New evidenced released that Texas executed innocent man in death of 3 daughters

[Phokus]

Frontline did a special on this case that gives more background: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/death-by-fire/

It now appears a key prosecution witness testified in return for a secret promise to have his own sentence reduced:

http://www.texastribune.org/2015/03/10/more-questions-raised-cameron-todd-willingham-case/

Texas is a shithole, they executed an innocent man for something that shouldn't have been a crime.

Edit: another good article about the case:

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2009/09/07/trial-by-fire

Edit 2:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articl...ill-do-anything-to-beat-romney-and-obama.html

Jesus Christ the GOP has a fucked up voter base:

Perry has flaws, huge flaws. Not the least of which is that he presided over the execution of one of his constituents, Cameron Todd Willingham, who was probably innocent. But I’m not sure that's a liability in today's Tea Party–obsessed GOP. There’s a legend in Lone Star politics that one of Perry’s Republican rivals in Texas tested the Willingham issue in a focus group. One Republican man, the story goes, squinted and said, “Well, I like that. Takes a lot of balls to execute an innocent man.” At that moment, folks say, Perry’s rival knew opposing him was fruitless.

Edit 2: Someone on reddit commented on how far Perry went to execute this man, what a piece of shit

Scumbag Governor Rick Perry fired half the state's forensics review board when he caught wind that they were about to order a re-trial in this case due to shoddy forensics testimony.

 

[Greenman]

Sounds like a crooked prosecutor is being investigated for altering and withholding evidence. A very sad story, and if an innocent man was executed because of it, the prosecutor should spend the rest of his life in prison.

The rest of your comments are worthless spin to justify personal beliefs that have little connection to reality.

 

[Phokus]

Sounds like a crooked prosecutor is being investigated for altering and withholding evidence. A very sad story, and if an innocent man was executed because of it, the prosecutor should spend the rest of his life in prison.

The rest of your comments are worthless spin to justify personal beliefs that have little connection to reality.

How is it spin? Texas' political climate is how this all happened. Did Rick Perry suffer because he personally saw to it that an innocent man couldn't get a retrial even though he had evidence that he was probably innocent? No, in fact, if he did anything to stay the execution, that would have hurt him politically.

 

[Jhhnn]

How is it spin? Texas' political climate is how this all happened. Did Rick Perry suffer because he personally saw to it that an innocent man couldn't get a retrial even though he had evidence that he was probably innocent? No, in fact, if he did anything to stay the execution, that would have hurt him politically.

It takes balls to execute an innocent man. Texans admire that quality in their governor.

 

[Subyman]

I saw a documentary about this case a while ago. Looked really shady. They even had new evidence that the fire marshall that called it arson was a looney from the most experienced fire inspector in the nation. National fire board viewed it and no arson was found. The crazy Texan fire marshall said the man poured the gasoline in a "pentagram" and called it a satanic ritual. The evidence for satanic worship? An Iron Maiden poster... The actual fire expert said it looked like a star shape because that is where the windows were lol.

All that information was available before his execution but Rick Perry fired the inspector tied to the case and threw out all the new evidence.

There isn't a word for how terrible of a person Rick Perry is.

 

[MagickMan]

The rest of your comments are worthless spin to justify personal beliefs that have little connection to reality.

That's his MO, and typical of the progressives around here.

 

[glenn1]

First of all, no evidence would ever show him "innocent" since that's not a possible verdict in our system but not guilty is.

Secondly, I don't give a damn if anti death penalty folks get their fondest wish and can "prove" someone not guilty was executed, the American people and I would still support death penalty regardless.

 

[Subyman]

First of all, no evidence would ever show him "innocent" since that's not a possible verdict in our system but not guilty is.

Secondly, I don't give a damn if anti death penalty folks get their fondest wish and can "prove" someone not guilty was executed, the American people and I would still support death penalty regardless.

That has nothing at all to do with this case.

 

[K1052]

First of all, no evidence would ever show him "innocent" since that's not a possible verdict in our system but not guilty is.

Secondly, I don't give a damn if anti death penalty folks get their fondest wish and can "prove" someone not guilty was executed, the American people and I would still support death penalty regardless.

