Faulty investigation leads to execution

When our accuracy rate is 100 percent, then I'll agree that the death penalty is acceptable.

Until then, however ...

 

"Our bad."

 

Win some, lose some.

 

Looks like they got burnt.

 

Not to excuse at all what happened, but I think I'd prefer to be dead if I lost my three children under such tragic circumstances.

 

Easy thing to say when you're not living on death row, facing a death chamber.

 

Easy to say when you are a parent.

If I caused the little girl in my sig to be burnt to death, eating a gun would not be a problem. If I left her to die in the car from heat stroke while strapped in her car seat, I would blow the back of my head off as well.

I have already told my wife that.

Back on thread...

Wow, it's really unlike Texans to jump with both feet into something without having all the proper information. [/Iraqscoreboard]

 

Of course, evidence suggests he didn't cause his kids to burn to death, which is sort of the point.

 

"Just for that, you get a full refund."

 

Remember, kids: Science education is for the Elite.

 

"This is not the forum to be cavalier."

 

New Yorker has an epic story on the case in the new issue. I don't know how anyone could read this (note, it's a long story, and I'd say this is a story that deserves to be) and think Texas got it right. Just horrible.

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/09/07/090907fa_fact_grann?currentPage=all

One of the top arson experts in the country dismantled every piece of evidence right before the execution. The original arson investigators basically used theories that were eventually completely discredited (it sounds like they got them from watching Backdraft). His findings were, of course, ignored. He believes it was an accidental fire caused by a space heater or faulty wiring.

Willingham's original lawyer also comes off as a complete loser.

It also has the remarkable story of a woman who was key in getting people to look at his case again. Not that it helped him in the end.