I don’t know the whole story to say if the man was innocent or not. But all prisoners on death row or not say that they are innocent even when they are guilty as sin. So who’s to say that this man was the same. If he was guilty he got what he deserves. If not then what can be done, he is already dead.

Cindy…Ga.

This is not the first time that the state of Texas has took the life of an innocent. It is appalling! If they could find the truth four years later why could not find it earlier?

While child molesters, rapists, derranged killers and cults are free to roam in societies, innocents are put to death without even concrete evidence to ensure their guilt! Maybe it’s time we give the dealth penalty to those who do not take the time to ensure guilt before they take an innocent life from loved ones and families. Maybe that would balance the scale so that these so called (mistakes) they report so unfeelingly will not happen again! Justice is just a name describing a group of supposed to be law abiding officials who don’t know the meaning of the word and who view their authority as that of an omnipotent God.

Every story of this sort is just sad and heart breaking. Just the fact that it happened, whether he was guilty or innocent, is just unfortunate. For me, it is even more sad because it reminds me of this type of stuff that happens in poverty stricken areas in Pakistan and India. Not on daily basis and not very frequently but I do get to hear often that a man or a woman killed his/her children because they could not feed them. Simply heartbreaking.

This is but one reason why the death penalty should be abolished

This is an example of why I am proud to be Canadian.Our laws are not perfect but this error wont be happening in Canada.To the family of this man I am truly sorry for your loss .Justice was not served.What will Nancy Grace say to this… shame shame shame …Justice was not done

sometimes mistakes are made….this is not a mistake that should be allowed to be made…..12 years in prison….and a meeting with death in a cell viewed by vivitors….the man still claimed his innosence…..there is something to be said for his claims of innosence after all that time in prison and laying there ready to die. Nobody goes all that way still holding onto their story….This man probally did NOT do this and there was probally no CRIME at all. They just killed an innosent man.
Fix the system

This is another case of injustice in our court systems. What do we get when we strive to compensate for lives lost with another life… in this case, another innocent life. May you rest in peace!!!!!!!

This is why the state should not have the power to take it’s citizen’s life. People make mistakes.

Execution has no place in a mordern, God fearing society. If this guy is innocent, then he was murdered by the state. Enough said.

Well I hope whatever family he has left files a law suite against the state of Texas if they killed an innocent man. I don’t know what city he lived in or how small it was but small towns in Texas are is backwards as they come as far as the laws. I have lived in Texas all my life and know there are officers that don’t go by the book and God forbid if one of them have some thing out for anyone in your family because if they do your family member is as screwed as they get and can bank on living life on death row and or life in prison… I have absolutely very little respect for the DA’s office or the police department in the town I live in. My brother in law is an officer in North Carolina I have the highest respect for him and what he does but the law enforcement in Texas is not to be trusted and if there are any honest ones it is very few and the bad one’s lie so you end up not trusting any of them. The saying in our town here is come her on vacation and leave here on probation. Thankfully I am in the process of relocating because of my career and wont be in the same area. I think this man’s family should file a law suit. The sad thing is we hear about one in 10 cases that the person is innocent and has served 20 to 30 years of their life before they are cleared and that is only if they are still alive when they are cleared. If not who takes the responsibility for killing an innocent person???? I don’t feel I am sorry from the justice ystem is good enough for killing an innocent man…..God forbid I ever have to go through that kind of hurt with any of my family member because it would push me over the edge I think.

Before they kill someone, they need to get everything together before they make that decision. It’s a shame that an innocent man had to die for nothing. It was all an accident, he has already lost his children and to convict him of killing them and then putting him to death for what was ruled an “accident ” is just crazy. The system is screwed and they really need some work done before they decide they can take someone’s life. My prayers go out to his family and I hope that he is in heaven chilling with his children.

This is sooo not uncommon. The justice system today is ridiculous! It is based more on opinion than actual fact. And the more gruesome the crime the easier it is to get a conviction. There are so many people on death row and convicted of other crimes and they were only convicted on the basis of their crimes. You say someone hurt a kid and damned if he did or didnt he’s done for. The verdict of popular opinion. To hell with the evidence. Its’ unbeleiveable how many lives are ruined. Not just the victim that was hurt but also the person wrongly convicted. May god bless his soul, at least he’s with his girls now. Just shameful.

Well, it was only a matter of time until we officially knew that innocent people were executed. I fear that there are many more cases like this, particularly on the Texas fast track.

That’s justice Texas style, Ready, Fire, Aim! (Kill ‘em all and let God sort them out)

It is amazing that after the fact of his death, they find him innocent. What took them over 12 years to find this out???? And to say that the key evidence has been in question??

It is all well and good for the Innocence Project to ferret out the truth, but why wait until the poor man has been dead for 4 years to bring this to light. If we are going to have the death penalty, then for God’s sake make sure they are guilty BEFORE you execute. If there is anything that gives death penalty opponents ammunition, it is executing innocent people.

I am a strong proponent of the death penalty. I believe that if you take someone else’s life you should have to pay with your own. And as for cruel and unusual punishment, if the method of execution is not more cruel and unusual than the method the murderer used, then I say it is not cruel and unusual.

A very simple solution to the death penalty debate can be summed up in one sentence. If you don’t want to die, don’t kill! I do not understand how a person can torture, mutilate and kill one or more victims and then sit straight-faced in a courtroom and argue that lethal injection is “cruel and unusual” punishment.

Wow, how sad and sick that we put innocent people to death like that!

Another reason why capital punishment is wrong.
We are one heck of a barbaric first world country.

what a horrible shame (if this man was innocent) and it sounds like it could be a very likely possibility. What I question is why this panel commissioned by the innocence project never looked into this the whole 12 years or at least sometime before the execution? How was this overlooked by his defense attorney? This blood is on their hands if it proves he was innocent..

Jeanette- MO. Show me state

There had to be more going on that we know- why was he even a suspect, were there problems with him and the mother, why did the jury find him guilty- there was evidence of some sort, what was his motive, where was he when this happened- where was the mother? There are several questions that need to be answered before we say we did or did not put to death an innocent man. If he is not guilty, hopefully his family will find peace knowing he was not guilty and will be compensated. If he was guilty, then the state did the right thing. We have to remember thet the girls are the reason for this whole situation and what happened to them was horrible- whether an accident or intentional.

My life’s greatest fear is being accused, convicted and imprisoned on someone’s false or wrongly interpreted “evidence”. “To serve and protect doesn’t work; those who give false evidence(police, etc) should be required to serve prison for the same period as the innocent who went to prison.

