Thursday, October 15, 2009

Everyone quit the grandstanding and fix the problem, if any



More politicizing of the death penalty and its application.

The possibility always exists that the science or forensics used was wrong. But was it wrong beyond a reasonable doubt? Does the mistake, if any, negate the guilt found beyond a reasonable doubt?

Use this case as a teaching moment to investigate what may have gone wrong, if indeed a mistake was made, with the use and application of arson science and forensics.


Perry slams critics of death penalty case
By R.G. Ratcliffe - Express-News

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry on Wednesday defended his actions in the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham, calling Willingham a “monster” and a “bad man” who murdered his children.

Perry has been in a national firestorm over whether he has tried to block an investigation into the quality of the forensic science that led to Willingham's conviction in the 1991 arson deaths of his three children and his 2004 execution.

Perry told reporters Wednesday he's convinced Willingham was guilty of the crime.

The rest of the story: