(Community Matters) Since 1982, 423 State of Texas executions*. In 2004, Cameron Todd Willingham was executed for setting a fire that killed his three young children. Mr. Willingham died proclaiming his innocence. Now, a state sponsored study determines investigators erred in ruling the fire arson.
I’m not opposed to capital punishment. I am opposed to capital punishment when our system 1) has such a high error rate of conviction – relying on eye witness testimony seems the major culprit since this as a source has such a proven rate of error – especially across racial lines (they all look alike?). ABC News reported wrongful eye witness testimony in 75% of rape cases overturned with DNA evidence, 2) since proven dishonest/erroneous investigation conclusions, and 3) a system which punishes lower social/economic citizens much more harshly than others.
A 2000 National Law Journal cites a 68% error rate in the trials for capital punishment. A way too quick web scan would suggest a 3% to 7% rate of innocence – that would be 13 to 30 innocent men executed in Texas since 1982 – could be much higher.
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