It’s long past time to halt all executions for the above reason.

oh my god…..the state says “justice was served”….well, let’s clearly identify the speaker of those words, and have him address how a father who can not only live through a trajedy, but then be punished with no mercy for something he did not do be explained.
the bottom line is that the state of texas are murderers and certainly the prosecutor knew all along his evidence was tainted. name him, and make him accountable, and certainly, he or she should face criminal charges for wrongdoings resulting in a killing sanctioned by the state, and the state authorities. and by the way, a pet peeve of mine is when the media refers to the state, the government, the authorities, why can’t you just say, joe doe of the u s department of justice says……is that not what it is, if he can get up there and say something, then he should put his name on it, not just say, he is an “authority” or a state etc.
when the government becomes accountable by making those in power and those who work in government responsible for their acts and actions personally (which is clearly fair as the government prosecutors make private individuals personally responsible for their work acts…see, i.e. enron, etc.), will we have a government that works. now without those people being held responsible, anything results, and certainly, now we know, murder in the name of the state. let’s get government working and working for all of us and making it accountable.

It wouldn’t be the first time in this country’s history & unfortunately not the last.

Maybe we could have independent unbiased investigators research these crimes, then provide all evidence to a jury instead of waging battles between prosecutors and defendors.

Right now, innocence is only determined by how well paid your defense team is. Such a shame that money rules the world.

It is judicial mistakes such as this that make so many in the country question the system’s archaic foundation built upon “innocent until proven guilty”

Maybe it’s more along the lines of “innocent until proven guilty… but only guilty until someone cares to dig deeper”

No one is perfect, but when it comes to playing God with another’s life— someone should be.

Cindy, your insensitivity and lack of vision amaze me. I also do not know if he is innocent, but when you say ‘what can be done, he is already dead’

It is cases like this that should make the enitre justice system stand up and take notice….an innocent man being put to death should never be allowed to happen. There obviously needs to be better controls put into place to ensure that no one is forced to endure what this poor man went through. Losing 3 daughters is bad enough, but to then be convicted of their murder erroneously and murdered by the state because of it? C’mon! Even people in favor of the death penalty must find that appalling.

Comment for ‘Mel’ - You seem to be upset at everyone’s spelling, perhaps so upset that you did not notice that ‘grammer’ is actually spelled ‘grammar’….Jude not, lest ye be judged, mel.

What a shame!

In response to an earlier post that stated if this man was innocent, then he was murdered by the state. Actually, guilty or innocent, he was murdered by the State. Murder is the deliberate, intentional, pre-meditated taking of another life…isn’t that the definition of the death penalty??? The states has such barbaric laws..Only China is worse and we all know about their human rights status.

I’m 100% in favor of the death penalty. What about all the rapists, murderers and arsonist, child molesters who should have been executed but instead were released and wreaked havoc on innocent victims? Why on earth should we pay for these monsters to sit in jail and threaten/murder the people who are employed there? Would you like to work with these monsters 8 hours a day? I have a better idea, let’s release them all and shelter them in your neighborhoods.

Maybe there should be no death penalty. Nobody has the right to take a life.

This man is not “innocent.” He was convicted by a jury, and the conviction was upheld on many appeals.

Stop the biased “reporting;” just give the actual facts and let the readers decide who is innocent and who is guilty. Or does CNN consider it’s readers to be too stupid to make up their own minds.

If it is the case that he is innocent, then that would be a shame. There better be some reprocussions for those prosecutors also.

One easy way to get rid of the death penalty would be to hold culpable all involved if an innocent is found to have been executed unjustly. Everyone from the judge, to the prosecutor, to the jury to the guy who “threw the switch” should be sitting in prison for their part in the taking of an innocent life. Sanity would blossom overnight.

“If he was guilty he got what he deserves. If not then what can be done, he is already dead.” Cindy GA

Cindy,

Had this been your son, brother, father, husband or someone dear to you, I hardly believe your callous statements would remain the same. The point is, ‘oops, sorry, our mistake, we’ll try to prevent this in the future’ isn’t good enough. If you (the State, Judicial System, Judges, jury) are going to play God, then you damn well better be right. If not, all parties should be held accountable. And when I say accountable, I don’t mean getting demoted or losing your job. If it can be determined that this man DID NOT set the fire to this home, all in question should at the very least lose thier freedom. Ignorance is not an excuse when your actions result in the death of another human being. It’s called manslaughter, and everyone right down to the Court Baliff should stand trial.

i agree with everyone’s comments about the death penalty and the mistakes that are so freely admitted if this is this case. It’s very sad and unfortunate this had to happen if he is innocent.

This is what is wrong with the death penalty - It is impossible to rescind. Not to sound like a liberal but how can the same people that claim to be for life, be so for killing people with such careless disregard.

I wonder if they would feel differently if they were the ones being executed?

I remember this case and I remember that it troubled me at the time. However, this article is a little misleading from the facts I recall. Mr. Willingham was convicted of felony murder which requires a death during the commission of another heinous crime (burglary, arson, robbery, rape, or kidnapping). It requires guilt of both crimes to be death penalty eligible. From what I remember, the jury never disputed that he killed his children first and then set fire to the residence. So even though the arson may not have been, they would have to show that he didn’t commit the murders in order to call him truly innocent. I’m opposed to the death penalty because there are other cases (yes, some in Texas) where I do believe a truly innocent person was put to death, but in this case, he may not have deserved the penalty under Texas law, but that doesn’t mean he should have gone free.

Would you expect anything less from the State of Texas? Shame on Texas, and we should be appauled as Americans, didn’t we elect these officials, judges and DA’s to be fair and impartial, hmmm. They need to be held accountable for their actions, just as they held him accountable. I bet if they passed a law stating that if you were found to have withheld evidence that caused a wrongful execution that you yourself would be executed, Im sure that the Death Penalty would be abolished a week later. Inocent or not nothing will be done, Texas will find a way to make this disappear. This not the first time nor will it be the last. We need to abolish the Death Penalty once and for all!

Well, if it turns out he was innocent, there are several people that should face first degree murder charges. The prosecutor, the judge and the person performing the execution should all be charged with murder.

The DA and investigating officers should be jailed as long as Cameron was in jail. Once again a crime is solved using an innocent person. We call this American Justice.
Project Innocent is way to busy because of all the DA’s that convict innocent people. It they had to be jailed for the time innocents were
jailed perhaps a little more care and honesty would be used.

After an innocent is released all you ever hear from the DA is, “in my heart I know he/she did it.” Even after all the evidence which includes DNA shows differently.

Welcome to Texas, where criminal law dictates that a 15 year old girl is an adult if she puts a gun to a store clerk’s head and pulls the trigger but the same girl is under the “age of consent “to have sex with her 18 year old boyfriend or chat with an adult online.
Our laws are completely driven by the politicians and have no basis in justice.

