Troy Davis Appeal Denied – Execution Date Could Loom

March 28, 2011 at 10:37 AM

The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear Troy Davis’ appeals and set the stage for him to possibly face a fourth execution date.  Davis will not be allowed to challenge the August 2010 ruling of the federal district court judge that he failed to establish his innocence, nor will he be able to challenge the standard used to make that ruling.

Doubts about Davis’ guilt, of course, have not been resolved, as most of the witnesses used to convict him continue to maintain that their trial testimony was false and, in many cases, coerced by Savannah police.  With such witnesses as virtually the only evidence, the case against Troy Davis was always thin, but, ironically, that has meant that, once convicted, Davis has had little to drawn on to prove his innocence.  Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases, but, especially in this case, where the evidence available to establish either guilt or innocence is so flimsy, an execution would be a terrible miscarriage of justice.

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118 thoughts on “Troy Davis Appeal Denied – Execution Date Could Loom”

  1. This is so sad! At least the anesthesia drug is confiscated by the DEA. But still, I can't believe that U.S. states are killing too many innocent people, especially Eric King and Cleve Foster, whom Arizona and Texas will kill in spite of evidence of innocence and unfair trials and racist, botched up proceedings and flawed evidence! Why is it that so many people on death row, especially innocent people, are asking the governors for clemency before the date of execution, and yet the governors are denying them clemency and killing them anyway?! 🙁

  2. This just breaks my heart … and chills me to the core knowing that this could happen to ANYONE. For me, this isn't so much about guilt and innocence but the fact that a potentially innocent person could be put to death. So long as there is ANY doubt, any unanswered questions, any conflicting "facts", evidence or statements, an execution should absolutely be forbidden!

  3. Trot may not have established his innocence to the satisfaction of the court, but the State has certainly not established his guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Nothing more than that should be needed to take him off death row, in fact that should be enough to find him not guilty according to any standard of fair trial

  4. "Guilty beyond reasonable doubt" or "Innocent till proven guilty" is not happening; I believe he is innocent, but regardless of whether he is innocent or not, capital punishment should not be on the table with the degree of uncertainty on the case. On the trial it was more like he couldn't prove his innocent, something like "guilty until proven innocent!" This is not justice and it shows the big crack on the justice system. Justice for Troy.

  5. You cannot kill our friiend Troy Davis. He is innocent. The Supreme Court, the federal District Judge (Savannah) will have blood on their hands into eternity. The McPhail family will never have peace. Why put such a burden on a family that has already suffered such loss. There is not a shred of evidence that Troy committed this crime. The recantations of the witnesses proved that a coercive, interrogative, unjust system will not bury the truth. Yes, when one is poor, black and suspect it is easy to be vulnerable. I am privileged, white, I know!

  9. I cannot believe this! This is justice denied. Please share this information with everyone you know. Troy Davis needs our help.

  10. This is so sad! At least the anesthesia drug is confiscated by the DEA. But still, I can’t believe that U.S. states are killing too many innocent people, especially Eric King and Cleve Foster, whom Arizona and Texas will kill in spite of evidence of innocence and unfair trials and racist, botched up proceedings and flawed evidence! Why is it that so many people on death row, especially innocent people, are asking the governors for clemency before the date of execution, and yet the governors are denying them clemency and killing them anyway?! 🙁

  11. This just breaks my heart … and chills me to the core knowing that this could happen to ANYONE. For me, this isn’t so much about guilt and innocence but the fact that a potentially innocent person could be put to death. So long as there is ANY doubt, any unanswered questions, any conflicting “facts”, evidence or statements, an execution should absolutely be forbidden!

  12. Trot may not have established his innocence to the satisfaction of the court, but the State has certainly not established his guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Nothing more than that should be needed to take him off death row, in fact that should be enough to find him not guilty according to any standard of fair trial

  13. “Guilty beyond reasonable doubt” or “Innocent till proven guilty” is not happening; I believe he is innocent, but regardless of whether he is innocent or not, capital punishment should not be on the table with the degree of uncertainty on the case. On the trial it was more like he couldn’t prove his innocent, something like “guilty until proven innocent!” This is not justice and it shows the big crack on the justice system. Justice for Troy.

  14. You cannot kill our friiend Troy Davis. He is innocent. The Supreme Court, the federal District Judge (Savannah) will have blood on their hands into eternity. The McPhail family will never have peace. Why put such a burden on a family that has already suffered such loss. There is not a shred of evidence that Troy committed this crime. The recantations of the witnesses proved that a coercive, interrogative, unjust system will not bury the truth. Yes, when one is poor, black and suspect it is easy to be vulnerable. I am privileged, white, I know!

  16. I cannot believe this! This is justice denied. Please share this information with everyone you know. Troy Davis needs our help.

  17. Witness A is forced by the police of Georgia to sign a testimony against a "black coloured perpetrator". Witness A recants this forced testimony later on. The law-court values the compelled testimony more than the recanted one. The defendant has to die. What kind of judicial system is this? It looks like a tired out infrastructure with disastrous consequences for the whole society.
    Release Troy Davis!

    Christoph

  18. Maureen's statement may be correct: The MacPhail family will never have peace, but they WILL have vengeance in the form of justice satisfied by killing Troy in spite of his innocence and unknowingly letting the real murderer get away and breaking the hearts of Troy's family! It seems the MacPhails are being racist towards and divided from the Davises, and my heart breaks for both families. BTW, has Troy's sister Martina met or spoken with the MacPhail family? Because it seems to me that the MacPhails would rather see their brother dead than alive! 🙁

  19. Oops! I meant, "The MacPhails would rather see her brother dead than alive!"

  20. This makes me feel physically sick. I am beyond appalled that this is actually happening! It is absolutely ridiculous and I cant believe no one higher up is stopping this. If you are going to kill a man, take his life and rob his family…then you MUST be able to prove his guilt beyond all doubt. That doesnt even need to be a law, thats just f-ing common sense!!

    I guaruntee his appeals are getting denied because it will them admitting that those policeman are corrupt, and even further that the real killer is a policeman too. It's all about covering up the guilt of their law enforcers. We are all human beings and understant that there are corrupt people in every line of work. We aren't going to fall apart and bring down all police because of the few that are evil. But we will abandon them if they allow an innocent man to die over this.

    It's absolutely disgusting. It makes me ashamed to be part of the human race.

  21. Witness A is forced by the police of Georgia to sign a testimony against a “black coloured perpetrator”. Witness A recants this forced testimony later on. The law-court values the compelled testimony more than the recanted one. The defendant has to die. What kind of judicial system is this? It looks like a tired out infrastructure with disastrous consequences for the whole society.
    Release Troy Davis!

