Former witnesses against Troy come clean

By Laura Kagel, Georgia Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator for Amnesty International USA

Savannah was tranquil and warm in the early hours when people started lining up to get passes for the evidentiary hearing in the Troy Davis case. The police seemed prepared for some major disruptions, but a courteous atmosphere prevailed everywhere.

Across from the courthouse Amnesty International was a presence, along with the NAACP, under the dense foliage of Wright Square. Inside the pleasantly air-conditioned courtroom the public seemed full of anticipation and the sight of box after box of court documents entering the chamber was a sudden visual reminder of the gravity of the event.  Just before the proceedings began, Troy entered the courtroom in the company of corrections department employees. He looked straight ahead and then took a seat at the end of the row of defense lawyers and facing the witness stand. His legal team began calling witnesses straight off, because the judge had requested that they skip opening arguments.

(c) Scott Langley

The testimony of the witnesses called by the defense team really underscored the fragility of the state’s case against Troy Davis.  It was amazing to hear their stories. Over the course of the morning, the witnesses affirmed that their testimony implicating Davis was built on lies and often explained their recantations in moving ways, recounting the pressure they felt to point the finger at Troy.

Antoine Williams, who said he could not read the statement he allegedly made to the police because he can’t read, talked about being haunted with nightmares about it.  Kevin McQueen testified that he implicated Troy because he was mad at him.  When asked what he hoped to gain by his testimony today, he stated simply, “peace of mind.” When pressed about his earlier – now recanted – testimony, McQueen said adamantly, “The man did not tell me he shot anyone. Period.”


Anthony Hargrove told the full courtroom that he wrote to Troy in 2000 of his own volition to tell him he had heard Sylvester Coles confess to killing Officer Mark MacPhail.  He sounded regretful when he said that because of warrants out on him and concern for his own “self-preservation” he hadn’t come forward. Benjamin Gordon stunned the courtroom with an eyewitness account of the murder of Officer MacPhail by Sylvester Coles and told how he tried to convince Coles to “straighten it up,” because someone was sitting on death row for the crime. It was wrenching to see witness after witness facing Troy Davis explaining untruths and omissions that forever altered his life.

On the second day of the hearing, the state will continue to press its case after attacking the credibility of the recanting witnesses and questioning police officers about their investigation tactics today. A witness for the defense who was unable to testify today may be called back. I’ll report back with more information after the hearing closes.

We’ll continue to keep you posted!

Laura Kagel is the State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator for Georgia for Amnesty International USA.  She is currently in Savannah to observe Troy Davis’ evidentiary hearing.

AIUSA welcomes a lively and courteous discussion that follow our Community Guidelines. Comments are not pre-screened before they post but AIUSA reserves the right to remove any comments violating our guidelines.

18 thoughts on “Former witnesses against Troy come clean

  1. The death penalty is vile, but if America insists on using it as a cheaper alternative to life imprisonment, it needs to stop killing the innocent.
    We in England watch America and are horrified at your hypocrisy. America cannot claim to lead the world until it stops the slaughter of its innocent citizens.
    Be sensible & look at the evidence. He didn't do it, so let him go. Stop wasting time & money.
    The life of this man is far more important than the loss of face in admitting your system is wrong.

  2. I have spent my career assessing evidence and applying common sense.
    I cannot understand the Americans' insistence that the legal process is more important than the truth.
    Surely in your system there must be a provision for someone to look at the evidence and make an unbiased judgement. If not, then I suggest that "reasonable doubt" suffices in this case.

  3. Sorry, I realise I am venting my anger at the wrong target here. The trouble is that the people in America who have the power won't listen to the likes of me. I am feeling frustrated because the truth is so clear and I cannot understand why this man is still in prison, let alone under sentence of death. I apologise to those campaigning for Troy's release, and hope justice, common sense and RIGHT prevail.

  4. The death penalty is vile, but if America insists on using it as a cheaper alternative to life imprisonment, it needs to stop killing the innocent.
    We in England watch America and are horrified at your hypocrisy. America cannot claim to lead the world until it stops the slaughter of its innocent citizens.
    Be sensible & look at the evidence. He didn’t do it, so let him go. Stop wasting time & money.
    The life of this man is far more important than the loss of face in admitting your system is wrong.

  5. I have spent my career assessing evidence and applying common sense.
    I cannot understand the Americans’ insistence that the legal process is more important than the truth.
    Surely in your system there must be a provision for someone to look at the evidence and make an unbiased judgement. If not, then I suggest that “reasonable doubt” suffices in this case.

  6. Sorry, I realise I am venting my anger at the wrong target here. The trouble is that the people in America who have the power won’t listen to the likes of me. I am feeling frustrated because the truth is so clear and I cannot understand why this man is still in prison, let alone under sentence of death. I apologise to those campaigning for Troy’s release, and hope justice, common sense and RIGHT prevail.

  7. Dear Nicky Sutton,

    Hugely enjoyed n appreciated your comments.

    Need apologise ?

    Why ?

    Got mad ?

    Wish they all could !!

    & no one working for truth / justice ought to mind your words !!

    They should know better than anyone else what you mean !!

    Injustice isn't the venue for showing off manners .

    Rage is the better part of discretion, often, in this context.

    Powers that be in america "won't listen to the likes of me ", you say ?

    Like you even more now.

    Count me in among those who never counted !!!!

    As you say, the "law" is more important than the truth in america .

    For law — whiteman law — was honored here in the breach not the observance.

    Right from the "founding".

    Your honesty over etiquette anyday, Nicky Sutton !!

    Hope to hear your voice more, in such a place !!

  8. Dear Nicky Sutton,

    Hugely enjoyed n appreciated your comments.

    Need apologise ?

    Why ?

    Got mad ?

    Wish they all could !!

    & no one working for truth / justice ought to mind your words !!

    They should know better than anyone else what you mean !!

    Injustice isn’t the venue for showing off manners .

    Rage is the better part of discretion, often, in this context.

    Powers that be in america “won’t listen to the likes of me “, you say ?

    Like you even more now.

    Count me in among those who never counted !!!!

    As you say, the “law” is more important than the truth in america .

    For law — whiteman law — was honored here in the breach not the observance.

    Right from the “founding”.

    Your honesty over etiquette anyday, Nicky Sutton !!

    Hope to hear your voice more, in such a place !!

  9. Dear a.savage, thanks for your reassurances.
    My apology was mainly for a couple of sweeping generalisations that probably won't apply to anyone reading my post. I do know that not all Americans are stubborn, hypocritical morons, and it was rude of me to address the editors of this forum as though they were the enemy. Clearly they were trying to provide me further information that only serves to emphasise the pointlessness of the death penalty.
    I remain angry, frustrated and yet hopeful that this man gets justice. My thoughts are with him and his family.
    I have been an amnesty member for many years, but only recently found them on Twitter. If my blood pressure can stand it, I will contribute further in future.

  10. Dear a.savage, thanks for your reassurances.
    My apology was mainly for a couple of sweeping generalisations that probably won’t apply to anyone reading my post. I do know that not all Americans are stubborn, hypocritical morons, and it was rude of me to address the editors of this forum as though they were the enemy. Clearly they were trying to provide me further information that only serves to emphasise the pointlessness of the death penalty.
    I remain angry, frustrated and yet hopeful that this man gets justice. My thoughts are with him and his family.
    I have been an amnesty member for many years, but only recently found them on Twitter. If my blood pressure can stand it, I will contribute further in future.

Comments are closed.