This is just one more example of a failed justice system. Prosecutors that try to coincide winning or losing a case with innoscence or guilt. One has nothing to do with the other, and prosecutors that are just looking for another notch on their belt should suffer criminal penalties.

There is no death penalty in whole Europe but some less-civilized countries (as China, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and USA) still prefer to mix “justice” with a bloody revenge!

At the very least those who condemmed this man should be prosecuted for man slaughter. That’s what would happen if “I” accidently killed some one.

That’s Texas for you. Always use that death penalty and sort it out later.

What people don’t understand is the DA’s office doesn’t really care if that man was guilty or innocent. All they care about is getting a CONVICTION!! The DA then hides behind ” a jury of their peers found them guilty” statement and dismisses everything else as doing their job. Their job is to convict gulity people. Until the people prosecuting the crimes can actually be held responsible for wrongful convictions, nothing will ever change!!

It is sick to read comments from people saying “what does it matter….he’s already dead.” This case proves that the death penalty is not an effective form of punishment in America. If the innocence project had the means to review every case I’m sure there would be hundreds more cases just like this.

To Cindy from GA. Attitutudes like yours are what really harms the foundations of this country. I just wonder if you would feel the same if this man were your husband, father, son….. your really need to think about what you said.

that is horrible. i feel sorry for his family they will be in my prayers even if he is guilty. Buut you know if it was O.J. Simpson oh he woul dget a hand shake and be sent on his way. our goverment sucks and they know it but hey we can’t do anything about it. and if people think by voting for the right person will help, they need to lay off the crack

It is truly sad to hear a case like this. However, my feelings are unchanged towards the death penalty. We are only human and our system will make mistakes. It is up to the community to ensure that the local law enforcement is competent. It is also the job of the community, the jurors, to decide on “guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.” Its terrible to hear of the innocent served injustice, but think of all the true monsters that await on death row. The atrocities they have committed does not entitle them to hundreds of thousands of dollars from the tax-paying citizens so they can live their days out in an extremely corrupt setting.

If a few innocent have to die, so that we may get rid of the majority of guilty, then so be it.

Now, before all of you God-believing hypocrites jump all over this comment - didn’t Jesus die to save everyone?

Thank God for Barry Scheck and everyone else involved in the Innocence Project! Our system of justice certainly in not perfect. It makes me sick to think of innocent people being in jail or executed. Texas seems to be the worst for “fast track” execution. Shame on them. Shame on prosecutors who rush to conviction for political reasons. Shame on defense lawyers who do not care. Shame on forensic labs that “cheat” with false testimony. Shame on states who do not allow compensation for those falsely convicted with ruined lives. Shame on true criminals who place such a burden on society. Shame Shame Shame.

What the heck is the matter with you idiots. Why don’t we do the sensible thing and wait until the investigation is over, and the facts are all out before forming an opinion? At this point, all we know is that is it POSSIBLE an innocent man was executed. Now, before you clueless whiners start condemning Texas and the death penalty, let’s first find out if they actually DIDanything wrong!

PS: I agree that if an innocent man WAS indeed put to death, the parties responsible should face severe criminal charges… no matter WHO they are. I’m not sure I would go as far as executing the Judge and DA, but they SHOULD be punished.

This is typical of today’s “news”. Very, very little of the evidence of the case is presented here, and yet so many people are quick to jump on board with the sentiment the writer is trying to present. Even the title, “Executed…and Innocent?” asks a question, yet the article itself pulls the weak-minded reader’s strings toward a conclusion. Information about this case is readily available all over the internet. You can research for yourself or let yourself be led by the nose. Maybe he was innocent, but those that jump to conclusions from this flimsy teaser of an article only show their own ignorance. I have researched and made my conclusions. There is no doubt that he was guilty. You are entitled to your own conclusion, but you won’t find the truth in this tiny, little blurb of an article.

what a country we have when people think that the death peanlty is cruel. tell that to dylan and sasha groene who were rapped and watched as her brother was shot in the stomach. yea lets pay to keep these people alive. while youre at it might as well elect obama president.

When a person is convicted and sentenced to DEATH ROW, it should be mandatory for DNA to be done inless the LAW IS 100% SURE these people are guilty. These convicts SPEND YEARS ON DEATH ROW, so there is NO REASON why MISTAKES like this should be made. It is the laziness of the system and the admittance that they were wrong [don't want to admit to public] about the verdict. The law would rather kill an innocent person than ADMIT THEY WERE WRONG!!!!!!!!!

One out of four Americans are currently in custody in prisons or jails. The prosecutors want to put people away and get points for doing so - it has nothing to do with justice or innocence. Capital punishment must be abolished. People think that being on death row could never happen to them, but this case shows that all that needs to happen is a house fire - probably started by natural causes - anyone could be sentenced to prison for murder. Our forefathers would be horrified to see what we have done to the justice system that they set up - our government should be ashamed, we should be ashamed.

When you look at the Duncan case, where there is video-taped evidence, and a guy so sick he just wants to be killed, it should set the bar higher for executions. Some people do exist who are so sick you can’t avoid executing them, but all these hundreds of people sitting on death row, who still dispute their guilt, never had a DNA test, leave a very dubious shadow over the entire justice system when they’re gone, maybe these are not candidates for execution and maybe prosecutors should not even seek the death penalty for anything less than a confession, DNA confirmation and videotaped proof.

A wise man once said “Better that ten guilty persons escape than that one innocent suffer” and yet everyday we find out there are more and more innocent people that are incarcerated. And also to Cindy in GA not ALL people who are on death row say they are innocent. There are no absolutes so watch what you say, lest you reveal your ignornance.

@Cindy - Your compassion and empathy are astounding! I’m glad this possibly innocent man wasn’t your brother, father or son, I think you’d feel differently about capital punishment then.

I am so torn on the death penalty. I agree with Beanie, money is the only factor anymore in “justice” and that is downright frightening. The truth has no place in our judicial system. This case is definitely one of the most compelling arguments towards abolishing the death penalty. But I have been following the case of Joseph Edward Duncan III lately, and I think that even the staunchest critic of the death penalty would have a tough time arguing against killing that monster. At least in Duncan’s case there is no question that he did it. Maybe that should be the only way we execute someone - when there is irrefutable proof of guilt (such as video, extensive DNA, admission of guilt, yada yada.) I know that sounds naive but we have to do SOMETHING!

What can I say? Texas justice is no surprise. However, this problem is rampant nationwide, and it’s not just death penalty cases.