    Christoph

  22. I know! And it's so sad that another inmate was killed, by the state of Arizona, in spite of strong claims of innocence! Since Eric King had no last words, I do hope he made his peace with God before he died. My condolences to his family and the families of his alleged murder victims. 😥
    http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/03/29…

  23. I know! And it's so sad that another inmate was killed, by the state of Arizona, in spite of strong claims of innocence! Since Eric King had no last words, I do hope he made his peace with God before he died. My condolences to his family and the families of his alleged murder victims. 😥
    http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/03/29…

  24. I know! And it's so sad that another inmate was killed, by the state of Arizona, in spite of strong claims of innocence! Since Eric King had no last words, I do hope he made his peace with God before he died. My condolences to his family and the families of his alleged murder victims. 😥
    http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/03/29…

  25. Maureen’s statement may be correct: The MacPhail family will never have peace, but they WILL have vengeance in the form of justice satisfied by killing Troy in spite of his innocence and unknowingly letting the real murderer get away and breaking the hearts of Troy’s family! It seems the MacPhails are being racist towards and divided from the Davises, and my heart breaks for both families. BTW, has Troy’s sister Martina met or spoken with the MacPhail family? Because it seems to me that the MacPhails would rather see their brother dead than alive! 🙁

  26. Oops! I meant, “The MacPhails would rather see her brother dead than alive!”

  27. This makes me feel physically sick. I am beyond appalled that this is actually happening! It is absolutely ridiculous and I cant believe no one higher up is stopping this. If you are going to kill a man, take his life and rob his family…then you MUST be able to prove his guilt beyond all doubt. That doesnt even need to be a law, thats just f-ing common sense!!

    I guaruntee his appeals are getting denied because it will them admitting that those policeman are corrupt, and even further that the real killer is a policeman too. It’s all about covering up the guilt of their law enforcers. We are all human beings and understant that there are corrupt people in every line of work. We aren’t going to fall apart and bring down all police because of the few that are evil. But we will abandon them if they allow an innocent man to die over this.

    It’s absolutely disgusting. It makes me ashamed to be part of the human race.

  29. Troy Davis' guilt or innocence is no longer the issue and has not been for sometime.What is at issue is the fact that he was convicted of murder solely on dubious witness testimony.There was no physical evidence against him and the weapon used was never found.For these reasons the verdict was unsafe and should have been over-turned on his first appeal.

  30. Troy Davis’ guilt or innocence is no longer the issue and has not been for sometime.What is at issue is the fact that he was convicted of murder solely on dubious witness testimony.There was no physical evidence against him and the weapon used was never found.For these reasons the verdict was unsafe and should have been over-turned on his first appeal.

  31. But Judge Moore also made the unprecedented opinion that it IS unlawful for the state to execute anyone who has not been found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt – and then said Troy was just such a person when he admitted "some doubt still remains" as to Troy's guilt.

    ?

    Why the SCOTUS did not at least look at and agree with Troy's legal team that the "reasonable juror" standard should have applied in his 11 District appeal is beyond me.

    This isn't just a horrific tragedy for the community of Savannah and pure, outright, unadulterated administrative murder for Troy, it's also a mess for our entire jurisprudence.

    Sad, sad times for us all.

  32. Here is the address of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles for those of you who wish to petition them for clemency for Troy:

    James E. Donald, Chairman
    Robert E. Keller, Vice Chairman
    Ms. L. Gale Buckner
    Mr. Albert Murray
    Mr. Terry Barnard
    State of Georgia Board of
    Pardons and Paroles
    2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, SE
    Suite 458, Balcony Level, East Tower
    Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4909

    By Fax: (404) 651-8502

  36. But Judge Moore also made the unprecedented opinion that it IS unlawful for the state to execute anyone who has not been found guilty beyond a reasonable doubt – and then said Troy was just such a person when he admitted “some doubt still remains” as to Troy’s guilt.

    ?

    Why the SCOTUS did not at least look at and agree with Troy’s legal team that the “reasonable juror” standard should have applied in his 11 District appeal is beyond me.

    This isn’t just a horrific tragedy for the community of Savannah and pure, outright, unadulterated administrative murder for Troy, it’s also a mess for our entire jurisprudence.

    Sad, sad times for us all.

  37. Here is the address of the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles for those of you who wish to petition them for clemency for Troy:

    James E. Donald, Chairman
    Robert E. Keller, Vice Chairman
    Ms. L. Gale Buckner
    Mr. Albert Murray
    Mr. Terry Barnard
    State of Georgia Board of
    Pardons and Paroles
    2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, SE
    Suite 458, Balcony Level, East Tower
    Atlanta, Georgia 30334-4909

    By Fax: (404) 651-8502

  39. Federal judge Moore said, after finding that the constitution does forbid the execution of innocents, that "Troy Davis is not innocent".
    And he also said that even with the new evidence, most reasonable jurors would convict him again today.
    Yet he must know that "most reasonable jurors" is not enough in Georgia, where unanimity is required for a death sentence.
    That's a sloppy kind of logic.
    That a majority of the US Supreme Court should be satisfied with the multiple
    incoherencies manifest in this case, beats me. Are the American people satisfied with the performance of the High Court?

  40. Federal judge Moore said, after finding that the constitution does forbid the execution of innocents, that “Troy Davis is not innocent”.
    And he also said that even with the new evidence, most reasonable jurors would convict him again today.
    Yet he must know that “most reasonable jurors” is not enough in Georgia, where unanimity is required for a death sentence.
    That’s a sloppy kind of logic.
    That a majority of the US Supreme Court should be satisfied with the multiple
    incoherencies manifest in this case, beats me. Are the American people satisfied with the performance of the High Court?

  41. If this execution was to go ahead I wonder how any person especially Judge Moore, will sleep at night. They say there is a god, is he too busy looking after wealthy bankers etc..
    Pres.Magarbe has not been brought to justice, he has power we know. No justice, if there is ANY doubt about Troy's guilt, then he should be freed.

  42. If this execution was to go ahead I wonder how any person especially Judge Moore, will sleep at night. They say there is a god, is he too busy looking after wealthy bankers etc..
    Pres.Magarbe has not been brought to justice, he has power we know. No justice, if there is ANY doubt about Troy’s guilt, then he should be freed.

  43. Why did Troy confess to his neighbor that he shot Officer MacPhail? Why did he make the same confession to his cell mate in jail? Why did he shot Michael Cooper in the face that same evening? The majority of people on the jury were black. It took less than two hours to reach a verdict. This guy is as guilty of murder as OJ Simpson is.

  44. He never confessed to anyone. The only person who said he confessed has submitted an affidavit to Troy's legal team (which you can read on this website) admitting that he lied. He did not shoot anyone earlier in the evening – someone else shot Cooper. The questions you should be asking are: why have all witnesses with nothing to gain but trouble for doing so recanted their testimony against Troy? Why is Eric Holder's office considering investigation of the Chatham Cty. DA's office for prosecutorial misconduct? Why has Troy's case garnered the support of worldwide leaders like Tutu, Carter and the Pope – as well as a substantial number of average people – any one of whom could be in his shoes, now that America is a closed police state?

  45. And why did Redd Coles' cousin's husband testify at the June, 2010, evidentiary hearing that he saw Coles shoot Officer MacPhail – which testimony Judge Moore inexplicably ignored in his ruling.

    You better wake up, John Catalano. Not even if you are a part of this fascist police state are you safe from a fate similar to Davis': live by the sword, die by El Gladio. Look at what happened the Night of the Long Knives.

  46. Why did Troy confess to his neighbor that he shot Officer MacPhail? Why did he make the same confession to his cell mate in jail? Why did he shot Michael Cooper in the face that same evening? The majority of people on the jury were black. It took less than two hours to reach a verdict. This guy is as guilty of murder as OJ Simpson is.

