| The subsequent dely allowed Rick to pursue the Republican nomination for governor against the surprisingly inept Kay Bailey Hutchingson to a successful conclusion. Now he seeks to rid himself forever of this troublesome evidence of his cold blooded ambition. Make no mistake Mr. Death Penalty has built his political reputation around the Republican triple mantra of cutting taxes, being more Christian than Jesus Christ and more tough on crime than Dirty Harry. He had to let the guy get the needle, any responsible review of the relevant evidence would require work and thought on his part - never his strong suit. Worse, it could make him look "soft on crime." Thus his course of action was obvious. What was the death of a convicted murder against the potential of failing to live up to one of his mantras? A man's life versus Rick Perry image? No contest , the image wins every time.
Lest you have forgotten the basis for my seemingly harsh sarcasm, let me remind you:
Wiki: Cameron Todd Willingham
The Board of Pardons and Paroles received Hurst's description, but unanimously denied Willingham's petition for clemency. Governor Perry refused to grant a stay of execution, saying through a spokesperson that "The Governor made his decision based on the facts of the case." [1] Governor Perry said that the "supposed experts" (using finger quotes) were wrong [4] and not to listen to anti-death penalty "propaganda". [5] Perry aide Mary Anne Wiley said the commission's $30,000 hiring of fire scientist Craig Beyler was a waste of taxpayer money. [6] Jackson, one of the prosecutors, admitted that an "undeniably flawed forensic report" was used to convict Willingham, but claimed that other reasons established guilt. [7]
In addition to the arson evidence, a jailhouse informant named Johnny Webb claimed Willingham confessed that he set the fire to hide his wife's physical abuse of the girls, although the girls showed no other injuries besides those caused by the fire. [8] Webb later told a reporter for The New Yorker, "it's very possible I misunderstood what he said. Being locked up in that little cell makes you kind of crazy. My memory is in bits and pieces. I was on a lot of medication at the time. Everyone knew that." [1] Webb was later diagnosed bipolar and even the prosecutor described Webb as "an unreliable kind of guy" yet after Webb's testimony Jackson successfully got him released from prison early. Webb later sent Jackson a Motion to Recant Testimony, that declared, "Mr. Willingham is innocent of all charges." Willingham's attorneys were not notified and Webb later recanted his recantation. Webb later said, "The statute of limitations has run out on perjury, hasn't it?" [1]
During the penalty phase of the trial a prosecutor said that Willingham's tattoo of a skull and serpent fit the profile of a sociopath. Two medical experts confirmed the theory. A psychologist was asked to interpret Willingham's Iron Maiden poster, and said that a picture of a fist punching through a skull signified violence and death. He added that Willingham's Led Zeppelin poster of a fallen angel indicated "cultive-type" activities. Psychiatrist James Grigson said that Willingham was an "extremely severe sociopath" and was incurable. The same psychiatrist helped put another prisoner on death row who was later acquitted. [1]
Please follow the link for further discussion of this matter, including contrary evidence - his wife's claim that he confessed just before his execution. This muddies the waters and is something I had not seen before. Unfortunately for Perry it does not take him off the hook!! Notice how he dismisses but DOES NOT DISCREDIT the expert testimony.
I can only speculate whether Rick's love affair with Fundamentalists voters played in role in this as well. I mean when you reject science I guess it is easier to reject "expert" scientific testimony as well.
BE that as it may, the most installment of this disgusting drama comes today. Rick Casey again:
Dousing a troublesome arson probe
Now Bradley has presented the commission with a legal memorandum that would severely limit the scope of its activities and would remove its authority to investigate the Willingham case.....
The memorandum is clearly Bradley's work. What's more, it argues in the same direction as two staff lawyers of Perry's did when they tried to persuade former Chairman Bassett to drop the Willingham investigation....
...vice chairman Stephen Frost and three other Democratic members of the House Committee on Public Safety, which has jurisdiction over the commission, wrote a letter yesterday to Bradley objecting to his memo's "attempt to narrow the scope of the commission's jurisdiction and preclude it from completing vital tasks currently before the commission."
If the scientists lose to a district attorney who appears not only to be carrying water for the governor, but also to be undermining efforts to do away with sloppy science that too often helps prosecutors, it will be a tragedy.
Hundreds of Texas inmates sit in jail based on arson investigations, and many more throughout the nation.
Texas is the first state to seriously address the quality of these and other forensic disciplines. If Bradley gets his way today, that experiment will effectively be over.
There you have it. "Mr. I shot coyotes with my laser pistol - what a manly manly I am" lacks the cojones to face up to his choices, to take responsibility for his decisions about the life and death of a human being.
Hey Texas, yo , apolitical non-voters, hello independents! Its time to step off do one right thing. Fire this self-serving a-hole. We deserve better. Vote White for Governor, at least he can govern.
Updated from CNN:
Texans wonder if they executed an innocent man
Thursday, he [Bradley, Perry's hand picked chairman ] told CNN that concerns of Willingham's supporters were based on "a lot of misinformation."
"I think that's being used very much as a side issue to politicize, through some New York lawyers, the work of the commission," Bradley said. "The commission has been very clear that the commission is going to address the merits of the Willingham case."
Those damned outside agitators again. Recall their earlier incarnation from the days of segregation. Draw your own conclusions..... |