First, abolish the death penalty, period. Executing an innocent is murder. Then go after prosecutors who withhold evidence or persecute suspects who happen to fit the crime, whether they are guilty or not, just because they want another notch in their reelection resume.

Any prosecutor caught like this should serve the sentence that the defendant was threatened with. That’ll really shake up the system and clean house.

Wow, very surprised at CNN to publish Cindy’s comment. She’ s a perfect example of the ignorance that allows such awful events to transpire. A man loses his family in a fire, is convicted of arson, and put to death while proclaiming his innocence. I didn’t see anything in there about any blatant evidence saying he was definitely the guy. What if that happened to you, cindy?

Just to clarify something I just commented on, I do realize that plenty of people admit guilt that aren’t guilty because they were coerced into admitting it. I guess I’m saying none of us have all the answers on how to solve this dilemma, and I’d be willing to bet a lot of people are on both sides of the fence. One thing’s for sure - the system we have now ain’t working!

My problem with the death penalty is that I don’t trust the syatem to get the right person all the time and this is a perfect example. Futhermore if the system finds out that they have the wrong person they ten to cover it up so they won’t look bad. In my opinion officials that execute an innocent person should be charged with manslaughter and if is found out that they knew the person was innocent and ignored new evidence they should be charged with murder in the first degree.

I think that the US needs to keep the Death Penalty, BUT we truly need to go all out on making sure that we have the right person…. What is sad is the thousands of child rapist and killers that are being let go scott free and the evidence is 100% accurate. It is 2008 and the new scientific test that are out there it is kind of hard to believe that someone can be falsey accused of something such as this. maybe its not the test that are failing but the prosecutors that are HELL bent on winning a case that they are turning a blind eye to the truth. We as Americans need to stand up and make sure the OUR justice system is revamped and cleaned up from corrupt people that are in it now

I think that this a terrible thing to realize an innocent man has been killed. How can one say “well he is already dead!” That is one of the most insensitive comments I have ever heard. It is our job to look at the justice system and ensure that innocent and let go and guilty are punished not vice versa. To me I would be furious if this was a family member and I know the truth. It’s funny how good a job these investigators can do when the person is already dead. Where was all of these investigative practices when he was alive pleading his case!

I am not sure if he was guity or not. I am sure that there are a lot of people back in the day that were put to death that were probably innocent. can you image not being able to moarn you children because you are fight for your own life and trying to tell people you didn’t do it. If true that is truly sad..if found that he did not do it the state needs to pay his family a lot of money for past and future earnings and make sure they all know that he did not kill his kids. The only consilaton is that now he is with kids.

I hope one day the whole concept of capital punishment will be just that; a concept. The death penalty has proven not to be a deterrent. It does not prevent crimes and too many innocent people are being killed by it because a seriously flawed justice system. I don’t anything about this guy or his case but the fact that we still used this barbaric system is a disgrace. It’s would be more of a punishment if the truly guilty prisoners stay behind bars for the rest of their life to live with the crime(s) they committed. The death penalty is a free ride to me.

Cindy>If he was guilty he got what he deserves. If not then what can be done, he is already dead.

How stupid, what can be done. Hello> maybe investigators should have investigated a little more before they end some one life. Forensic Science should have been done before they sentence a man to death. You are a reckless, ruthless, careless talker. Idiot!

The story says he was persecuted for 12 years. If he was on death row that long - why didn’t someone speak up at his appeals? People shouldn’t judge this case before they know all the facts. I live in Texas and the appeal process is long and unless the convicted refuse them - mandatory. We don’t convict someone of a capital offense and then run them right over to the death chamber! The justice system is imperfect and jurors make mistakes, but it is all we have!!

It is time that capital punishments are abolished. Evidences, jury every thing and every one can go wrong. If something can go wrong, it will. Innocents are killed by the system. How many innocents life will be taken before the system is corrected?

I’m not surprised that a TEXAS deathrow inmate’s guilt has been called into question. There have been so many inmates in Texas in the last several years that have been found innocent. These poor people were put in jail because of shady prosecution lawyers, crooked cops and paid off judges all to say that Texas is the best at fighting crime and putting away criminals. I can only hope that there are more cases that are taken more seriously and looked into because I am sure there are hundreds more in prison in Texas that are truly innocent.

The death sentence is barbaric. Why are we so concerned about taking a life with abortion but have no problem with an adult??
Death is death. Heinous crimes should be punishable but life sentences w/out parole are more appropriate. Morality and ethics have been lost by a cult ” mentality in this country. Lewt’s get back to intelligent reasoned decisions in all areas.

Ever noticed its always a minority that Texas does this to??? Not very often do you see the Texas White Man wrongly convicted, having spent 27 years of their life behind bars for nothing, or being put to death wrongly. Always a black man or a hispanic getting INJUSTICE. Its true…do the research…see the stats for yourself.

Everyone knows that the justice system in this country is flawed, if only because a jury of our peers consists of flawed individuals sometimes looking at flawed evidence. However, it is the best system in the world when not corrupted. I don’t know but one person who has no character flaws, and he presently doesn’t sit on any jury. Until He judges everyone in finality, we will have to make do with what we have.
Yes, anyone would have to say that it would be tragic if the evidence were wrong, but at the same time, we (the public) don’t know what else was presented to the jury and It is obvious that there was more than that presented to them.

I am for the death penalty, however that penalty should not be sought due to the crime alone, but the sureness of the evidence. I don’t know where the line should be drawn. This might be why certain states haven’t enacted that penalty in addition to the moral issue.

What if you wer eon death row and really innocent. what would you say?. What would you do? It’s easy to judge another man. But walk in that man’s shoes.

The capital punishment system can never be perfect. Ever. It is carried out inconsistently and in cases as this one where evidence may seem to be conclusive, but still leaves room for doubt. Add the fact that when you sum up the cost of the numerous appeals and procedures that have to be taken before executing someone, it costs more to kill someone than to keep them in jail forever (or until the day that evidence comes to light which proves they are innocent or casts enough doubt to lessen their penalty). Also, it has been proven time and again that the death penalty does not dissuade other would be criminals from committing crimes.

To sum up briefly, there is no good reason why capital punishment should be used.

The prosecutor and any experts they used should be chargd with negligent homicide. This makes me sick.

We trust a goverment led agency to determine who shall live and who shall die when we know we can’t trust them to do anything right. Yet another argument against the death penalty. Are we in China?

Everyone is acting as though he has been proven innocent. As was written they are investgating the possibility. Also for those who say how could this happen? Well DNA and other Forensic sciences has improved since then, so the people could only go by what was evedent at that time. They couild not forsee the future. Don’t pre-judge before you know the facts. Oh that’s exactly what your accusing them of doing. How hypocritical.

