Will Texas do the right thing?

[P1tchblack]

The Fight to Save Rodney Reed From Execution in Texas

n 1998, Rodney Reed, who is African-American, was sentenced to death by an all-white jury in Bastrop, Texas, for the rape and murder of Stacey Stites, a 19-year-old white woman. Heâ€s scheduled to be executed on Nov. 20.

Reed, now 53, maintains his innocence. The only evidence used to convict him was DNA that Reed says was present because he and Stites were having a secret affair — a claim Stitesâ€s cousin corroborates. Reedâ€s defense attorneys believe that further DNA tests of the crime scene could prove his innocence, but their requests have been denied, leading them to file a lawsuit in federal court. They also recently petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to halt the execution, citing “new and comprehensive evidence for innocence.”

Among the new pieces of evidence Reedâ€s lawyers cite are statements from two witnesses who claim they have information that links Stitesâ€s then-fiancÃ, Jimmy Fennell, to the crime. Fennell, a former police officer in Giddings, Texas, was recently released from prison after serving 10 years for the kidnapping and assault of a woman. There were critical 
inconsistencies in Fennellâ€s accounts of where he was and what he was doing the night of the murder.
Donâ€t miss a beat

One of the new witnesses whoâ€s come forward is a life insurance salesperson who said that while Fennell was applying for a policy he threatened to kill Stites if she ever cheated on him. The other witness, a sheriffâ€s deputy in Texasâ€s Lee County, said he overheard Fennell say to Stites†body at her funeral, “You got what you deserved.” In addition, forensic experts who implicated Reed at trial have recanted, while forensic pathologists have said the prosecutionâ€s theory of Reedâ€s guilt is medically and scientifically impossible.

That Reed is still on death row despite all the evidence casting doubt on his guilt is indicative of the larger issues around the death penalty — particularly as it pertains to race.


more:

https://truthout.org/articles/the-fight-...-in-texas/

[ScarletHayes]

I only know what you present here.  i.e that's what I'm commenting on.  So if I were the gov of Texas, I would immediately set aside the execution date and allow the consideration of the newer evidence.  Not sure how that would work logistically.  If he could get a new trial, etc...  I mean his dna is there, so that could get a little dicey.  A prosecutor could and would twist the hell out of that to cover/justify their earlier conviction.

[Hightop77]

I dint do nuffin.

[lrrps21]

Back in the 80/90's (Houston) an Asian broad who hated men worked in the forensic field. She lost, corrupted, and changed evidence that would convict men. She was only found out when a pipe burst and when the dudes came to repair it they found boxes of evidence in the wall. A further investigation found evidence above the ceiling panels.

How many of those dudes got a retrial?

[P1tchblack]

I only know what you present here.  i.e that's what I'm commenting on.  So if I were the gov of Texas, I would immediately set aside the execution date and allow the consideration of the newer evidence.  Not sure how that would work logistically.  If he could get a new trial, etc...  I mean his dna is there, so that could get a little dicey.  A prosecutor could and would twist the hell out of that to cover/justify their earlier conviction.

It seems to me like there's enough doubt to stop the execution until the situation can be addressed.  This is why the death penalty is not a good thing.  Mistakes happen.  Bias comes into play, etc....

[ScarletHayes]

Back in the 80/90's (Houston) an Asian broad who hated men worked in the forensic field. She lost, corrupted, and changed evidence that would convict men. She was only found out when a pipe burst and when the dudes came to repair it they found boxes of evidence in the wall. A further investigation found evidence above the ceiling panels.

How many of those dudes got a retrial?

Whatever became of her?  Please tell me she is rotting in a jail somewhere.

[lrrps21]

I only know what you present here.  i.e that's what I'm commenting on.  So if I were the gov of Texas, I would immediately set aside the execution date and allow the consideration of the newer evidence.  Not sure how that would work logistically.  If he could get a new trial, etc...  I mean his dna is there, so that could get a little dicey.  A prosecutor could and would twist the hell out of that to cover/justify their earlier conviction.