  47. He never confessed to anyone. The only person who said he confessed has submitted an affidavit to Troy’s legal team (which you can read on this website) admitting that he lied. He did not shoot anyone earlier in the evening – someone else shot Cooper. The questions you should be asking are: why have all witnesses with nothing to gain but trouble for doing so recanted their testimony against Troy? Why is Eric Holder’s office considering investigation of the Chatham Cty. DA’s office for prosecutorial misconduct? Why has Troy’s case garnered the support of worldwide leaders like Tutu, Carter and the Pope – as well as a substantial number of average people – any one of whom could be in his shoes, now that America is a closed police state?

  48. And why did Redd Coles’ cousin’s husband testify at the June, 2010, evidentiary hearing that he saw Coles shoot Officer MacPhail – which testimony Judge Moore inexplicably ignored in his ruling.

    You better wake up, John Catalano. Not even if you are a part of this fascist police state are you safe from a fate similar to Davis’: live by the sword, die by El Gladio. Look at what happened the Night of the Long Knives.

  49. Re:Reply to John Catalano

    Where did you get the information that:

    1.Troy had told his neighbour he had shot Officer MacPhail

    2.He also confessed to a fellow prisoner.

    Where is your evidence that Troy shot Michael Cooper?.

  50. Re:Reply to John Catalano

    Where did you get the information that:

    1.Troy had told his neighbour he had shot Officer MacPhail

    2.He also confessed to a fellow prisoner.

    Where is your evidence that Troy shot Michael Cooper?.

  51. "For the defense, Davis' mother testified that Davis was at their Cloverdale home on August 19, 1989 until he left for Atlanta with his sister about 9 p.m.[32]" Why did Troy get out of town a day after the murder?

    "A ballistics expert testified that the .38 caliber bullet that killed MacPhail could have been fired from the same gun that wounded Michael Cooper at the pool party, though he admitted doubt about this. However, he stated that he was confident that .38 casings found in Cloverdale matched one allegedly later found by a homeless man near scene of Macphail's shooting.[31]" So much for the "No physical evidence" argument.

    • Sapp, McQueen and Cooper have all recanted their trial testimony. A 2007 Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) report discredited the trial testimony that there were similarities between the bullets in the two shootings. And with no murder weapon, none of that ties Troy Davis, or anyone else, to either of the crimes.

  52. "Davis was given an opportunity to present new evidence at a hearing in federal court in Savannah in June 2010, but he put on only a paucity of testimony. He did not take the stand in his defense, and did not call Sylvester Coles as a witness. He also did not call some of the other witnesses who had given affidavits on his behalf, even though some of them were present in the courthouse."

    "A neighbor of the Davis family, Jeffrey Sapp, testified that soon after the murder Davis had confessed to him.[29] Kevin McQueen, a former fellow prisoner of Davis, testified that Davis had confessed to shooting MacPhail as he feared that the officer would connect him to the shooting of Michael Cooper earlier in the evening.[30] Michael Cooper appeared as a witness; he testified that he was inebriated when shot, and said that Davis "don't know me well enough to shoot me".[28]"

  53. @John Catalano: (1) Davis' legal team was instructed to present factual evidence of HIS innocence at the June, 2010, evidentiary hearing – not evidence of Coles' guilt. If you knew you had two days to convince someone of a person's innocence, why would you bother wasting time trying to get the actual guilty person to admit his wrong-doing, knowing that even if you could successfully subpoena him, he'd plead the Fifth? (2) Sapp was discredited at Davis' trial, and Kevin McQueen is one of the recanting witnesses (again, you can read his admffidavit on this website). Judge Moore continually changed the standard during the evidentiary hearing last June. For example, he said he would consider the testimony of the girl who helped Redd Coles hide the murder weapon as heresay, but he refused to discount McQueen's original testimony as such – even though he recanted it. (3) Redd Coles was at the Cloverdale party when Michael Cooper was shot. Virtually everyone in attendance who's come forward said it was he – and not Davis – who shot him. Even Cooper believes Coles – not Davis – shot him, as the snippet of bad savannahnow reporting you quoted makes clear ("Davis don't know me well enough to shoot me" – no motivation). (4) Troy WORKED in Atlanta and went home on the weekends to help care for his paralyzed sister. When he found out Monday the police had issued a warrant for his ARREST (based solely on Coles' lying to cover himself and NOTHING else), he went back to Savannah Tuesday to police to answer their questions – without a lawyer, even. Sound like a guilty man to you? Furthermore, his hands were tested for gun powder residue (which would have still been present, according to experts), and none was found. HE NEVER FIRED A WEAPON! (5) Finally, no one disputes that the same gun used to shoot Michael Cooper was used to shoot Officer MacPhail. Redd Coles was in both places, and his cousin's husband testified last June that he saw Coles shoot Officer MacPhail. His cousin's husband! Judge Moore feels he came forward too late, apparently – which means he pre-judged even eyewitness testimony exonerating David BEFORE hearing it, which proves he's biased. Martina is right – they don't want to admit they got the wrong man because they will have to (a) pay Davis for wrongful imprisonment, and (b) spend more time, money and effort bringing Coles to trial. That's what it comes down to – money. They're looking for an expedient way to end this – even if it means taking an innocent man's life. And can you imagine what it would mean for the DA's office to admit THEY WERE WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE ACTUAL MURDERER?

    You better wake up, John Catalano. You could be the biggest fascist quisling on the Savannah police force – and still end up where Troy Davis is. Remember the Night of the Long Knives? Live by El Gladio, die by El Gladio – in our fascist police state.

  54. Even though I am completely behind Saoirse…Mr Catalano, do you not see that at the moment his guilt/innocence isn't important. The point is, there are some massive and very credible holes in his prosecution case. If he had gone on trial back then with the case how it stands at the moment, there would be no doubt no one would find him guilty.

    I can't see how anybody can argue that if you are going to kill a man for a crime, you MUST be able to conclusively prove his guilt with absolutely no doubt. Guilty or innocent, the fact is they need to stop all the bullshit and let a different judeg/jury in a different state (or even country) indepently investigate this case. There are so many doubts, that it seems ridiculous they can still allow his death without a real unbiased review.

    And for the record, I am convinced he is innocent and i truly believe his case is being purposefully rejected and ignored becasue it means admitting they were wrong, and that there are corrupt policemen in their force.

    Even if you believe he is guilty…surely you must agree you shold be able to completely prove it before killing him? This is what modern man is doing…how disgusting it is to be part of this species.

  55. @Maureen Lynch: you should understand that what happened to Troy could just as easily happen to you – even if you're white. We shouldn't lose sight of the fact that this guy came from a functional, intact, church-going MIDDLE-CLASS family! Troy's father was a sheriff for Chatham County, for heaven's sake. That's why Amnesty did their "I Am Troy Davis" campaign.

    For more info on our American police state, see:
    http://dontfearyourfreedom.blogspot.com/2010/10/y…

  56. @Maureen Lynch: you should understand that what happened to Troy could just as easily happen to you – even if you're white. We shouldn't lose sight of the fact that this guy came from a functional, intact, church-going MIDDLE-CLASS family! Troy's father was a sheriff for Chatham County, for heaven's sake. That's why Amnesty did their "I Am Troy Davis" campaign.

