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Gorgo
SFN Die Hard
USA
5310 Posts |
 Posted - 03/24/2010 : 04:05:40
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http://tcadp.blogspot.com/
Mr. Skinner is scheduled to be executed by the State of Texas on Wednesday, March 24, despite the fact that critical DNA evidence from the crime scene has never been tested. Last week, Chromosomal Laboratories, Inc. in Arizona offered to test the DNA evidence - for free - if Governor Perry grants Mr. Skinner a 30-day reprieve.
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To stay up-to-date on developments in Mr. Skinner's case, please go to http://tcadp.blogspot.com/.
Thank you for taking action at this critical moment! TCADP will continue to update you on this situation and provide additional action opportunities.
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It is very helpful and greatly appreciated to have the support of letters, which should go to the attention of:
CONTACT INFORMATION
Chelsea Thornton Buchholtz
Assistant General Counsel
Office of the Governor
1100 San Jacinto
Austin, Texas 78701
The fax number for the General Counsel's office is 512-463-1932.
TALKING POINTS
Since 1973, 139 people in 26 states have been released from death row with evidence of their innocence. Eleven of them were in Texas.
Many of these people were freed because DNA evidence proved their innocence. But DNA testing only works if we use it.
On March 24, Texas is scheduled to execute Hank Skinner, despite denying testing of DNA evidence that could implicate another man in the murder of Mr. Skinner's girlfriend and her two sons. DNA testing could resolve the doubts about Mr. Skinner’s guilt, but the State has refused to allow evidence to be tested for ten years.
Is Texas about to create the next Cameron Todd Willingham?
Mr. Skinner’s execution date is just days away, but key pieces of evidence have never been subject to DNA testing. Mr. Skinner’s trial counsel chose not to seek DNA testing, despite the fact that Mr.Skinner steadfastly insisted he was innocent of the crime.
The never-tested evidence includes: a man’s windbreaker found next to the victim’s body, which had blood splatter, perspiration stains and human hairs on it; two knives, at least one of which was a likely murder weapon; a bloody towel; the victim’s fingernails, which may have blood under them; and swabs from a rape-kit that could reveal whether the victim had intercourse around the time of her death and with whom.
Mr. Skinner’s attorney also failed to investigate and present evidence of another suspect who might have committed the crime. DNA evidence may or may not implicate this alternate suspect, but we’ll never be certain without testing.
A clemency petition has been filed with the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and Governor Rick Perry.
We urge the Governor to intervene in Hank Skinner's case and issue a 30-day stay to allow for DNA testing to take place.
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I know the rent is in arrears
The dog has not been fed in years
It's even worse than it appears
But it's alright-
Jerry Garcia
Robert Hunter
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
 Posted - 03/24/2010 : 08:20:43 [Permalink]
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| Sheesh! Texas of all places. It's such a bloodthirsty state when it comes to executions. |
Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 10:11:34 [Permalink]
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| WTF!?!? |
Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
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H. Humbert
SFN Die Hard
USA
4574 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 10:28:07 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dr. Mabuse
WTF!?!?
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Ed Brayton has blogged about this sort of thing before. Many prosecutors and even judges have refused to rehear cases on the basis of newly available DNA evidence. Their excuse is that the defendants still had a "fair trial" without DNA testing, therefore there is no need bother with it. In truth, it's more likely that they don't want DNA testing to reveal how often innocent people have been convicted. Ordinary Americans might lose confidence in the justice system, you see. So it's deemed more important to protect their conviction record than it is to pursue actual justice. It's more important to maintain the facade of certainty than to admit the possibility of error, even if a few innocent people lose their lives over it.
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"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true." --Demosthenes
"The first principle is that you must not fool yourself - and you are the easiest person to fool." --Richard P. Feynman
"Face facts with dignity." --found inside a fortune cookie |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 11:07:09 [Permalink]
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| Another excuse is that the Constitution gives people the right to a lawyer, but not necessarily a competent lawyer. And from what I've heard, it's tough to get an appeals court to return a case to the lower courts for re-arguing the evidence on the basis that the defendant's lawyer did a sucky job. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 16:34:41 [Permalink]
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| A stay of execution has now been granted by the Supreme Court. Despite many pleas, Governor Rick Perry (R) did nothing to delay the execution. |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 03/24/2010 16:55:48 |
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The Rat
SFN Regular
Canada
1370 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 20:30:04 [Permalink]
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| Isn't it long past the time that DNA testing was compulsory in such cases? |
Bailey's second law; There is no relationship between the three virtues of intelligence, education, and wisdom.
You fiend! Never have I encountered such corrupt and foul-minded perversity! Have you ever considered a career in the Church? - The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Blackadder II
Baculum's page: http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=3947338590 |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 03/24/2010 : 20:41:15 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by The Rat
Isn't it long past the time that DNA testing was compulsory in such cases? |
It should be, when applicable and possible. This is yet another instance where the culture of our society, in this case our legal procedure, sadly lags behind science. But perhaps we're seeing here the beginnings of legal change on this issue. |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 03/24/2010 20:42:57 |
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Starman
SFN Regular
Sweden
1613 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2010 : 06:25:25 [Permalink]
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| From Ed Brayton : Supreme Court Stays Skinner Execution |
"Any religion that makes a form of torture into an icon that they worship seems to me a pretty sick sort of religion quite honestly"
-- Terry Jones |
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astropin
SFN Regular
USA
970 Posts |
Posted - 03/25/2010 : 08:44:29 [Permalink]
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| Talk about cutting it close. It came 1 hour before the scheduled execution. |
I would rather face a cold reality than delude myself with comforting fantasies.
You are free to believe what you want to believe and I am free to ridicule you for it.
Atheism:
The result of an unbiased and rational search for the truth.
Infinitus est numerus stultorum |
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Dr. Mabuse
Septic Fiend
Sweden
9688 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 08:04:34 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by H. Humbert
Originally posted by Dr. Mabuse
WTF!?!?
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Ed Brayton has blogged about this sort of thing before. Many prosecutors and even judges have refused to rehear cases on the basis of newly available DNA evidence. Their excuse is that the defendants still had a "fair trial" without DNA testing, therefore there is no need bother with it. In truth, it's more likely that they don't want DNA testing to reveal how often innocent people have been convicted. Ordinary Americans might lose confidence in the justice system, you see. So it's deemed more important to protect their conviction record than it is to pursue actual justice. It's more important to maintain the facade of certainty than to admit the possibility of error, even if a few innocent people lose their lives over it.
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That's utterly digusting.
Remind me never to be wrongfully accused of murder next time I visit USA. |
Dr. Mabuse - "When the going gets tough, the tough get Duct-tape..."
Dr. Mabuse whisper.mp3
"Equivocation is not just a job, for a creationist it's a way of life..." Dr. Mabuse
Support American Troops in Iraq:
Send them unarmed civilians for target practice..
Collateralmurder. |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 03/26/2010 : 09:05:49 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Dr. Mabuse
Remind me never to be wrongfully accused of murder next time I visit USA. |
I hope that you're never rightfully accused of murder. Anywhere. |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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Execution Today. Please contact Governor
