OntheWilderSide

Troy Davis’ web-site is at: www.troyanthonydavis.org

The report below is an excerpt from the show Democracy Now!, which I listen to on WBAI 99.5FM in New York City. Please go to the Democracy Now! web-site for the full story, and related death penalty information.

Less than 24 Hours Before his Scheduled Execution, Troy Davis is Granted 90-Day Stay of Execution by Georgia Parole Board

The 38-year-old African American from Savannah, Georgia has been on death row for more than fifteen years for a murder he says he did not commit. With no physical evidence or murder weapon, the prosecution’s case rested entirely on witness testimony. But seven of the nine non-police witnesses said they were coerced by police and have since recanted their testimony.

Rush Transcript of “Democracy Now!” show

Less than 24 hours before he was scheduled to die by lethal injection, Troy Anthony Davis has been granted a 90-day stay of execution…

After the ruling, Davis spoke to reporters by cell phone. He said “I’m elated. I’m blessed and thankful. I’m one step closer to my freedom.”

Groups including Amnesty International have rallied behind Davis” case. Former FBI director William Sessions submitted a written clemency appeal on Davis’s behalf while the Council of Europe urged the United States not to commit what it said would be an error it would come to regret. And Georgia Congressmember John Lewis testified in person before the parole board.

Yesterday I interviewed Troy Davis’s sister, Martina Correia, she has led the fight for her brother’s life. Today we go back to Atlanta where I’m joined by attorney Chris Adams. He’s Director of Georgia Capital Defender, a public office providing representation and support in death penalty cases. He is co-chair of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Death Penalty committee.

* Chris Adams, Director of Georgia Capital Defender, a public office providing representation and support in death penalty cases. Co-Chair National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers Death Penalty committee.

RUSH TRANSCRIPT

AMY GOODMAN: Less than twenty-four hours before he was scheduled to die by lethal injection, Troy Anthony Davis has been granted a ninety-day stay of execution. The thirty-eight-year-old African American from Savannah, Georgia has been on death row for more than fifteen years for a murder he says he did not commit…

Davis’s execution appeared inevitable last month when the Supreme Court refused his final request for appeal. That left only the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Last night, it agreed to review evidence from Davis’s defense team and hear the new testimony of eyewitnesses…

Groups including Amnesty International have rallied behind Davis’s case. Former FBI Director William Sessions submitted a written clemency appeal on Davis’s behalf, while the Council of Europe urged the United States not to commit what it said would be an error it would come to regret. And Georgia Congressmember John Lewis testified in person before the parole board yesterday…

AMY GOODMAN: What exactly was it based on, and what does a ninety-day stay mean?

CHRIS ADAMS: A ninety-day stay is fairly unusual here in Georgia. What their press release indicated is they are going to study the case and examine the case more and needed additional time to do that. And apparently they thought ninety days would be sufficient to do that…

CHRIS ADAMS: If they do not commute the sentence, Troy Davis will be executed three months from today.

AMY GOODMAN: What are you planning to do in this time? What is the Georgia Capital Defender going to do?

CHRIS ADAMS: We actually do not have any direct involvement in the case. We’re a trial office. We represent people now at trial. So our job would be, if another case like Troy Davis’s came along, we would try to work hard to make sure he gets acquitted and talk to all the witnesses the first time.

I believe his lawyers will be working feverishly to shore up their claims and to prepare for an evidentiary hearing. And hopefully the Georgia Supreme Court will consider their petition for a motion for new trial. So they’ll be working on these dual tracks, both through the court system and at the parole board, trying to get as good a result as they possibly can for Mr. Davis…

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