    For more info on our American police state, see:
    http://dontfearyourfreedom.blogspot.com/2010/10/y…

  57. @Maureen Lynch: you should understand that what happened to Troy could just as easily happen to you – even if you're white. We shouldn't lose sight of the fact that this guy came from a functional, intact, church-going MIDDLE-CLASS family! Troy's father was a sheriff for Chatham County, for heaven's sake. That's why Amnesty did their "I Am Troy Davis" campaign.

    For more info on our American police state, see:
    http://dontfearyourfreedom.blogspot.com/2010/10/y…

  58. “Davis was given an opportunity to present new evidence at a hearing in federal court in Savannah in June 2010, but he put on only a paucity of testimony. He did not take the stand in his defense, and did not call Sylvester Coles as a witness. He also did not call some of the other witnesses who had given affidavits on his behalf, even though some of them were present in the courthouse.”

    “A neighbor of the Davis family, Jeffrey Sapp, testified that soon after the murder Davis had confessed to him.[29] Kevin McQueen, a former fellow prisoner of Davis, testified that Davis had confessed to shooting MacPhail as he feared that the officer would connect him to the shooting of Michael Cooper earlier in the evening.[30] Michael Cooper appeared as a witness; he testified that he was inebriated when shot, and said that Davis “don’t know me well enough to shoot me”.[28]”

  59. “For the defense, Davis’ mother testified that Davis was at their Cloverdale home on August 19, 1989 until he left for Atlanta with his sister about 9 p.m.[32]” Why did Troy get out of town a day after the murder?

    “A ballistics expert testified that the .38 caliber bullet that killed MacPhail could have been fired from the same gun that wounded Michael Cooper at the pool party, though he admitted doubt about this. However, he stated that he was confident that .38 casings found in Cloverdale matched one allegedly later found by a homeless man near scene of Macphail’s shooting.[31]” So much for the “No physical evidence” argument.

    • Sapp, McQueen and Cooper have all recanted their trial testimony. A 2007 Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI) report discredited the trial testimony that there were similarities between the bullets in the two shootings. And with no murder weapon, none of that ties Troy Davis, or anyone else, to either of the crimes.

  60. @John Catalano: (1) Davis’ legal team was instructed to present factual evidence of HIS innocence at the June, 2010, evidentiary hearing – not evidence of Coles’ guilt. If you knew you had two days to convince someone of a person’s innocence, why would you bother wasting time trying to get the actual guilty person to admit his wrong-doing, knowing that even if you could successfully subpoena him, he’d plead the Fifth? (2) Sapp was discredited at Davis’ trial, and Kevin McQueen is one of the recanting witnesses (again, you can read his admffidavit on this website). Judge Moore continually changed the standard during the evidentiary hearing last June. For example, he said he would consider the testimony of the girl who helped Redd Coles hide the murder weapon as heresay, but he refused to discount McQueen’s original testimony as such – even though he recanted it. (3) Redd Coles was at the Cloverdale party when Michael Cooper was shot. Virtually everyone in attendance who’s come forward said it was he – and not Davis – who shot him. Even Cooper believes Coles – not Davis – shot him, as the snippet of bad savannahnow reporting you quoted makes clear (“Davis don’t know me well enough to shoot me” – no motivation). (4) Troy WORKED in Atlanta and went home on the weekends to help care for his paralyzed sister. When he found out Monday the police had issued a warrant for his ARREST (based solely on Coles’ lying to cover himself and NOTHING else), he went back to Savannah Tuesday to police to answer their questions – without a lawyer, even. Sound like a guilty man to you? Furthermore, his hands were tested for gun powder residue (which would have still been present, according to experts), and none was found. HE NEVER FIRED A WEAPON! (5) Finally, no one disputes that the same gun used to shoot Michael Cooper was used to shoot Officer MacPhail. Redd Coles was in both places, and his cousin’s husband testified last June that he saw Coles shoot Officer MacPhail. His cousin’s husband! Judge Moore feels he came forward too late, apparently – which means he pre-judged even eyewitness testimony exonerating David BEFORE hearing it, which proves he’s biased. Martina is right – they don’t want to admit they got the wrong man because they will have to (a) pay Davis for wrongful imprisonment, and (b) spend more time, money and effort bringing Coles to trial. That’s what it comes down to – money. They’re looking for an expedient way to end this – even if it means taking an innocent man’s life. And can you imagine what it would mean for the DA’s office to admit THEY WERE WORKING HAND-IN-HAND WITH THE ACTUAL MURDERER?

    You better wake up, John Catalano. You could be the biggest fascist quisling on the Savannah police force – and still end up where Troy Davis is. Remember the Night of the Long Knives? Live by El Gladio, die by El Gladio – in our fascist police state.

  61. @John Catalano: Judge Moore found Kevin McQueen's recantation, saying there was no truth to his trial testimony, to be "meaningful and credible". However Moore said that the trial testimony was "so clearly fabricated" that everyone there, including the jury, would have discounted it anyway and not used it in reaching the decision to convict. So, nothing to be gained for Troy from the recantation.

    Strangely enough, the state was less perceptive than everyone else. Even Judge Moore noted that "the state persists in trying to support its veracity".

  62. @Vendla Meyer: you are correct – Judge Moore did say McQueen's trial testimony was incredible. But his contention that it played no part in Troy's conviction is ludicrous. With no forensic evidence, the state's only case was built on second-hand testimony such as McQueen's – and Judge Moore knows that. Also, if you read the pleadings from each side you can see the issue of how much second-hand witness testimony should have been weighed from the evidentiary hearing was very much not at all settled: the fact remains that, however much Judge Moore saw through McQueen's testimony in hindsight, that testimony was not stricken and jurors did deliberate with it in mind. Moore is the worst kind of two-faced HYPOCRITE there is. If the state was allowed to use McQueen's second-hand testimony, then the prosecution should have been able to present the testimony of the girl who helped Coles hide the murder weapon – but Judge Moore wouldn't allow it, allegedly because it was second-hand and not direct proof of Troy's innocence (one is hard-pressed to understand what would have sufficed as direct proof, short of Coles' confession, which even a fourth grader could understand would be impossible).

    Yes – it is interesting the state is still trying to prove Troy guilty – especially, by posing as disinterested commenters on his supporters' websites. We must be making them nervous. 😉

  63. Even though I am completely behind Saoirse…Mr Catalano, do you not see that at the moment his guilt/innocence isn’t important. The point is, there are some massive and very credible holes in his prosecution case. If he had gone on trial back then with the case how it stands at the moment, there would be no doubt no one would find him guilty.

    I can’t see how anybody can argue that if you are going to kill a man for a crime, you MUST be able to conclusively prove his guilt with absolutely no doubt. Guilty or innocent, the fact is they need to stop all the bullshit and let a different judeg/jury in a different state (or even country) indepently investigate this case. There are so many doubts, that it seems ridiculous they can still allow his death without a real unbiased review.

    And for the record, I am convinced he is innocent and i truly believe his case is being purposefully rejected and ignored becasue it means admitting they were wrong, and that there are corrupt policemen in their force.

    Even if you believe he is guilty…surely you must agree you shold be able to completely prove it before killing him? This is what modern man is doing…how disgusting it is to be part of this species.

  64. @Maureen Lynch: you should understand that what happened to Troy could just as easily happen to you – even if you’re white. We shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that this guy came from a functional, intact, church-going MIDDLE-CLASS family! Troy’s father was a sheriff for Chatham County, for heaven’s sake. That’s why Amnesty did their “I Am Troy Davis” campaign.

