crime and punishment

Time Is Running Out for Troy Davis

The Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied a clemency request on Tuesday from Troy Davis, who is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection at 7 p.m. today for the 1989 murder of an off-duty Savannah police officer. This morning, Davis was also denied his request to take a polygraph test in order to demonstrate his innocence. Davis has always maintained that he did not commit the crime, and he is not linked to the killing by any physical evidence. Seven of nine witnesses have recanted their testimony since Davis was convicted in 1991, with six claiming police threatened them to identify Davis as the murderer. In an editorial today, the New York Times calls the parole board’s decision “appalling” and “a tragic miscarriage of justice.”

Ga pardons board done with condemned man’s appeals [AP]
Troy Davis’ request to take polygraph test is denied [AJC]
A Grievous Wrong [NYT]

Time Is Running Out for Troy Davis