I guess the question I have is why? There is no conclusive evidence that the death penalty is a deterrent and ample evidence that people who did not commit the crimes they were convicted for have been executed and that will likely continue at some rate.

Beyond the base desire for vengeance, which is not really what the justice system is supposed to be about, what logical reason is there for supporting capital punishment?

 

[brycejones]

I guess the question I have is why? There is no conclusive evidence that the death penalty is a deterrent and ample evidence that people who did not commit the crimes they were convicted for have been executed and that will likely continue at some rate.

Beyond the base desire for vengeance, which is not really what the justice system is supposed to be about, what logical reason is there for supporting capital punishment?

I'm moving towards there isn't one. It costs more and is prone to error and if the sentence is carried out the error can't be reversed.

 

[Phokus]

First of all, no evidence would ever show him "innocent" since that's not a possible verdict in our system but not guilty is.

Secondly, I don't give a damn if anti death penalty folks get their fondest wish and can "prove" someone not guilty was executed, the American people and I would still support death penalty regardless.

You're this guy, aren't you

Well, I like that. Takes a lot of balls to execute an innocent man.” At that moment, folks say, Perry’s rival knew opposing him was fruitless

 

[fskimospy]

First of all, no evidence would ever show him "innocent" since that's not a possible verdict in our system but not guilty is.

Secondly, I don't give a damn if anti death penalty folks get their fondest wish and can "prove" someone not guilty was executed, the American people and I would still support death penalty regardless.

What if they prove that ten innocent people were executed? Fifty? A hundred? How many would it take until you reconsider?

Or is this just another one of those spite based policies you love so much?

 

[Greenman]

How is it spin? Texas' political climate is how this all happened. Did Rick Perry suffer because he personally saw to it that an innocent man couldn't get a retrial even though he had evidence that he was probably innocent? No, in fact, if he did anything to stay the execution, that would have hurt him politically.

If Rick Perry was on the "lets just kill him" bandwagon, he should be sharing a cell with the prosecutor. But before we start hanging more people because it's politically satisfying, there needs to be an investigation. It's very easy to to create what appears to be an obvious case of malfeasance, but often an investigation of the facts shows otherwise. Look at the shitstorm in Ferguson as an example, lots of people wanted that cop hung before knowing what actually happened, and a lot want to hang him regardless of what happened.

Try getting past the desperate need to prove how evil republicans are and look at the facts instead.

 

[Rakehellion]

So Perry is a just a hitman. He knew the guy was innocent.

 

[Blanky]

Death penalty should be abolished irrespective of this. It is what savage governments do. No government should ever be allowed to execute anybody except in defense of others, and people locked up in maximum security or super max prisons do not qualify.

Let's leave this shit where it belonged back among our ignorant ancestors.

 

[Hugo Drax]

I believe in the death penalty but executing someone on hearsay should not be enough to pass the test. There needs to be lots of verifiable physical evidence etc..

Someone should not be executed just because some convict made up some story.

 

[Subyman]

If Rick Perry was on the "lets just kill him" bandwagon, he should be sharing a cell with the prosecutor. But before we start hanging more people because it's politically satisfying, there needs to be an investigation. It's very easy to to create what appears to be an obvious case of malfeasance, but often an investigation of the facts shows otherwise. Look at the shitstorm in Ferguson as an example, lots of people wanted that cop hung before knowing what actually happened, and a lot want to hang him regardless of what happened.

Try getting past the desperate need to prove how evil republicans are and look at the facts instead.

Maybe you should take a look at this more closely.

No fire investigator other than the original investigator believes this was arson:

An August 2009 Chicago Tribune investigative article concluded: "Over the past five years, the Willingham case has been reviewed by nine of the nation's top fire scientists – first for the Tribune, then for the Innocence Project, and now for the commission. All concluded that the original investigators relied on outdated theories and folklore to justify the determination of arson.

