[AtLast]

Have to say that the governor of Georgia does not have authority to either stop or do anything as an executive to influence this execution. In GA, the pardons board has full authority over this, not the governor. Not all states give clemency/pardon authority to the governor. Now, it does seem to me that the governor in GA might have some other avenue in terms of investigating any possible "tampering" of this Pardon's Board, if for example there is any evidence that the fact that this was the killing of a police officer has any bearing on the boards decision. Each state has different appeal protocols as well. From 1975 to 2003 Georgia governors have been Democrats. So, for the bulk of time that Mr. Davis has been incarcerated and was convicted, there was a Democrat as Governor. Wonder about this Pardons Board.

I have no idea if this man is guilty of this crime. I have followed this case somewhat over a few years in terms of it getting media attention. I do feel that there has been enough about the initial investigation, the number of witness recantations, a possible confession of another person, data on eye witness testimony not being very accurate at all, to put this case into a re-trial stance. I don't understand why this never happened (or am I wrong about his never being re-tried?). Also, there are some problems with witnesses being only shown one photo of this suspect- not a photo among at least 5 other people with similar features. That right there would put me to a place of throwing out the verdict and a new trial being ordered if I were an appeals judge.

I do support the death penalty for some types of crimes, and view it as a just punishment- and as cold as this sounds, I don't care about the drug cocktail and any suffering. I also know that my years working with victims of violent sexual crimes, including against children has a whole lot to do with my feelings.

But, there is no way I can support this execution. I do not believe this man received a fair trial with an impartial jury of his peers. I keep hoping that a "last minute" stay is ordered and he is re-tried. I keep thinking that even in GA, that if the executive powers of the governor’s office was one in which this was on the single conscience of that executive (due to the preponderance of screw-ups in the investigation and even a GOP in this office), this would a very different set of circumstances at this point. Then again, I have to think about the “blue wall” and the police in cases in which an officer is killed. This does not mean I do not feel for this officer’s family. I do.

I don’t think that even as someone losing a loved one via murder, I could rest easy knowing that there is substantial evidence pointing to innocence of Troy Davis. I would want to know the truth and that the right person was being executed. Although, this murder is not among the type I support the death penalty for even if guilty.

This is one of those cases in which our judicial systems loses.