joefromchicago wrote:OCCOM BILL wrote:It's no big mystery, Joe. I am aware of no such similar case.
Then I will simply say to you what I said to
Momma Angel: you should have been paying attention.
Cases of Innocence - 1973 to present
So, in summary there were 122 mistakes made (all corrected, on that list) along with about a 1,000 completed executions in 23 years. On the shorter list of "Executed But Possibly Innocent" are 6 names, no certainty
and an honorary mention of a woman who may have been guilty of murder in a lesser degree,
60 years ago. Not one of these cases was difficult to distinguish from the case at hand. Not one showed a man with no prior convictions; convicted for defending his own home. I understand this is a convenient place to set up your soapbox, Joe, but Cory's case stands out even more for having read the materials you graciously supplied.
Over a quarter of a million people (low guess to save the trouble of tallying) were murdered in this country over those same 23 years. The short list of "Possibly innocent" condemned, pales in comparison to the many prison employees and inmates alike that have been struck down by the life-without-parole inmates.
Also consider the likes of Dawud Mu'Min. This man was serving a 48-year sentence for the 1973 murder of a cab driver when he escaped a road work gang and stabbed to death a storekeeper in a 1988 robbery that netted $4.00. Fortunately, there is no chance of Mu'Min committing murder again. He was executed by the state of Virginia on November 14, 1997.
Or how about Kenneth McDuff. This man was convicted and condemned for fatally shooting two boys and the vicious strangulation and rape of their 16 year old companion in 1966. His sentence was commuted in 1972 to Life-Imprisonment thanks to the Death Penalty moratorium fiasco. He was released in 1989 and soon after allegedly went on a killing spree of innocent victims. He's suspected of killing at least 9 (probably more) woman after his own scheduled date of execution. Fortunately, we won't be hearing from McDuff again either; as of November 17, 1998, thanks to the state of Texas, Kenneth McDuff is no more.
Upon reading the available information; I feel safe in assuming Cory Maye will soon find himself a position on the 100 plus wrongfully condemned that were eventually set free list. As great of a pity as it is that he and his family have had to suffer through this; it does absolutely nothing to change my opinion on the Death Penalty at large. Arguably, literally thousands (not hundreds) of folks and their families have been spared that anguish by the continued use of the death penalty.
Consider the seemingly obvious correlation between Murder-rates and Execution Rates.
Click Graph for larger view.
The frequently demonized state of Texas, who is a leader in State executions also boasts some of the greatest per capita reduction in murders per capita. If (when?) an innocent man like Cory is executed by the State, it will be a crying shame. But no more of a shame than the thousands of innocent people murdered by murderers in this country every year. Of course we should all join forces to save the innocent. But don't confuse that with a justification for saving the guilty. IMHO, no such justification exists. The instinct for self-preservation exists in your average murderer, just as it does in you and I. That's why there's more arrests than shootouts when apprehending these animals. If that weren't the case; why would a murderer drop his weapon and put his hands on his head when ordered to by the brave men in blue leveling his own weapon at him?
Oops, sorry about the digression, again, Fedral.
Debra, I know they did it, but CAN they do that? What the heck did that stuff have to do with the facts? I'm rather embarrassed right now to say I live in the south. I'm just glad I'm not living in Mississippi. No offense anyone. Just venting. The more I read about this case, the angrier I become.
Click Graph for larger view.