    For more info on our American police state, see:

    http://dontfearyourfreedom.blogspot.com/2010/10/you-are-not-free_23.html

  65. @John Catalano: Judge Moore found Kevin McQueen’s recantation, saying there was no truth to his trial testimony, to be “meaningful and credible”. However Moore said that the trial testimony was “so clearly fabricated” that everyone there, including the jury, would have discounted it anyway and not used it in reaching the decision to convict. So, nothing to be gained for Troy from the recantation.

    Strangely enough, the state was less perceptive than everyone else. Even Judge Moore noted that “the state persists in trying to support its veracity”.

  66. @Vendla Meyer: you are correct – Judge Moore did say McQueen’s trial testimony was incredible. But his contention that it played no part in Troy’s conviction is ludicrous. With no forensic evidence, the state’s only case was built on second-hand testimony such as McQueen’s – and Judge Moore knows that. Also, if you read the pleadings from each side you can see the issue of how much second-hand witness testimony should have been weighed from the evidentiary hearing was very much not at all settled: the fact remains that, however much Judge Moore saw through McQueen’s testimony in hindsight, that testimony was not stricken and jurors did deliberate with it in mind. Moore is the worst kind of two-faced HYPOCRITE there is. If the state was allowed to use McQueen’s second-hand testimony, then the prosecution should have been able to present the testimony of the girl who helped Coles hide the murder weapon – but Judge Moore wouldn’t allow it, allegedly because it was second-hand and not direct proof of Troy’s innocence (one is hard-pressed to understand what would have sufficed as direct proof, short of Coles’ confession, which even a fourth grader could understand would be impossible).

    Yes – it is interesting the state is still trying to prove Troy guilty – especially, by posing as disinterested commenters on his supporters’ websites. We must be making them nervous. 😉

  67. Davis is toast and its about time. He's lied to every fool around who believes him. He is guilty and should have been executed long, long ago. He's looking at the needle shortly and thats a good thing. Cop murderers are wanted in the USA……..and he is one.

  69. Reply to Rodricka Quincy
    You have the right to your opinion about Troy Davis,but I find your remarks "Davis is toast….." and he's looking at the needle shortly…" very offensive and totally unacceptable.

  70. Davis is toast and its about time. He’s lied to every fool around who believes him. He is guilty and should have been executed long, long ago. He’s looking at the needle shortly and thats a good thing. Cop murderers are wanted in the USA……..and he is one.

  72. Reply to Rodricka Quincy
    You have the right to your opinion about Troy Davis,but I find your remarks “Davis is toast…..” and he’s looking at the needle shortly…” very offensive and totally unacceptable.

  73. It seems incredible to me that witnesses recanted their testimonies YEARS after the fact. One could ask if pressure was put on them to change their original testimonies. Another question I have is why would Troy change his clothes when arriving at his mother's house. He needed to get out of that white shirt pronto. Why was it argued (successfully by the defense) that evidence found at Troy's mother's house could not be presented during trial because a proper search warrant wasn't obtained? The term "smoke and mirrors" was used bto describe the argument presented by the defense. I believe that phrase is very appropriate in this case.

  74. "In a hearing about evidence in November 1990, the judge barred forensic evidence from the shorts that had been retrieved during the police search of the Davis home. The judge ruled that Davis' mother did "not freely and voluntarily grant the police the right to search her home".[22]"

    Although this evidence was inadmissable, it is pretty convincing to me.

    • Judge Moore referenced these shorts in his August 2010 ruling, writing: "even the State conceded that this evidence lacked any probative value of guilt."

  75. @John Catalano: Troy changed his clothes because he WAS at the scene of MacPhail's murder – HELPING the homeless man (Young) that Coles had been beating. Tests of Troy's clothes, as you well know, were presented at the evidentiary hearing last June AND THEY DID NOT CONTAIN MACPHAIL'S DNA. The FACT that the Savannah police obtained them without a warrant just proves how earnestly they were determined to railroad him for this crime. If you are a part of this organization, you should be ashamed of yourself for defending them. If you're not, you need to better acquaint yourself with the facts of this case, in particular, and the premise of due process. Should Troy have been chastised for having a "friend" like Redd Coles at one point? I'm sure no one could do that more sufficiently than Troy, himself, already has. Should Troy be administratively murdered for having been that foolish once in his life? According to America's laws, we don't put people to death for being young and foolish – especially, when they risk their lives to defy their violent friends by going to the aid of one of their victims.

    Given the "lynch mob" mentality at play in the days followed Officer MacPhail's murder, is it any wonder people were scared to defy those who were threatening them? And yet, EVERY ONE of the witnesses who had nothing to gain by doing so began recanting their testimony almost as soon as they gave it. That it took the family 3 years to find competent legal representation to gather all the witnesses recantations is hardly a new or surprising phenomenon in cases such as Troy's. In fact, it's a pretty standard timeframe – almost, quick, even – for such recantations to be brought to light. Getting them heard is what has been time-consuming, since the court has refused to hear them. It took Troy 17 years for the court to finally be forced, in an unprecedented legal ruling by the Supreme Court, to hear this evidence – which, as you are well aware, Jusge Moore did not do.

  76. It seems incredible to me that witnesses recanted their testimonies YEARS after the fact. One could ask if pressure was put on them to change their original testimonies. Another question I have is why would Troy change his clothes when arriving at his mother’s house. He needed to get out of that white shirt pronto. Why was it argued (successfully by the defense) that evidence found at Troy’s mother’s house could not be presented during trial because a proper search warrant wasn’t obtained? The term “smoke and mirrors” was used bto describe the argument presented by the defense. I believe that phrase is very appropriate in this case.

  77. “In a hearing about evidence in November 1990, the judge barred forensic evidence from the shorts that had been retrieved during the police search of the Davis home. The judge ruled that Davis’ mother did “not freely and voluntarily grant the police the right to search her home”.[22]”

    Although this evidence was inadmissable, it is pretty convincing to me.

    • Judge Moore referenced these shorts in his August 2010 ruling, writing: “even the State conceded that this evidence lacked any probative value of guilt.”

  78. @John Catalano: Troy changed his clothes because he WAS at the scene of MacPhail’s murder – HELPING the homeless man (Young) that Coles had been beating. Tests of Troy’s clothes, as you well know, were presented at the evidentiary hearing last June AND THEY DID NOT CONTAIN MACPHAIL’S DNA. The FACT that the Savannah police obtained them without a warrant just proves how earnestly they were determined to railroad him for this crime. If you are a part of this organization, you should be ashamed of yourself for defending them. If you’re not, you need to better acquaint yourself with the facts of this case, in particular, and the premise of due process. Should Troy have been chastised for having a “friend” like Redd Coles at one point? I’m sure no one could do that more sufficiently than Troy, himself, already has. Should Troy be administratively murdered for having been that foolish once in his life? According to America’s laws, we don’t put people to death for being young and foolish – especially, when they risk their lives to defy their violent friends by going to the aid of one of their victims.