Don't forget prosecutors do not like to reverse convictions. Their careers, both in the courtroom and politically, depend on convictions.

I remember reading about a dude who was railroaded. After all the evidence was reviewed again proving he could not commit the crime the prosecutors still refused to drop the charges. He eventually was cleared but after serving 3 years. 2 were after the evidence cleared him.

88 from the NH 1.0 insisted there was no prosecutorial misconduct, judicial activism or prosecutorial immunity in the courts. He's fool of sh!t.

[lrrps21]

Back in the 80/90's (Houston) an Asian broad who hated men worked in the forensic field. She lost, corrupted, and changed evidence that would convict men. She was only found out when a pipe burst and when the dudes came to repair it they found boxes of evidence in the wall. A further investigation found evidence above the ceiling panels.

How many of those dudes got a retrial?

Whatever became of her?  Please tell me she is rotting in a jail somewhere.

If I recall correctly, she was simply fired. Remember, it's a government job.

[ScarletHayes]

I only know what you present here.  i.e that's what I'm commenting on.  So if I were the gov of Texas, I would immediately set aside the execution date and allow the consideration of the newer evidence.  Not sure how that would work logistically.  If he could get a new trial, etc...  I mean his dna is there, so that could get a little dicey.  A prosecutor could and would twist the hell out of that to cover/justify their earlier conviction.

It seems to me like there's enough doubt to stop the execution until the situation can be addressed.  This is why the death penalty is not a good thing.  Mistakes happen.  Bias comes into play, etc....

I'm guessing the cousin's testimony was never heard by the jury back when he was first convicted?  Now if that info was suppressed by the prosecution...?   The justice system really needs to address discovery in regards to overly ambitious DA's.  Those people should be thrown into jail if they knowingly kept that info from the defense.  

Anyway, this death sentence definitely needs to be set aside until everything can be addressed.

[BoyGenius]

"... despite all the evidence casting doubt on his guilt." Comical.
No, a stay of execution isn't warranted...

[zigbee]

Chances are when someone is put on trial, convicted, etc of murder they are HIGHLY % wise to have committed the crime and should be put down so more don't die from the killer.   It's also true they probably killed someone else and wasn't caught so I say let the guy die.

[Hightop77]

"... despite all the evidence casting doubt on his guilt." Comical.
No, a stay of execution isn't warranted...

Exactly.  Yeah, he couldn't have killed her because they are were having an affair!  

[ScarletHayes]

"... despite all the evidence casting doubt on his guilt." Comical.
No, a stay of execution isn't warranted...

I think the playing of the race card here is pretty cheap.  That said, I don't see the harm in reviewing the DNA evidence/conducting further DNA tests and taking into account her cousin's testimony that they were indeed having an affair.  Her fiance's history isn't exactly that of a boyscout either.  If I were the gov, based on what I see here, I would stay the execution until ***** got resolved.  i.e. I don't see the harm in further DNA testing. 

I'm curious as to whether the cousin was ever heard in the original trial, and if not, why not.

[BWT30]

They've had 23 years to prove he was not the killer and now they claim to have "new" evidence. Give me a break.

[P1tchblack]

"... despite all the evidence casting doubt on his guilt." Comical.
No, a stay of execution isn't warranted...

I think the playing of the race card here is pretty cheap.  That said, I don't see the harm in reviewing the DNA evidence/conducting further DNA tests and taking into account her cousin's testimony that they were indeed having an affair.  Her fiance's history isn't exactly that of a boyscout either.  If I were the gov, based on what I see here, I would stay the execution until ***** got resolved.  i.e. I don't see the harm in further DNA testing. 

I'm curious as to whether the cousin was ever heard in the original trial, and if not, why not.

All white jury.... in Texas.... where a black guy is having an affair with a white girl who's engaged to a white guy.  I think one could say there's reason to believe race may have played a roll.