Did Texas execute an innocent man?

[UGAalum94]

http://reason.com/news/show/136176.html

May be randomly connected on the topic of reevaluating courtroom science.

Apparently a lot of what was believed about shaken baby syndrome is wrong.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

Huh? I never said anyone was forcing me to debate the subject, that was my choice.

Ah, ok. I was just wondering why you were announcing your attentions to stop debating.

It's a fascinating topic - I was pro-death penalty for a while, and only over the past few years have I changed my mind.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by KSigkid

Ah, ok. I was just wondering why you were announcing your attentions to stop debating.

It's a fascinating topic - I was pro-death penalty for a while, and only over the past few years have I changed my mind.

It's just that I didn't think there was a need to keep going in circles. You stated facts, and I only have an opinion about it, so why keep debating?

So, why did you change your mind?

I also read your posts about your accident with that drunk driver (glad you're still here to chat about it) but whatever happened to him?

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

So, why did you change your mind?

I also read your posts about your accident with that drunk driver (glad you're still here to chat about it) but whatever happened to him?

Not really sure why I changed my mind; it was more of a gradual change in my thought process. I think part of it is what Kevin was talking about (the problems with application), and part of me just began to have questions about whether I supported executing an individual.

As to the rest...the criminal process is ongoing for the driver, so I don't want to say much about it.

[agzg]

I would not want to be on one of those juries, to be quite honest. I don't think I'd ever be able to sentence someone to death.

Which will probably get me out of jury duty for capital cases every single time.

[TexasWSP]

I really hate the "cost of execution" argument.

If a close friend, family member, etc. is ever, God forbid, murdered.....the absolute last thing on my mind is going to be the financial burden placed on the state from executing a heinous criminal.

Letting them live in a cell with a roof over their head and three meals a day doesn't really work for me folks.

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by TexasWSP

I really hate the "cost of execution" argument.

If a close friend, family member, etc. is ever, God forbid, murdered.....the absolute last thing on my mind is going to be the financial burden placed on the state from executing a heinous criminal.

Letting them live in a cell with a roof over their head and three meals a day doesn't really work for me folks.

Think of it less like "I can't stand the thought of spending the money" and more along the lines of "if it is that wasteful and inefficient in application of the 'easy' part, how the hell can we get the 'hard' part right with enough confidence to kill people?"

At least, in my mind, that's how it works.

[epchick]

Originally Posted by TexasWSP

I really hate the "cost of execution" argument.

If a close friend, family member, etc. is ever, God forbid, murdered.....the absolute last thing on my mind is going to be the financial burden placed on the state from executing a heinous criminal.

Letting them live in a cell with a roof over their head and three meals a day doesn't really work for me folks.

Exactly! Or shoot worried about the cost? If someone is convicted of murdering one of MY family members, then hand the asshole over to me and my family. We'll make sure that he's taken care of and it won't be a burden to the tax payers.

There is no way I'd want them living in a cell for the rest of their lives, eating great, getting an education, having a job while in jail etc. No way in Hell.

[VandalSquirrel]

Originally Posted by TexasWSP

I really hate the "cost of execution" argument.

If a close friend, family member, etc. is ever, God forbid, murdered.....the absolute last thing on my mind is going to be the financial burden placed on the state from executing a heinous criminal.

Letting them live in a cell with a roof over their head and three meals a day doesn't really work for me folks.

Some of us feel the opposite, we don't care about the financial cost, we care about what we believe is right and just. I made it clear to my family the last thing I would want done to someone who ended my life is for them to be put to death. I don't believe in the death penalty and do not want someone put to death in attachment to my name and memory. My family agrees and understands, and the majority feel the same way about their memories.

We're not dirty hippies either, we're gun toting, hunting (okay there are a few vegetarians), college educated, outdoors loving Christians.

[Low C Sharp]

This is why we have a democratic government to make difficult decisions, rather than allowing grieving families to do what feels best for them.

If my child were dying for want of a heart, the absolute last thing on my mind would be whether some family with a brain-dead child has a superstitious belief that organ donation is wrong. That wouldn't really work for me. I'd want the doctors to go in there and take the heart by force before it could be thrown into a grave to rot. The other family's rights be damned....MY KID IS DYING!

So it's a really good thing that we don't let the crazy-with-grief folks make this kind of call.
________
Avandia Death

[RU OX Alum]

I know this is bad (and random, even for me) but does anyone else have that Billy Joel cue up in their heads when they read this thread title?