    Given the “lynch mob” mentality at play in the days followed Officer MacPhail’s murder, is it any wonder people were scared to defy those who were threatening them? And yet, EVERY ONE of the witnesses who had nothing to gain by doing so began recanting their testimony almost as soon as they gave it. That it took the family 3 years to find competent legal representation to gather all the witnesses recantations is hardly a new or surprising phenomenon in cases such as Troy’s. In fact, it’s a pretty standard timeframe – almost, quick, even – for such recantations to be brought to light. Getting them heard is what has been time-consuming, since the court has refused to hear them. It took Troy 17 years for the court to finally be forced, in an unprecedented legal ruling by the Supreme Court, to hear this evidence – which, as you are well aware, Jusge Moore did not do.

  79. In a final address to the jury, Davis pleaded, "Spare my life. Just give me a second chance. That's all I ask."

    Spare my life? This doesn't sound like the plea of an innocent man. Why did he need a "second chance?" Who shot Cooper? Aliens?

    "That it took the family 3 years to find competent legal representation to gather all the witnesses recantations is hardly a new or surprising phenomenon in cases such as Troy’s." THREE YEARS?!! Give me a break.

    "Troy changed his clothes because he WAS at the scene of MacPhail’s murder – HELPING the homeless man (Young)" So Troy was HELPING the homeless man? WOW! I almost expect you to tell me he did all he could to save MacPhail from Coles. Your statements have no credibility.

  80. @John Catalano: You never fail to disappoint, do you, John.

    I don't have to have credibility; I HAVE FACTS. And those facts prove you as the most viscously closed-minded person impossible, interested not in seeing justice done and our system of jurisprudence worthy of the blindfaith you have in it, but in simply perpetuating the lies the state of Georgia concocted to railroad this kid into a conviction he doesn't deserve.

    It took the public health services researcher who uncovered the Tuskegee Syphilis bioslavery program of the U.S. Government SIX YEARS of constant looking to find a reporter to write about the story – and with all we know about the FACTS of how this government enslaved people, the revelation of this one bioslavery program has had little practical effect on inhibiting our government from practicing it. The same can be said of the prison industrial complex and the slaves it creates. http://www.dontfearyourfreedom.blogspot.com/about-biosla....

    It's always been the case that truly noble people – truly justice creating, truly G_d-revering, truly freedom-loving – are the exception and not the rule. Your behavior proves that.

  81. @John Catalano: You never fail to disappoint, do you, John.

    I don't have to have credibility; I HAVE FACTS. And those facts prove you as the most viscously closed-minded person impossible, interested not in seeing justice done and our system of jurisprudence worthy of the blindfaith you have in it, but in simply perpetuating the lies the state of Georgia concocted to railroad this kid into a conviction he doesn't deserve.

    It took the public health services researcher who uncovered the Tuskegee Syphilis bioslavery program of the U.S. Government SIX YEARS of constant looking to find a reporter to write about the story – and with all we know about the FACTS of how this government enslaved people, the revelation of this one bioslavery program has had little practical effect on inhibiting our government from practicing it. The same can be said of the prison industrial complex and the slaves it creates. http://www.dontfearyourfreedom.blogspot.com/about-biosla....

    It's always been the case that truly noble people – truly justice creating, truly G_d-revering, truly freedom-loving – are the exception and not the rule. Your behavior proves that.

  82. @John Catalano: You never fail to disappoint, do you, John.

    I don't have to have credibility; I HAVE FACTS. And those facts prove you as the most viscously closed-minded person impossible, interested not in seeing justice done and our system of jurisprudence worthy of the blindfaith you have in it, but in simply perpetuating the lies the state of Georgia concocted to railroad this kid into a conviction he doesn't deserve.

    It took the public health services researcher who uncovered the Tuskegee Syphilis bioslavery program of the U.S. Government SIX YEARS of constant looking to find a reporter to write about the story – and with all we know about the FACTS of how this government enslaved people, the revelation of this one bioslavery program has had little practical effect on inhibiting our government from practicing it. The same can be said of the prison industrial complex and the slaves it creates. http://www.dontfearyourfreedom.blogspot.com/about-biosla....

    It's always been the case that truly noble people – truly justice creating, truly G_d-revering, truly freedom-loving – are the exception and not the rule. Your behavior proves that.

  83. In a final address to the jury, Davis pleaded, “Spare my life. Just give me a second chance. That’s all I ask.”

    Spare my life? This doesn’t sound like the plea of an innocent man. Why did he need a “second chance?” Who shot Cooper? Aliens?

    “That it took the family 3 years to find competent legal representation to gather all the witnesses recantations is hardly a new or surprising phenomenon in cases such as Troy’s.” THREE YEARS?!! Give me a break.

    “Troy changed his clothes because he WAS at the scene of MacPhail’s murder – HELPING the homeless man (Young)” So Troy was HELPING the homeless man? WOW! I almost expect you to tell me he did all he could to save MacPhail from Coles. Your statements have no credibility.

  84. @John Catalano: You never fail to disappoint, do you, John.

    I don’t have to have credibility; I HAVE FACTS. And those facts prove you as the most viscously closed-minded person impossible, interested not in seeing justice done and our system of jurisprudence worthy of the blindfaith you have in it, but in simply perpetuating the lies the state of Georgia concocted to railroad this kid into a conviction he doesn’t deserve.

    It took the public health services researcher who uncovered the Tuskegee Syphilis bioslavery program of the U.S. Government SIX YEARS of constant looking to find a reporter to write about the story – and with all we know about the FACTS of how this government enslaved people, the revelation of this one bioslavery program has had little practical effect on inhibiting our government from practicing it. The same can be said of the prison industrial complex and the slaves it creates. http://www.dontfearyourfreedom.blogspot.com/about-bioslavery.html.

    It’s always been the case that truly noble people – truly justice creating, truly G_d-revering, truly freedom-loving – are the exception and not the rule. Your behavior proves that.

  85. I am a firm believer in the death penalty provided it is executed as designed,this is done when all members of the jury agree,not maybe guilty,not possibly guilty,not some controversy or conflicting testimony.All of the evidence is provided and examined and removes ALL Doubt as determined by .A jury of his peers,same socioeconomic status.This is not the case here,Troy Davis and our judicial system has absolutey been compromised,beware you that have taken part in this miscarriage of justice for you have betrayed your country,your God and the trust of your fellows,the world does not easily forget such evil.

  86. I am a firm believer in the death penalty provided it is executed as designed,this is done when all members of the jury agree,not maybe guilty,not possibly guilty,not some controversy or conflicting testimony.All of the evidence is provided and examined and removes ALL Doubt as determined by .A jury of his peers,same socioeconomic status.This is not the case here,Troy Davis and our judicial system has absolutey been compromised,beware you that have taken part in this miscarriage of justice for you have betrayed your country,your God and the trust of your fellows,the world does not easily forget such evil.

  87. This looks too much like a travesty of justice. It seems there is no genuine desire for it. As Dr. King said years ago, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice every where. It's too bad, we haven't learned anything from our past. I'm not against capital punishment; however, this case doesn't rise to that degree in my understanding. We do everyone a disservice in not pursuing justice. Are we not better than this, America? Can we not rise from the ash heaps and recognize what we're called to be? a beacon to the world! Is this the best we can do? Who are we? We will give an account for our miscarriage of justice. We may think we're hiding behind our glory in days gone by, but God sits in the shadows keeping watch over his own. I'm pulling for us to be able to rise up and become a better people, a better nation!

