The death penalty has been a huge debate in America for many decades, and although a 2010 study by Gallup’s annual crime survey shows that 64 percent of Americans approve the punishment, (in murder-related cases), the worldwide media coverage of the Troy Davis case may change people’s outlook on the debate.
On Sept. 21 2011 Troy Davis was executed by lethal injection after a highly publicized outcry in which seven of the nine eye-witnesses who originally testified against him in his case, recanted their testimonies.
Davis, an African-American, was convicted of murdering Mark Allen MacPhail, a Caucasian police officer, in 1989. Doubts about Davis’ guilt began to arise after many of the prosecuting witnesses on the case began to recant their stories in 2000, nearly nine years after their initial testimonies. Some witnesses even alleged that they suspected one of the most important witnesses to the case, Sylvester Coles, to be the actual shooter. Coles, along with Davis, were both suspects in the murder, but after Coles confessed to police that Davis was the shooter; Davis was declared the suspect. However, Davis never publicly admitted to the murder and maintained his innocence up until his death.
Troy Davis’ impending execution quickly became worldwide news after figures such as Pope Benedict XVI, former President Jimmy Carter, former FBI director William Sessions, and a group of six former wardens and correctional officials spoke against the execution and called for clemency from the Supreme Court. Many contributing facts such as the seven of the nine prosecuting witnesses recanting their testimonies, the police inability to find any DNA evidence, and the mistreatment of Sylvester Coles as a main suspect had left too many doubts in the minds of jurors, lawyers, judges, and people familiar with the case.
Since Davis’ death, many have begun to wonder if the death penalty is working. Former President Jimmy Carter said of the Davis execution, “If one of our fellow citizens can be executed with so much doubt surrounding his guilt, then the death penalty system in our country is unjust and outdated.”
Today, in the United States, 14 of the 50 states, including the District of Columbia do not allow the death penalty as a form of punishment. Surprisingly, most taxpayers do not realize that carrying out one death sentence costs two to five times more than keeping that same criminal in prison for the rest of their life. Along with the argument that killing a prisoner is the “easy way out” compared to life in prison, studies show that states without the death penalty have consistently had a lower murder rate than states that do.
However, the most important argument against the death penalty is the possibility of an innocent man or woman being executed on the grounds of insufficient evidence and unreliable testimonies, i.e. the Troy Davis case.
Before the Troy Davis case, I never really was opposed to the death penalty. However, after this case and learning all the facts, I have changed my view on the matter. Although I’m a firm believer in justice being served and people having to take responsibility for their actions, the death penalty is not a fair punishment. It sends the wrong message to our citizens. If murder is against the law, as well as a sin in the Bible, why is it okay for prisoners to be executed? Also, in my opinion, a life sentence in prison would be much worse than being euthanized, as it is a slow, horrible way to live the rest of your life.
The thought of an innocent man or woman being executed because of some shady witnesses and overly eager police officers does not sit well with me. The most unsettling thought about this case is this is just one of the thousands that gained national notoriety. How many more Troy Davis’ are out there?