If the state is wrong on this and he is inoccent than isn’t the state guilty of a crime. How can they get off just by compensating the family. If i’m a rich guy, can i murder someone and then just compensate the family?

Sure, nothing can be done to undo his death BUT something ought to be done, if in fact it is determined that this man was wrongfully executed, for his remaining family …. like compensation for what could have been!

You can not trust the justice system. Especially
lawyers and so called expert witnesses…whom
are paid to lie and only represent one side. The
person with little money or power will most likely
be the loser. Lawyers and judges can manipulate
the system any way they like. They influence each
other. Politics and power win. It’s all a game.
Look at OJ’s murder trial. That’s reality.

I am 100% in favor of the death penalty. “An Eye for An Eye! However, there should certainly be some guidelines. The state should be 100% certain that the person being accused of the crime actually did it. I.E. DNA, confession, witnesses.

In a case like this, I would say that because of the circumstances of the situation (3 children) the jury was overwhelmed with just that thought and not the real facts of the case. The prosecutors should be ashamed of themselves for pursuing the death penalty without 100% absolute proof.

God forgive those who are involved. And God Bless the family if he was innocent!

The death penalty should only be applied when there’s correctly processed DNA evidence, and there’s absolutely no doubt that person committed the crime. This is a case where there was some doubt. The fact that an incendiary agent was the sole piece of evidence convicting this man is just wrong. Once again, our government has written laws that just don’t work.

Sad, so very sad. Most people admit before executed that that was guilty, or else they cant not be for given for their sin and allowed into heaven. I think if he is found innocent, then the state needs to give his family lots of money, and publicly apoligize and admit that everyone can be wrong. Even the courtroom, police and jurers. Its sad that a life was wasted and I think that there is alot more people being executed that really was innocent, but it is kept quiet because the sates dont want the public know that they in fact did make a mistake.

As a citizen of the state of Texas and a former employee of the Texas Dept of Criminal Justice, I am tired of all the bleeding hearts talking about the innocent. I admit there maybe a possibility that an innocent man has been put to death but why BLAME the whole state. It’s not as though these people have NEVER been convicted of a crime before. What about the families that have to bury the victims? What about the friends, neighbors and community? Do all of these peole not SUFFER? Often times while these people are in prison they become worse predators than they were on the streets. IF you believe these people are so GREAT, why don’t you allow then to live with you and your family? Why don’t you write them letters and visit them? Where were you when those 3 precious girls were killed?
While everyone is quick to point the finger at the state of Texas, you should all be ashamed of yourselves. Has it been determined that he was innocent? No, there is only an investigation into the case.
Why blame the prison system? Once someone is sentenced to prison, it up to TDCJ to house, feed and clothe them. Should TDCJ let the prisoner run free simply because a few bleeding hearts say so? You blame the DA’s office but what about his attorney? What about all the money the tax payers are paying to house, feed and clothe these people. Like I said before, why don’t you visit them prisoners and send them money. PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS!!!!!!!!
I saw to all who disagree with this….there are many highways, freeways, byways, lakes and streams leading out of the state. You are free to leave whenever and don’t let the dust settle!!!!!!!!!

Looking at th other comments on this page kinda makes me sick.

All of you say that this man, when it is revealed he MAY have been innocent, throw volley after volley of “our government is corrupt this!” and “free the innocent that!”

However, if this was a breaking story, and all the evidence that is in our power to collect points to this man as the murderer, you would be screming and protesting that we aren’t killing him fast enough!

Truth is, the investigators WERE RIGHT AS FAR AS THEY COULD TELL. No amount of “unbiased” investigating (which, btw, doesn’t exist) would have proven otherwise. People automatically assume that the government has the godly power to know exactly where everything is, and who did what, and that every innocent man can be proven as such, which is impossible.

Well said Beanie………….

It is simple. We can never be 100% sure a criminal is guilty. The death penalty is 100% permanent. America is the only country increasing its use of the death penalty, while civilized countries have all but abolished it. There is no logical reason supporting use of the death penalty.
It does not deter crime, and possibly perpetuates a violent culture.
It is more expensive to the gov’t than life in prison.
It offers no solace to the victims or families, it is only more death.
It is the government using an eye for an eye.
But, most importantly it is 100% IRREVERSIBLE!

Why Do We Kill People Who Kill People To Show That Killing People is Wrong?

I find it interesting to hear all of you bad mouth the death penalty but you do realize that there are people out there that DO deserve to die. Look at Joseph Duncan. That man deserves to die. The death penalty is there to do just that, kill people that have taken others lives. Eye for an Eye, except most people get the kindness of drugs to die from instead of getting molested, raped, slaughtered, torchered etc… There was obviously a reason all of the jurors decided he was guilty. Besides all of the other reasons I view the death penalty as a good thing, I really don’t want to pay taxes for people like Joseph Duncan!

Its shame on Texas to do such a cruelty on an innocent person and to all innocent ones.

The society only sympathises with the person claiming as a victim but never looks into the plight of the one who is convicted.

Even if the person suffers in prison for couple of years for wrong accusation, nobody seems to be taken responsible for this.

I strongly feel that I person who is wrongly convicted suffers much more mentally and physically than a victim of crime.

The society and the justice department should have a law to prosecute the people involved in a misjudgement and put them in severe penalty for providing false evidence.

I believe that arson investigators have changed their opinion about these kinds of cases and possibly the same experts who may have testified that it was arson would now say there wasn’t real evidence of arson. If the description of his behavior by neighbors is accurate he certainly behaved in an odd ‘guilty’ way, but that’s not how our justice system works. If he’d been given a life sentence we have the capability to hold him forever and the state wouldn’t possibly have innocent blood on it’s hands.

Why are people so quick to jump to a conclusion about this man’s innocence when they have not been given full details about the case and evidence in question?

His three daughters died in a fire in their house which he is accused of setting on fire. What did the firefighters think of the evidence?

Also, all death row inmates proclaim their innocence, inmate’s aren’t exactly truthful and credible. I would want to hear more about the case before making a judgment that an innocent man was executed.

I support the death penatly 100%! This does not happen ALL the time like some of you have said, this is actually rare. If everyone wants to hold the judge, courts, police etc…accountable, then lets kill every member of the jury…thats sounds fair right? NOT! Mistakes happen our judicial system is not perfect, but that being said, I would rather once innocent live be taken than thousands and thousands of guilty people running amuck in our over crowded prisons, just to be released back into our neighborhoods to kill,rape,torture etc…again. I feel that more executions need to take place, faster, less appeals,less strain on my family and my tax dollars!

