Capital Punishment Fans

[Minimalist]

This is why the system you cheer cannot be trusted.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/2013090...5GJG3.html

PHOENIX (AP) - An Arizona woman who spent more than two decades on death row was released on bond Friday after a judge ruled there's no direct evidence linking her to the death of her young son, other than a purported confession to a detective whose honesty has been questioned.

Debra Milke walked out of the Maricopa County Sheriff's jail after supporters posted $250,000 bond.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned her conviction in March, stating that prosecutors should have disclosed information that cast doubt on the credibility of a since-retired detective who said Milke confessed.

And what was the evidence that crooked prosecutors failed to disclose?

Doubts about Saldate's honesty arose during Milke's appeals. The 9th Circuit concluded in March that prosecutors' failure to turn over evidence related to Saldate's credibility deprived Milke's attorneys of the chance to question his truthfulness before jurors.

"No civilized system of justice should have to depend on such flimsy evidence, quite possibly tainted by dishonesty or overzealousness, to decide whether to take someone's life or liberty," Chief Judge Alex Kozinski wrote for the court.

The court noted four cases in which judges threw out confessions or indictments because Saldate lied under oath and four instances in which cases were tossed out or confessions excluded because Saldate violated the suspect's constitutional rights.

He was also suspended for accepting sexual favors from a female motorist he stopped and then lying about the encounter, the court said.

A crooked cop and a bunch of prosecutors who just want to "win." Aided and abetted by a jury who didn't give a shit. This is why humanity cannot be trusted with life or death decisions.

[wwjs]

Why not close prisons? I'm sure that there are a lot of innocent people.

[Minimalist]

I'm sure you are right. Given how fucked up the system is.

[Something completely different]

I know of that case, it was frequently reported here because the woman is a German national.

Apparently the detective wanted to make a career by solving this case faster, no matter who he arrested.

In this case, the son of the woman was murdered. There was no direct evidence linking her to the murder. The man who most likely did it was a friend of the father.

Yet somehow, she, the father and the fathers friend all landed in jail.

[Creed of Heresy]

Thank fuck this woman dodged a bullet. Almost literally.

This sort of thing is exactly why I am so on the fence about the death penalty. When you have cases with such unbelievably fragile testimonies and evidence and overall presentations that somehow result in a conviction, you're at high risk of instating state-sanctioned murder. In the case of, say, the durkadurka who gunned down 18 soldiers at Fort Hood, I want him dead so we can kick him in a hole and the victims of the families can just not have that kind of spectre of the guy who did it still lingering hovering over their heads, and because, frankly, with such overwhelming and obvious evidence, it's clear he's guilty and I don't want any kind of resources being spent to keep his useless ass alive.

The death penalty should only be under extreme and clear circumstances like that. For shit like this, hell-fucking-no. This woman should not have even been sent to prison, much less death row. What if the death penalty had actually been carried out?? Fuck!

[Whateverist]

I know of that case, it was frequently reported here because the woman is a German national.

Apparently the detective wanted to make a career by solving this case faster, no matter who he arrested.

In this case, the son of the woman was murdered. There was no direct evidence linking her to the murder. The man who most likely did it was a friend of the father.

Yet somehow, she, the father and the fathers friend all landed in jail.

Yes, sadly jailing people is a national obsession here although execution seems like the preferred remedy wherever possible.

[Something completely different]

Yes, sadly jailing people is a national obsession here although execution seems like the preferred remedy wherever possible.

Aren`t sheriffs aswell as state and district attorneys elected in your country?
From what I read about this, I figure that the problem lies right there. Alot of prosecuters and members of the police might get sloppy in doing what is actualy required from them so they can climb the careerlader through gaining popularity by bringing in career cases.

[Captain Colostomy]

Aren`t sheriffs aswell as state and district attorneys elected in your country?
From what I read about this, I figure that the problem lies right there. Alot of prosecuters and members of the police might get sloppy in doing what is actualy required from them so they can climb the careerlader through gaining popularity by bringing in career cases.

Yes they are, and it is a problem. Another issue is the citizenry themselves. Raised with a collective memory of days when justice was served by a posse with a rope. We have short attention spans and demand short sighted solutions. The industrial prison complex is a cash cow, too, and lends a red hand. The 'kids for cash' scandal that rocked my old stomping grounds in Pennsylvania is an example of multiple failures along these lines.

[Creed of Heresy]

Kids for cash...fuck, I was afraid I was the only person who remembered that unbelievably disgusting bullshit.

Law and Order did an episode based on that.

I smiled vindictively at its ending.

[Captain Colostomy]

Kids for cash...fuck, I was afraid I was the only person who remembered that unbelievably disgusting bullshit.

Law and Order did an episode based on that.

I smiled vindictively at its ending.

I moved away from that area in June, and the local news was still referencing it almost daily. Those cretins ruined a lot of children's lives, and shook confidence in our supposed justice system...all for a buck. Assholes.