Lynne K. Varner writes in her Seattle Times opinion column that Troy Davis' death was such a gross miscarriage of justice that it only strengthens calls for abolishing the death penalty. Davis was executed despite scant forensic evidence and recantations of most of the eyewitnesses.
The idea of Georgia inmate Troy Davis lying on a gurney in an agonizing wait for nine justices hundreds of miles away to resolve in a single-sentence statement that he should in fact die — even if innocent — should be enough to give pause to the most ardent supporters of the death penalty.
Davis was executed for the killing of a police officer 22 years ago, despite scant forensic evidence and recantations over the years of most of the eyewitnesses. Even some of the jurors said they've changed their minds about his guilt.
"Casey Anthony is found not guilty by reasonable doubt but Troy Davis is executed despite tremendous and widespread doubt," was one of the most salient tweets during an evening in which Troy Davis was the biggest topic on Twitter.
Read Lynne K. Varner's entire column at the Seattle Times.