  88. This looks too much like a travesty of justice. It seems there is no genuine desire for it. As Dr. King said years ago, injustice anywhere is a threat to justice every where. It’s too bad, we haven’t learned anything from our past. I’m not against capital punishment; however, this case doesn’t rise to that degree in my understanding. We do everyone a disservice in not pursuing justice. Are we not better than this, America? Can we not rise from the ash heaps and recognize what we’re called to be? a beacon to the world! Is this the best we can do? Who are we? We will give an account for our miscarriage of justice. We may think we’re hiding behind our glory in days gone by, but God sits in the shadows keeping watch over his own. I’m pulling for us to be able to rise up and become a better people, a better nation!

  89. "State attorneys called current and former police officers and the two lead prosecutors, who testified that the investigation had been careful, and that no witnesses had been coerced or threatened. A state attorney asserted that the testimony of at least five prosecution witnesses remained unchallenged, and the evidence of Davis' guilt was overwhelming.[96]"

    Overwhelming evidence!! Sorry, this man is guilty.

  90. @John Catalano: Hey – those disingenuine prevariacations are from the preliminary INVESTIGATION into the DA's office, right? So typical.

  91. “State attorneys called current and former police officers and the two lead prosecutors, who testified that the investigation had been careful, and that no witnesses had been coerced or threatened. A state attorney asserted that the testimony of at least five prosecution witnesses remained unchallenged, and the evidence of Davis’ guilt was overwhelming.[96]”

    Overwhelming evidence!! Sorry, this man is guilty.

  92. @John Catalano: Hey – those disingenuine prevariacations are from the preliminary INVESTIGATION into the DA’s office, right? So typical.

  93. Because 7 out of 9 eyewitnesses testified that Troy Davis was not the person who murdered a white, off-duty, police officer, the state of Georgia should cancel his Lynching. Isn't it better to let a, possibly, guilty man go free than to kill an innocent one? Obama should do as Lyndon Johnson did in Alabama; order the National Guard to liberate Troy. Every Klan member and Nazi are loving this public execution of a black man. If the state doesn't, Americans should free him, by any means neccessary.

  94. Because 7 out of 9 eyewitnesses testified that Troy Davis was not the person who murdered a white, off-duty, police officer, the state of Georgia should cancel his Lynching. Isn’t it better to let a, possibly, guilty man go free than to kill an innocent one? Obama should do as Lyndon Johnson did in Alabama; order the National Guard to liberate Troy. Every Klan member and Nazi are loving this public execution of a black man. If the state doesn’t, Americans should free him, by any means neccessary.

  95. I had a good friend name Alton Logan. He spent about 30 yrs in prison for something he didn't commit. The person told his lawyer that he did it, but they could say anything because of the law. This person died and the lawyer ask him on his death bed if they could reveal the truth. The guy stated yes. This is the only way Alton got out 30 years later. What happen to reasonal doubt.

  96. I had a good friend name Alton Logan. He spent about 30 yrs in prison for something he didn’t commit. The person told his lawyer that he did it, but they could say anything because of the law. This person died and the lawyer ask him on his death bed if they could reveal the truth. The guy stated yes. This is the only way Alton got out 30 years later. What happen to reasonal doubt.

  97. Elaine says:

    "No justice, if there is ANY doubt about Troy’s guilt, then he should be freed."

    That is one of the dumbest things I have ever read. With that logic, every prisoner claiming innocence should be released. Prisons would be empty. Why hasn't one of you bleeding hearts answered a previous question of mine? If Troy was innocent, why did he plead for a "second chance?" You would not ask for a second chance if you were innocent. Would he only ask that his life be spared if he were innocent? Who shot Cooper? Troy did! Just like he shot Officer MacPhail.

  98. @John Catalano: it's called tough love. You're demands for attention seem infantile. All of your questions have been more than adequately answered here and elsewhere, as you well know. The fact you continue to use one man's murder and the possible execution of another to promote your egomaniacal hatred of the truth is vulgar as well as exhausting.

  99. Elaine says:

    “No justice, if there is ANY doubt about Troy’s guilt, then he should be freed.”

    That is one of the dumbest things I have ever read. With that logic, every prisoner claiming innocence should be released. Prisons would be empty. Why hasn’t one of you bleeding hearts answered a previous question of mine? If Troy was innocent, why did he plead for a “second chance?” You would not ask for a second chance if you were innocent. Would he only ask that his life be spared if he were innocent? Who shot Cooper? Troy did! Just like he shot Officer MacPhail.

  100. @John Catalano: it’s called tough love. You’re demands for attention seem infantile. All of your questions have been more than adequately answered here and elsewhere, as you well know. The fact you continue to use one man’s murder and the possible execution of another to promote your egomaniacal hatred of the truth is vulgar as well as exhausting.

  101. "it’s called tough love. You’re (Your) demands for attention seem infantile."

    Tough love? What are you talking about? Tell that to the MacPhail family. How am I demanding attention? The evidence in this case is overwhelming. Davis is GUILTY. Live with it.

    "your egomaniacal hatred of the truth is vulgar as well as exhausting." Great line. You use such big words.

    I would not be a bit surprised if you were upset over the death of Bin Laden. He may have been innocent, don't you think?

  102. Alright John Catalano, this is getting a bit childish now don't you think…"I would not be a bit surprised if you were upset over the death of Bin Laden." seriously? How old are you?

    I think your arguments and statments have all been answered thoroughly and proven wrong with facts. That doesn't mean you have to agree…but it's plain for everyone to see.

    I agree with you that "if there is ANY doubt about Troy’s guilt, then he should be freed", that's over the top…but I firmly believe that of there is any slight doubt, anything that doesnt quite add up, no matter how small it is…a person should not be put to death- and to clarify, that doesn't mean free them, it means the case isn't complete and needs to be further investigated until it is completely airtight.
    I don't understand how that isn't just common sense, and if you don't agree with that then you are obviously just commenting to purposefully upset people and be a dick.

    In my own opinion, I think it's the LACK of evidence that is overwhelming. It doesn't matter whether I think he is guilty or innocent, what matters is the fact that you simply cannot kill a man if there is the smallest doubt. What does that say about our "modern" civilisation?

    You are entitled to your opinion and I completely respect that. We can all see what yours is by now so you don't have to keep trying to prove yourself right. You've gone a bit far and started embarassing yourself by getting childish now, so maybe it's time to move on. I think everyone will be okay with the fact we all have different opinions.

  103. @John Catalano: "Tough love" is the reason we stopped indulging your childish demands for attention. I second the the disquisition of last commenter – there's no evidence Troy is guilty, much evidence he isn't that has not been heard by the courts and in the absence of a FAIR trial in which it is, Mr. Davis must not be administratively murdered since to do so does not service justice. That's the issue. I am sorry for you if Officer MacPhail was a friend, colleague, or family member, but I should think that, in the cold light of dawn, if you asked yourself privately (away from the harsh din of the lynch mob) what your friend/colleague/family member would wish to happen in order for justice to be served, he would tell you to seek the truth and the apprehension of the actual murderer. Redd Coles has been referred to as a family man now on other blogs concerning this case; if he's such an upright citizen now, perhaps he's ready to take responsibility for his actions like a MAN and admit what he's done, and your energies could best be utilized to help make that happen. You could easily petition the NAACP for their help in getting a delegation together to speak with Coles, or at least his family; both have been active in efforts to free Troy, as you know (Coles' cousin's husband, who saw Coles murder Officer MacPhail, testified to that fact last June, as you know; with the abundance of other witness testimony against Coles – particularly, that of the girl – now, woman – who threw the party in Cloverdale earlier that evening and the girl who helped Coles hide the murder weapon, Judge Moore INEXPLICABLY discounted all of this testimony against the state's chief witness for no apparent reason, which leaves us to surmise that he did so to protect the corrupt DA's office).

