The State of Texas has taken the phrase: "Better that 100 (or 10) men go free than one innocent person be convicted" and turned it on its head to: "Better one innocent man be executed rather than spend 100 minutes conducting tests to prove his innocence". Hank Skinner is scheduled for execution on March 24 -- 4 days from now.
Through the efforts of the Medill Innocence Project at Northwestern University, the following information has been developed, presented to the Texas courts and rejected: The state's star witness recanted her testimony. Toxicology tests indicated that Skinner lacked the strength, balance and agility to commit the triple homicides for which he was sentenced to death. Those findings were recently reconfirmed by a leading toxicology expert. The alleged perpetrator, Robert Donnell was identified by name and a valid motive was provided. Evidence was presented of his later activities suggestive of destroying or covering up evidence.
Prosecutors and the courts have denied DNA tests on 2 bloodstained knives, a rape kit, and hair found in the female victim's hand and skin found under her nails and a windbreaker similar to one worn by another suspect. A respected laboratory has offered to conduct the DNA testing pro bono and the Medill Project also offered to pay the expenses. Mr. Skinner has maintained his innocence throughout.
As I write this, I have no idea whether or not Mr. Skinner is guilty or not of these horrendous crimes. What I cannot fathom is the prosecution and the Texas' courts unfailing efforts to resist a search for the truth. They and now Gov. Perry have within their power the ability to verify or rebut the conviction. Their refusal runs the risk that an innocent man may be executed (possibly not the first in Texas); their acquiescence imposes only a slight delay in that irretrievable event. Faced with those two options, how can there be any answer but to stay the execution and conduct the tests!
Note: I have already written on this matter here.
Judge H. Lee Sarokin: Supreme Court Grants Stay of Execution of Henry Skinner
One half hour before Henry Skinner was to be executed, the U.S. Supreme Court stayed his execution. I cannot conceive what that same time period must have been like for Mr. Skinner.
People who call themselves pro-life Christians are often supporters of capital punishment, yet they see no conflict between their beliefs and their religion's core value of forgiveness. Rather, they find passages in the Old Testament to justify revenge and ignore the message of the New Testament. Perhaps they believe in forgiving and seeking justice, but Jesus didn't tell the stone throwers to forgive the prostitute and then stone her for the sake of justice. While some may disagree on when human life begins, there is no question that capital punishment ends a human life--the only questions are ones of condemnation or forgiveness. Rather than seeking revenge in the name of justice, Christians should honor their faith and consistently take a pro-life stance toward humankind. I'm in favor of removing dangerous people from the streets to protect innocent lives, but am opposed to killing.
All the defense experts in the world can claim he was too loaded, however, the evidence shows otherwise. The blood evidence proves he is lying when he claimed to be comatose on the couch. He walked 5 blocks to his ex-gf's house immediately after the murders. Three hours later he was found hiding in the closet by the police. Three hours after that, a blood sample is being taken from him. And 4 hours later he is confessing on videotape. You would think the effects of the alcohol and drugs and being up all night, he would have fallen asleep, but nope. Skinner was a hard drinker drug abuser for years.
Enough about the windbreaker. It was not the same one worn by the uncle. The witness said she saw the uncle wearing a tan windbreaker "all the time." The jacket at the scene was gray - not tan.
No skin was recovered from under her nails.
There is plenty more I could say about the misstatements of facts by the people who are claiming he is innocent are repeating, but I've got to run. But I suggest to people that those who are privy to all the facts of the case instead of reading a blog or a defense motion or two, may know more than you.
Wha bothers me as a Texan to see so many ethics investigation of violating Public Trust. In Texas something is corrupt even with those in public office that deal in secret abuse. All over the US we see Senators, Rep. and people from all walks of life under investigations for abuse of public office and trust... Texas should not be acting independent to constitutional powers and civil rights..
Sad to say our State Officals are attached to the Bush Era and matter needs cared for under due process..
Just thought I would bring up Statism V Justice...
Respectfully,
Jennifer Elaine Elliott
When I was sixteen my beloved neighbor was murdered, shot in front of his 10 year old daughter. Not for one second did I wish for the murderer to die even though my heart was broken. There is no "closure" with the death penalty.
This was in Michigan and he got what he deserved, live in prison with no possibility for parole. The death penalty is the easy way out for those who commit murder.
It's not solely a condemnation of Perry in this case, but the world which we have all created. (In our world, a conservative – read, no pardon of Skinner – reaction by Perry will win him more votes.) Perry will allow the execution - possibly promote it - to prove that he is more conservative than White, so that Perry can win in November.
Unless there's pressure to stop capital punishment, few state governments will do so.
It's not only in Texas, though the state gives us plenty of examples, but throughout our country that we commonly condemn people to death or multi-year prison terms (which of course promise to socialize the imprisoned to a further life of crime). It's been a truism in (many) state politics that granting pardons is seen as weak. That's why many governors barely consider - at least outwardly - pardons. Even commutations are often seen as weak.
Liberal governors often accept this barbarism as one of the necessary payments to get other parts of their agenda on to the table. Perry won’t allow the tests, nor will he pardon or commute Skinner’s sentence. In this election year Perry will use all powers of the office to win. Unfortunately for Skinner, Perry’s in re-election mode.
The anecdotal use of heinous crimes allows the media to increase readership and politicians to gain attention (votes). No politician trying to win office will even mention "justice" if it's not in the same breath as "...he deserves..."etc.
The use of capital punishment as a deterrent is horribly laughable. Murders and manslaughters aren't preceded by a cost/benefit analysis. We're in the bad habit of executing people because we haven't bothered to consider social effects and we are afraid to speak about causes of crime and alternative means of punishment.
It's not just the refusal to test the DNA, though that's egregious. It's the judge's appointment of a lawyer who had prosecuted Skinner in the past, for more money than had ever been paid a public defense lawyer in that state. Just that corruption should have made the trial invalid.
I have tried to put myself in the shoes of the prosecutor and the governor and I just cannot imagine that I would ever deny someone the right to a simple DNA test. How in the world do these people live with themselves?
I remember watching a movie, starring Susan Hayworth, when I was about 10 years old. (I'm 51 now) It was based on a true story about an innocent woman put to death in the gas chamber. I will never forget how heart breaking that was and I have been against the death penalty ever since.
The death penalty is barbaric and has no place in civilized society.
Texas and Gov. Perry Apparently Indifferent to the Execution of a Possibly Innocent Man
Why do people act like everyone that lives in Texas is like RickPerfectHairPerry? There are so many good people here.
But if an article is written with the word Texas in it, most people jump on that word like a dog on a bone.
I sure hope you come back to this article and answer my question, Judge.....
An incompetent and or corrupt State or Federal government should not have the power to put it's citizens to death. I'm getting this ghoulish yen to see exactly how many innocent people will be executed before we stop this....will we ever stop executing ourselves?
What self loathing we have.