If you go to death row and ask the condemned prisoners if they are innocent they will all most likely say they are. If this man is truly innocent the blame rests on the prosecutors, judge and jury that convicted him. This does not reflect the death sentence as a whole there are certain people in this world that deserve to die for the crimes that they commit and I am proud to be from a state that still has a death penalty. I am a very religious person and believe in forgiveness but if someone hurt my family and I couldn’t kill them myself I at least want the state to do it for me. People make mistakes, and it is sad to think that an innocent man died because of those mistakes. Justice sometimes comes with a price we as a society have to decide what price we are willing to pay for justice.

Taking a life is a pretty weighty thing whether it’s in the act of a crime or “justice”. I am familar with this case and I have to say that the whole case hinged on the evidence of an excellerant being used in the fire.

This man’s friends and family voiced a very public out cry at the injustice when it happened. I think that if someone is convicted to die and they do declare they’re innocent, why not go back and look at the evidence before putting someone to death. Like the first poster stated, he’s already dead what are they going to do now?

- Texas, the ultimate state Murder capital in the World. The Innocence Project has researched and already published the following sobering Facts: Texas has the Highest Execution Rates in the World. Texas has the distinction of Executing the largest number of Innocent people in the whole country. Most whom were found to be totally innocent, by both scientific methods (DNA evidence) + New Prosecution Evidence Disclosure (Evidence that was hidden during trial).
In Law Enforcement Circles, No matter what the “Level” is, it’s all about getting your ‘Collar’, and moving up, whether to get your ‘gold shield’ or get
appointed to the bench. It’s all about the numbers, and let God sort them out later.

I thank god everyday when crap like this comes up that I live in Canada. Hey we aren’t perfect for sure, and yep we sure have screwed up and convicted a few innocent people. I can say that some of these people in Canada that were convicted then found innocent later spent years in prison and suffered terribly along with their family and friends.

Above being said, not to take anything from the above mentioned people, they were released, are still ALIVE and the Canadian Federal goverment has paid out millions in compensation to these people.

Can’t really do that when someone has been murdered by a State government. Dead people don’t use money.

Yes, it is wrong from someone to kill another person, read the bible ‘thow shalt not kill’. Guess I missed that part that excluded certain people such as law enforcement people, judges, lawyers etc…

Capital punishment is so incredibly barbaric. Having it certainly does not deter crime. And when someone ‘goofs’ up and executes someone that is innocent, well they can’t undo what has been done, and certainly aren’t held accountable for their ‘error’. Like throw them in jail and throw the key away!!

God bless this man’s soul and if he is found innocent, hope the family sues the hell out of everyone last person involved.

We see the story so often–in fact it is a standard plot device in many of the old Hitchcock movies–the innocent person falsely accused of some crime. Unfortunately, real life rarely follows what we see in the films. Some years ago I was falsely accused of molesting 2 kids, and I have been suffering the consequences ever since. I have been compelled to register as a sex offender, and I have not been able to find any peace of mind or any legal redress. My attorney at the time did not do his work, but I pay for the consequences.
Does anyone out there remember the story about the New England-area attorney who fatally stabbed his elderly neighbor, following his learning that the man had allegedly repeatedly molested his daughter, only after the killing to learn the neighbor was innocent? Does anyone out there remember what happened to the Duke University lacrosse players?
To those persons who call or scream for the death penalty, I ask then to wait until there is a 100% foolproof system in place, with proven results, before even thinking about re-imposing the ultimate penalty.
I wonder how many people in the U.S. have supported the idea of law and order, only to see the system blow up in their faces when they were falsely accused of rape, child sex abuse, embezzlement, murder–anything! The numbers would be–are–appalling.
Maybe a first step is to look again, and very carefully, at films such as The Ox-Bow Incident, Indictment: The McMartin Trial, and I want To Live. Maybe a first step is to make sure more people don’t decide on a penalty, even capital punishment, without a LONG time of thinking about it first.
While you’re at it, how about thinking of ways the falsely accused and convicted can be helped to put their lives back together?

Oh yeah, just a thought too, why were they still looking into this case so many years later? Aren’t there more pressing cases to look at?

There were 12 people on the Jury and they struggled to do their best with what they had.
Don’t blame these people.
Yes there is corruption in the system.
Nobody making comments here has a perfectly clean conscience, so stop casting stones please?
Yes, Death was the penalty here.
Where do all of you folks think you’ll be in a few years?

There is more to this story. The forensic standards for arson have been changed based on more up-to-date scientific knowledge. In many cases (including this one, I believe), the old standards for arson inaccurately tagged some fires as being set when they were not. That is why now that new science is available, old cases are being looked at again.

I agree that we should not have the death penalty–for many reasons–but among them that changing knowledge about forensics can lead us to know that mistakes were made. If it turns out, as I suspect it will, that this poor man did nothing wrong, then it is a terrible tragedy. Let us learn from it, and not let this type of tragedy happen again.

Moderator:

Not only did you not post my criticism of your editorial staff, you didn’t even fix the mistake in your headline that I brought to your attention. Obviously, you care little about CNN’s professional reputation. Hopefully, Mr. Bewkes will feel differently.

The posting, which remained awaiting moderation for 2 hours and 24 minutes was then simply removed. Censorship is alive and well at CNN.

He may have been innocent, however our judicial system is set up the way it is for a reason. The jury believed he was guilty and convicted him. If no other evidence was found before his death there is nothing that can be done. I woudln’t say someone is to blame for this; however yes, a mistake was made. At the time the prosecutors thought they were putting to death a guilty man. Its sad that errors were made but its the system we have and no system is perfect.

I still believe in the death penalty but I beleive in modern forensics to prove the warrant for putting a man to death. They had the new forensic proof in Gov. Perry’s office a week before Cameron was executed, but refused to open and read it. They wanted him dead for political reason and yes that can happen in America…or the state that thinks they are above accountability.

They told Cameron Todd at his hearing if he would plead guilty they would give him life, he told them to get that needle ready because they were going to need it, I will not plead guilty to killing my kids, I did not sit that fire…Texas killed an innocent man.

Too early to say whether or not he was innocent, but yet another good argument as to why we should not execute people. This has happened before in Texas (and other states), and will continue to happen as long as we have a death penalty. If someone is wrongly convicted (and serving life), they can be released and can sue… but if they have been put to death, that can’t be undone.

Babin, you strongly feel that a person wrongly convicted suffers MUCH MORE than a victim of the crime? Tell that to a victim who has been beaten and raped or worse. A person convicted unjustly is not more deserving of compassion than the actual victim for heaven’s sake. And the law should prosecute people involved in a misjudgment and give a severe penalty for providing FALSE evidence? Where does it state anywhere that anyone provided false evidence in order to convict this guy unjustly? If new forensics can provide new analysis of evidence and his innocence is confirmed, how were the prosector and judge and the man who gave the lethal injection guilty of a crime? They all did their jobs and no one has any right at this point to say that anyone maliciously tried to kill an innocent man and deserves to be punished. Where is your proof since you have tried and convicted all those involved without due process yourself.