Second-hand confession evidence:

The only other evidence of significance against Willingham was twice-recanted testimony[1] by another inmate who testified that Willingham had confessed to him. Jailhouse snitches are viewed with skepticism in the justice system, so much so that some jurisdictions have restrictions against their use."[30]

Yet the inmate is now seen on video saying he was paid off to provide false testimony:

In 2014, The Washington Post reported that new evidence emerged indicating that Webb has said in taped interviews that he lied on the witness stand in exchange for a prosecutor's help obtaining a reduced prison term and financial support from a rich rancher.[41]

Malfeasance by Rick Perry is startling and well established:

The Texas Forensic Science Commission was scheduled to discuss the report by Beyler at a meeting on October 2, 2009, but two days before the meeting Texas Governor Rick Perry replaced the chair of the commission and two other members. The new chair canceled the meeting – sparking accusations that Perry was interfering with the investigation[4] and using it for his own political advantage.[31]

The evidence for the father being a "sociopath", being a music fan:

During the penalty phase of the trial a prosecutor said that Willingham's tattoo of a skull and serpent fit the profile of a sociopath. Two medical experts confirmed the theory. A psychologist was asked to interpret Willingham's Iron Maiden poster, and said that a picture of a fist punching through a skull signified violence and death. He added that Willingham's Led Zeppelin poster of a fallen angel was "many times" an indicator of "cultive-type" activities. Psychiatrist James Grigson said that a man of Willingham's criminal history was an "extremely severe sociopath" and was incurable. Grigson was an expert witness for the prosecution in murder trials across the state of Texas. Prior to his death, he was expelled by the American Psychiatric Association and the Texas Society of Psychiatric Physicians for unethical conduct

This case is one of the most studied cases in death penalty history. There were multiple reports, numerous reevaluations by leading fire experts, and several investigative reports. Reports by both the State of Texas and independent reports all show no arson. Only the prosecutor, Rick Perry, and the city where the "crime" happened are refusing to believe it.

Read the Wikipedia article here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameron_Todd_Willingham

Or watch the frontline special on the case

 

[theeedude]

Everything is dumber in Texas.

 

[TheVrolok]

First of all, no evidence would ever show him "innocent" since that's not a possible verdict in our system but not guilty is.

Secondly, I don't give a damn if anti death penalty folks get their fondest wish and can "prove" someone not guilty was executed, the American people and I would still support death penalty regardless.

... That's pretty sick. Certainly you can speak for yourself, but please don't speak for the rest of us.

 

[theeedude]

So called "pro life" conservatives, always on the look out for reasons to kill someone in "self-defense", execute someone, start a war somewhere for whatever reason to bomb some people who have done nothing to them.

 

[glenn1]

I guess the question I have is why? There is no conclusive evidence that the death penalty is a deterrent and ample evidence that people who did not commit the crimes they were convicted for have been executed and that will likely continue at some rate.

Beyond the base desire for vengeance, which is not really what the justice system is supposed to be about, what logical reason is there for supporting capital punishment?

It's neither of those. Some people demonstrate themselves to be basically feral with no regards for others, will always be a danger to others, and no remorse or grief about the damage they have done and would do to their next victims given the opportunity. Some people are not redeemable and we should kill them as we would a rabid animal; humanely, without malice, and swiftly. The world is most certainly not a better place with terrorists, psychopaths, or evil men being allowed to stay alive because we're trying to somehow demonstrate we are better people than they are as we already are.

 

[glenn1]

... That's pretty sick. Certainly you can speak for yourself, but please don't speak for the rest of us.

I don't need to speak, Americans already have and repeatedly and by high numbers support the death penalty. I doubt anything will change that fact in our lifetime, if ever.

 

[Subyman]

It's neither of those. Some people demonstrate themselves to be basically feral with no regards for others, will always be a danger to others, and no remorse or grief about the damage they have done and would do to their next victims given the opportunity. Some people are not redeemable and we should kill them as we would a rabid animal; humanely, without malice, and swiftly. The world is most certainly not a better place with terrorists, psychopaths, or evil men being allowed to stay alive because we're trying to somehow demonstrate we are better people than they are as we already are.

If you are supporting it from a place of utility, then simply housing them in prison is much cheaper.

 

[MongGrel]

It takes balls to execute an innocent man. Texans admire that quality in their governor.

It worked for Dubya.

Unfortunately he became POTUS for awhile...

 

[glenn1]

If you are supporting it from a place of utility, then simply housing them in prison is much cheaper.

If I was supporting it from a place of utility, I would do as the Obama administration does in the War of Terror and ensure they are killed before they ever get a chance to stand trial.