demand DNA Testing for Death-Row Inmate Hank Skinner before it's too late.

[ladyofleithian]

Originally posted by zeitgeistic at SIGNAL BOOST: Demand DNA Testing for Death-Row Inmate Hank Skinner before it's too late.

Here we go again--another potentially innocent man scheduled to die with questionable evidence. A lot of people reached out to try to save Troy Davis, and it looked like Georgia might issue a stay of execution for him, but in the end, they did not. That doesn't mean we can't save the next person. Hank Skinner is scheduled to be executed in Texas on November 9th, without DNA testing on the evidence.

Whether you believe in the Death Penalty or not, here are highlights of why you should sign this petition, and if you can, call or email the office of Rick Perry (Governor of Texas) to tell him that he must issue a stay of execution and grant DNA testing for Hank Skinner:

• The star witness has recanted her testimony against Hank
• Others have implicated another man as the murderer

Hank Skinner is scheduled to die on November 9. But the state of Texas may execute him without even conducting DNA tests on all of the evidence from his trial, despite a decade of requests from Hank and his lawyers.

Hank has been on death row since 1995 for the murders of his girlfriend and her two adult sons, and has steadfastly professed his innocence. Since his conviction, the star witness against Hank has recanted her testimony, and others have implicated another man as the killer.

At the time of his trial, the prosecution conducted DNA tests on the clothes Hank was wearing -- but declined to test the rest of the physical evidence, including a rape kit, the murder weapons, several hairs clutched in the victim's hand, and a bloody windbreaker that strongly resembles that of the man accused by others of being the true murderer.

Since the year 2000, Hank has been requesting that the office of the District Attorney that prosecuted him order DNA tests on the remaining evidence. But the DA's office has continuously denied those requests, saying Hank should have requested the tests before his trial.

The Gray County District Attorney's office has neglected to order these tests for more than a decade without consequences. By signing this petition, you can let members of that office know that their actions are being watched, and that it is unacceptable to send a potentially innocent man to his death without collecting all the relevant evidence.

• Sign the Petition
• Contact Governor Perry

Comments

General Grievous is angry

[darth-eldritch.livejournal.com]

Icon is for the injustice...

This shit just pisses me off to no end.

The change.org drive tried to save a man in Texas who was innocent, but couldn't stop it.

This is why I am against the death penalty.

[philstar22.livejournal.com]

Ug. Our system is so screwed up. On the one hand, in a lot of cases, we aren't tough enough on crime (life sentences not really being life sentences, rapists getting less prison time than those convicted of drug crimes, etc.). On the other hand, we kill people. Really, system, not cool. Life in prison without the possibility of parole is the right way to go. That way, there is always the chance for innocent people (and there will always be innocents convicted because the system isn't perfect) to get out. And that way, at least our racist system won't kill anyone.

I mean, I'm morally against the death penalty anyways because we do have better alternatives and because I think killing is morally wrong except in combat or self-defense situations. It isn't like a choice between execution and getting out. Sentence them to life without parole. In fact, people are more likely to get lesser sentences when the prosecutors put the death penalty on the table than when they go for life without parole because juries are often uncomfortable with the death penalty.

A good book to read is The New Jim Crow. It is an eye opening book about just how racist our criminal justice system is.

[forcewatcher.livejournal.com]

*edited for clarification of certain points*

I think I may have a unique perspective to offer, for good or ill. I actually work with one of the first guys to be released on the Texas Amnesty Project. He spent 17 years for a crime he didn't commit, and he now works in conjunction with several lawyers in our firm to continue making strides in legislation. It's never going to be a perfect system, but it does improve by leaps and bounds under the radar. The trick is to arrange payment for these DNA tests - they're not cheap, and everyone knows any system like this is already underfunded. They're working on these kinds of things too.

The DEFENSE should have called for DNA testing. Prosecution has no need for such things if they believe they already have sufficient evidence for a conviction, which apparently they thought they did. Clearly the jury believed they did. Not everyone that gets convicted is convicted wrongly, and I won't make a judgment call in a case like this either. I'm just saying, there was due process. It's not always right, but it's not always wrong either. These things are never as simple as black and white. The good news is I can tell you the conviction process has improved considerably since '95, because of situations just like this. I've learned many things between working at a law firm and talking with my exonoree buddy. He'll tell you himself, most people who end up inside are guilty. Those few that aren't, it's fairly easy to get a bead on them.

My question would be, since he's been there since '95, why has no one else come forward with an offer of DNA testing? There are all sorts of organizations out there that could have dropped the money down for this. Has he himself been working towards his own defense and appeals, or has he been stewing in his own juices all this time? This says his team has been active, and it sounds like he's got a strong case, but do we truly know, or is this what we're being fed? I hate to say it, but I trust the press less than I trust the justice system. I'm glad to see the crusaders out there, working towards a better system, but keep in mind, the system is a work in progress, and it doesn't work on an agenda. You want true change to it, you vote for judges, you vote for congressmen, and you vote for city councils and mayors. Track these people. Hold them to their promises. Build their careers or drop 'em like a bad habit if they flounder. It seems like everyone's willing to cry out at the 11th hour, but nobody seems willing to do their part before that.