Yeah, another great candidate in a long line used by the media to show their disapproval of the death penalty. The man may be innocent. The key words are may be, not that he is innocent.

But while the fire was engulfing his home to did Mr Willingham rush in to save his three young children, no, instead he was busy pushing his car out of the way so it wouldn’t be damaged.

Even before the flames began Mr. Willingham was out of house and crouched in his yard while neighbors begged for him to help rescue his children.

Oh and lte us not forget that Mr Willingham bragged to another prisoner about setting the fire to hide evidence of his abuse of his children.

YEAH POSTER BOY FOR ABOLISHING THE DEATH PENALTY

Eye for an Eye…. thats my belief…. our country has more people in prison then any other…. And yet we wonder why? If we were more harsh on those that commit serious crimes, we probably wouldnt have this issue.

So far there have been no cases of someone being executed and then found innocent. There have been many cases of people being on death row and then found innocent and released-16 according to the Innocence Project’s own website.

Texas does NOT have the distinction of executing the most innocent people as some on here would have everyone believe. Look at the Innocence Project’s website for facts please.

Keith, you have your facts wrong. I was at the hearing and Cameron did not kill his children, the children died from the results of the fire.
The case was about Cameron starting the fire that killed his children.

People need to remember, Cameron had a choice of lying and living or telling the truth and dying..He died.

Amen to that Janelle

has anything good ever come out of texas.dont think so. look at our president. personaly. cut texas loose- give it back to mexico -move fence

Sad but he’s already dead

Wow, Janelle, you attacked Babin pretty harshly, there. For one thing, I agree a victim suffers more than a wrongly convicted person, but not in the case of death row, sorry. Surviving an attack is far better than dying from false conviction. Plus, FALSE evidence would be the evidence that an accelerant was used. If no such agent was present, then the testimony that it was would be, yes, FALSE. In the rush to convince others that the death penalty is a valid solution, many here are simply proving how far America has to go.

Goes to show that any one of us could be executed. Nobody is safe in a government with prosecutors too egotistical to confess their hands are drenched in the blood of the innocent.

The first step in reform is admitting one’s mistakes. In the United States we are still in the dark ages with prosecutors insisting the system is perfect and infallible.

Everyone complaining does not know the full story. There is NEW Forensic Technology out not that shows he might have been innocent. This was not available in 1992 and he was given a fair trail by a jury of his peers that believed him to be guilty. The forensics has not proven he was innocent but it might prove it but this is new. I still believe in the death penalty for the thugs that are killing innocent people and esspecially for cop killers. As far as reading the bible read Exodus it states “That he who smitens some one so that he dies then he too shall die”

It is no mystery why these errors occur. The criminal justice system has a fatal methodological flaw. When conducting investigations criminal investigators test contrary hypotheses which have the logical properties all can not be true but all can be false. By the simple expedient of switching investigative methodology to contradictory hypotheses testing, the criminal justice system error rate can be reduced to near zero. Contradictory hypotheses have the logical properties that all can not be true and all can not be false. If evidence is put forth supporting two contradictory hypotheses you immediately know one set of evidence has been falsified or is erroneous.

James Roger Brown
Intelligence Collection and Analysis Methodologist

To cindy

I ( You mean it may have not been an incendirary device as first thought ?) This is why If we are going to be cavalier and cynical lets err on the side of life I mean after all anyone one of us could have an accident tommorow including you cindy and suddenly prove your innocence against evidence that says otherwise a tragic set of events called circumstances resulting in the death of another that why they call it life

Prisoners on death row do lie about their innocence but for Cindy to say she doesn’t know if he is innocent or not and if he was it is too late to do anything about it frames the agrument AGAINST the death penalty perfectly. We, as the state, may have just killed an innocent man. That puts us in the same business, collectively, as those who truly are guilty. To throw it away as an “Oops, too late now!” is just horribly callous. The Dallas County crime lab has made dozens of DOCUMENTED misanalysies of crime scene evidence. One dead but innocent man outweighs whatever bloodthirsty satisfaction we get from executing the guilty, when the alternative is life without parole, when we could still rectify, at least part way, a miscarriage of justice.

This is an unfortunate incident that occured in an imperfect world. But, what really needs to be understood is that no one’s too blame. We all know that the system is not perfect; and, we hope that cases like this result in improvements for the next time. Science (and technological advancements) won’t always be available to prove one’s innocence or guilt; and, even when it is, there’s no way to eliminate the element of human error. I just hope that (as a society) we stop spending time on emphasizing blame (and getting too fixated on the individuals at fault), and start spending time finding ways to improve the processes. But, it’ll also have to be understood by everyone that nothing will ever be 100% perfect. Things like this will just always - sooner or later - occur…no matter what the circumstances.

Wow…….how quick everyone is to talk trash about Texas, (I wonder how much that has to do with the current President) when several of the state you all reside in have the death penalty. (and has done the same thing several times over) As for Canada, do they do anything else but sit quietly by……never taking action?

The death penalty is horrible and should be taken out of ALL states. You can never know a hundred percent if someone is guilty. The technology is improving everyday to be better able to help law enforcement. Maybe this is why it has taken four years to figure it out? Who knows……..but yes, an innocent man was probaly killed, and this should not be happening. God bless his soul and his family.

The fact of the matter is there is no verifiable case of an innocent person being put to death. In the end this will probably turn out to be a case where the man is guilty… once again.

Also fact is that man is a predator and some of the most sadistic of us must be removed from society beyond all recall.

However, there are numerous documented cases of convicted killers on death row who had there sentences commuted and later got out to kill again. What are you going to say to those victims families you cry baby bed wetting liberal wienies.

All of these Texan Politicians and rest of employees in enforcement agencies including the system should be replaced or fixed immediately. I am so sickened to hear all innocents being executed without given chances to discover by sufficient evidences. From what I see how these people in Texas who are involved already are hard-headed like coconuts that is hard to break - meaning people there have hard time to admit and refuse to go other sides of perspective to give a better judgement before charging against an individual who might be guilty or not.

Overall, I’ve lost in respect to anyone who is involved in these wrongfully executions. Plus, I will advise anyone not to visit or live in Texas. I’m sure Texas’ reptutation already went downhill steeply because of that.

Moderator: I do consider this comment to be rightfully expressed. Thank you.