    If you choose not to channel your energy to help the truth be told, perhaps you need to see a professional for help with your particular pathology. In any case, you probably should stop wasting your time with these posts since you're only making yourself, the Savannah community and the MacPhails look bad.

  104. “it’s called tough love. You’re (Your) demands for attention seem infantile.”

    Tough love? What are you talking about? Tell that to the MacPhail family. How am I demanding attention? The evidence in this case is overwhelming. Davis is GUILTY. Live with it.

    “your egomaniacal hatred of the truth is vulgar as well as exhausting.” Great line. You use such big words.

    I would not be a bit surprised if you were upset over the death of Bin Laden. He may have been innocent, don’t you think?

  105. Alright John Catalano, this is getting a bit childish now don’t you think…”I would not be a bit surprised if you were upset over the death of Bin Laden.” seriously? How old are you?

    I think your arguments and statments have all been answered thoroughly and proven wrong with facts. That doesn’t mean you have to agree…but it’s plain for everyone to see.

    I agree with you that “if there is ANY doubt about Troy’s guilt, then he should be freed”, that’s over the top…but I firmly believe that of there is any slight doubt, anything that doesnt quite add up, no matter how small it is…a person should not be put to death- and to clarify, that doesn’t mean free them, it means the case isn’t complete and needs to be further investigated until it is completely airtight.
    I don’t understand how that isn’t just common sense, and if you don’t agree with that then you are obviously just commenting to purposefully upset people and be a dick.

    In my own opinion, I think it’s the LACK of evidence that is overwhelming. It doesn’t matter whether I think he is guilty or innocent, what matters is the fact that you simply cannot kill a man if there is the smallest doubt. What does that say about our “modern” civilisation?

    You are entitled to your opinion and I completely respect that. We can all see what yours is by now so you don’t have to keep trying to prove yourself right. You’ve gone a bit far and started embarassing yourself by getting childish now, so maybe it’s time to move on. I think everyone will be okay with the fact we all have different opinions.

  106. @John Catalano: “Tough love” is the reason we stopped indulging your childish demands for attention. I second the the disquisition of last commenter – there’s no evidence Troy is guilty, much evidence he isn’t that has not been heard by the courts and in the absence of a FAIR trial in which it is, Mr. Davis must not be administratively murdered since to do so does not service justice. That’s the issue. I am sorry for you if Officer MacPhail was a friend, colleague, or family member, but I should think that, in the cold light of dawn, if you asked yourself privately (away from the harsh din of the lynch mob) what your friend/colleague/family member would wish to happen in order for justice to be served, he would tell you to seek the truth and the apprehension of the actual murderer. Redd Coles has been referred to as a family man now on other blogs concerning this case; if he’s such an upright citizen now, perhaps he’s ready to take responsibility for his actions like a MAN and admit what he’s done, and your energies could best be utilized to help make that happen. You could easily petition the NAACP for their help in getting a delegation together to speak with Coles, or at least his family; both have been active in efforts to free Troy, as you know (Coles’ cousin’s husband, who saw Coles murder Officer MacPhail, testified to that fact last June, as you know; with the abundance of other witness testimony against Coles – particularly, that of the girl – now, woman – who threw the party in Cloverdale earlier that evening and the girl who helped Coles hide the murder weapon, Judge Moore INEXPLICABLY discounted all of this testimony against the state’s chief witness for no apparent reason, which leaves us to surmise that he did so to protect the corrupt DA’s office).

    If you choose not to channel your energy to help the truth be told, perhaps you need to see a professional for help with your particular pathology. In any case, you probably should stop wasting your time with these posts since you’re only making yourself, the Savannah community and the MacPhails look bad.

  107. Quoth Judge Moore, “To hear Mr. Davis tell it, this case involves credible, consistent recantations by seven of nine state witnesses. However, this vastly overstates his evidence. Two of the recanting witnesses [Williams and Murray] neither directly state that they lied at trial nor claim that their previous testimony was coerced. Two other recantations [Sapp and Collins] were impossible to believe, with a host of intrinsic reasons why their author's recantation could not be trusted, and the recantations were contradicted by credible, live testimony. Two more recantations [Ferrell and Young] were intentionally and suspiciously offered in affidavit form rather than as live testimony, blocking any meaningful cross-examination by the state or credibility determination by this Court…. Kevin McQueen's recantation is credible, but his testimony at trial was patently false, as evidenced by its several inconsistencies with the State's version of the events on the night in question. Accordingly, it is hard to believe Mr. McQueen's testimony at trial was important to the conviction, rendering his recantation of limited value. Ultimately, four of Mr. Davis's recantations do not diminish the State's case because a reasonable juror would disregard the recantation, not the earlier testimony; and the three others only minimally diminish the State's case.”

  108. @ Mark A.: Yes. We can read, too. But the state's attribution (apparently) of The Liar's Paradox to witnesses is specious and only serves to (obviously) confuse legal novices. Witness intimidation DOES happen. That's why the Innicence project continues to garner multi-million dollar grants. People are sick of our corrupt justice system. If they had been able to get involved in Davis' case sooner, the chances it would have had a materially different outcome are real. Now that's a paradox for you – it takes massive corruption in our justice system to spur public interest and a correspondingly massive corrective response.

  109. Quoth Judge Moore, “To hear Mr. Davis tell it, this case involves credible, consistent recantations by seven of nine state witnesses. However, this vastly overstates his evidence. Two of the recanting witnesses [Williams and Murray] neither directly state that they lied at trial nor claim that their previous testimony was coerced. Two other recantations [Sapp and Collins] were impossible to believe, with a host of intrinsic reasons why their author’s recantation could not be trusted, and the recantations were contradicted by credible, live testimony. Two more recantations [Ferrell and Young] were intentionally and suspiciously offered in affidavit form rather than as live testimony, blocking any meaningful cross-examination by the state or credibility determination by this Court…. Kevin McQueen’s recantation is credible, but his testimony at trial was patently false, as evidenced by its several inconsistencies with the State’s version of the events on the night in question. Accordingly, it is hard to believe Mr. McQueen’s testimony at trial was important to the conviction, rendering his recantation of limited value. Ultimately, four of Mr. Davis’s recantations do not diminish the State’s case because a reasonable juror would disregard the recantation, not the earlier testimony; and the three others only minimally diminish the State’s case.”

  110. @ Mark A.: Yes. We can read, too. But the state’s attribution (apparently) of The Liar’s Paradox to witnesses is specious and only serves to (obviously) confuse legal novices. Witness intimidation DOES happen. That’s why the Innicence project continues to garner multi-million dollar grants. People are sick of our corrupt justice system. If they had been able to get involved in Davis’ case sooner, the chances it would have had a materially different outcome are real. Now that’s a paradox for you – it takes massive corruption in our justice system to spur public interest and a correspondingly massive corrective response.

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