I’m not surprised that this man was innocent. The state of Texas is over zealous, bias. Be prepared to get pulled over and arrested if you come to a complete stop in the middle of a walk way at a four way stop. Or if you have an argument with your wife, girlfriend, ex wife…be prepared to get arrested in the State of Texas for lies that they tell the police. I know…..I was arrested and prosecuted in the State of Texas on malicious lies…..I took to plea bargain to save my LIFE!!! I’m getting the hell out of Texas before I become another victim of this evil system.

jae this is a re buttle to what you said,i live in the state of texas and have been screwed over 3 times by this so called judicial system. the way it works, for instance in my case the officer got rid off all video and audio evidence so it was his word against mine, there is no texas law requiring cops to provide video or audio evidence(yet alot of taxpayers money go into paying for audio and video surveillance equipment) aslong as an officer lies on a report its evidence, but anything i say is
hearsay and not admissable in court, judges are not impartial they are completely pro prosecution. when i was doing my community hours i did
them at the probation office so i illegally went through almost 90% of the probationeers files and found that more than 80% of the people who where on probation there files showed no signs of evidence except reports. what people dont realize is cops can lie and say whatever and it is taken as factual proof.and even if you can prove they are lying(which can only be done with hardcore audio and video evidence, still nothing will be done) you try to file a complaint they either tell you, you are lying or its unfounded or if you do have the evidence like i did they will raid your house take it and tell you that filing a complaint is the same as a threat to the officer with is illegal. people need to wake up and see we are living in a police state society were the system completely works against the common civilian and provides the state with all sorts of immunities letting them free to do whatever they want, and how do you think people with omnipotent attitudes are going to act , fair or in there own interest?

We tell our children not to hit, yet we hit them to punish them.
We tell our criminals not to kill, yet we kill them as punishment.

Whether the guy was guilty or not, the death penalty is barbaric and an outdated practice that should not be permitted.
The man being innocent just shows one of the MANY reasons why.

Many who are truly guilty slip thru the system and still walk the streets, so it’s possible for someone innocent to be incarcerated for 30 years or put to death. But that is no reason to destroy the system, or any part of it.

You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs

The American justice system is tainted, and we need to fix it before we can continue to execute people. If this man truly is innocent, he will not have been the first to die in vain. Until we can completely and totally insure that those on death row are 100% totally guilty, we CANNOT in good conscience continue to execute people and tell ourselves we are being “civilized”. This is not about destroying the system, but rather reform it so people can truly have an appeal without having it thrown out the window.

I suppose I am and always will be split on the issue of the death penalty, not because I don’t believe some people really need it, but rather that when we tell ourselves that some people truly need to be executed, there is a sense of “kill him” that runs across the boards to every death row inmate, just because we associate death row with heinousness.

“I don’t know the whole story to say if the man was innocent or not. But all prisoners on death row or not say that they are innocent even when they are guilty as sin. So who’s to say that this man was the same. If he was guilty he got what he deserves. If not then what can be done, he is already dead.

Cindy…Ga.”

OMG I cant believe you said that! Even if one is wrongly executed, its too many. I was pro death penalty until someone opened my eyes with a list of all the innocent people put to death. It is a travesty of justice to say the least. If Duncan and the like want to be put to death, than shouldn’t there punishment be to live? To live in the general population of a maximum security prison? I guarantee you they won’t live long and they won’t get a sedative before they die.

I believe in capital punsihment - However it should only be used in cases where there is no doubt. I have seen lots of murder cases where their was no doubt!!!

I think the whole idea of having a jury decide ones fate is stupid . So i would take my chances with the Judge ! We have DNA there should be no mistakes ……..

For anyone to think that justice is being served by the taking of a life is really very sad.The number of crimes committed in our country that warrant the death penalty have not been substantially reduced by using the death penalty as a deterrent. It is time to dedicate resources to addressing the causes of the crimes that are committed in an effort to reduce them. We can continue to put both the guilty and the innocent to death, but until we get out in front and address the causes proactively we will never be a civilized society.

TO CINDY I wonder if you would feel that way if it was your brother, father or anyone else in your life???
it is easy to tell what party you are…. LONG LIVE THE SOUTH

I totally agree with Karens statement. All of the time that these people are on death row and new evidence or information comes up, what is the harm in checking it out…They arent going anywhere and if DNA would prove their innocence or guilt for that matter, then do it….I live in Canada and of course no death penalty, in some instances, I really wish that we did have, especially if solid proof is there showing guilt….

Look, you kill a few innocent people, but you mostly kill the guilty ones -
what is the big deal - innocent people die all the time - car accidents, wars, all that stuff. If it stops a few murders and we have to kill a few innocent people to do it, that is just the price of justice. Stuff happens.

This is yet another example of why I’m against the death penalty - we, as a nation, have executed too many innocent men in our quest for justice. (Even the execution of just one innocent man is one too many!) Between the states like Texas (who “fast tracks” the appeals process - in order to make even more room on their death row) and corrupt police and DA’s (who falsify or withhold evidence) many innocent death row prisoners (past, present and future) have, and will be, executed for crimes they never committed. For that reason alone, the death penalty should be abolished and life in prison should mean just that - LIFE in prison!

If you ask me, the death penalty should be used more often than it is. Look at the number of ex-cons who get out of prison and commit even more heinous crimes. In addition, those with death sentences are never put in among the general population in prison. And because of that cruel and unusual clause in the constitution, they never will be, sadly.

Leave it to Texas to be the first state to execute an innocent man. What a shock! All you sick revengeful people that support the death penalty are a part of this and need to own this.

Look at the case of Joseph Duncan III and tell me to my face that the death penalty should be abolished. Anyone who thinks that he shouldn’t get the death penalty should be killed because apparently, those people are just too stupid to survive.

Cindy from GA: how can you be so cold and hard-hearted about an innocent man’s life being snuffed out by the government ? Would you be so calloused about this matter if it were you or a family member about to be executed for a crime you did not commit?

The ignorance of the American people never ceases to amaze me. It has never been proven that executions reduce crime, nor is it a deterrent. In fact, the states with the highest execution rates (TX and FL) also have two of the highest murder rates. If executions reduced crime or were a deterrent, wouldn’t TX and FL have lower crime rates?

most folks think that if the cops charge you, you must be guilty. and in tx were they put death row inmates on the fast track to lethal injection its no surprise mistakes are made. if i recall correctly dallas county has the most exonerations in the country. then the da never one to admit they were wrong dont even go over the evidence again. I believe in the hang em high mentality. but you should be darn sure and all availible tools a state has at its disposal should be used to make sure the guilty are punished and innocent are free. i just learned the other day that huntsville tx is in walker county. wink