Trial By Fire Did Daxas Execute An Innocent Man By David Grann Analysis

Capital Punishment, also known as the Death Penalty, has been a part of the United State’s justice system for the majority of the country’s existence. Today, 31 out of the 50 states still recognize the death penalty as a viable option when dealing with high profile crimes, most notably murder and sexual assault. While many people argue that the death penalty should be made illegal, there is also widespread support in favor of keeping the death penalty, leaving the nation divided on the issue. Both sides of the argument possess valid evidence that supports their claims, but in the end, the arguments in favor of the death penalty are noticeably stronger. The death penalty is an appropriate sentence that should continue to be allowed in the

Facts: John Brady (petitioner) and Charles Boblit were found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to death. Convictions were affirmed by the Court of Appeals in Maryland. Their trials were processed separately. At Brady’s trial, he took stand and maintained that he participated in the preceding robbery, but not in the killing. At the sentencing, both men received the death penalty. Brady’s counsel conceded that Brady was guilty of murder in the first degree, and asking the jury to return that verdict “without capital punishment. Prior to the trial counsel requested to examine Boblit’ s extra judicial statements. Several statements were shown to Petitioner’s counsel; but the one was dated on July 09, 1958, in which Boblit admitted the actual homicide, was

Anthony Graves was living on death row for almost two decades while being in solitary confinement. While he was proven un-guilty of murder he still has the punishment of eighteen years of living while being mentally and physically dead. After Mr. Graves was let out of prison, he still has to rethink about almost being killed because of a prosecutor that didn’t want to lose her case. How unprofessional could that be, letting someone rot in jail for a crime he didn’t commit, while the prosecutor knew of doubts, but went along like he didn’t hear it. The cost of one’s life is more than all of the money in the world, because once someone is lethally injected, no one can bring them back. Now I am starting to wonder about the death penalty and questioning myself is it fit for the worst of crimes for is it not fit at all. Kerry Max Cook was a former death row inmate that had conversations with Robert Earl Carter, "Anthony, I really believe, is innocent. I'm stunned that an innocent person is this close to execution (Rice,2005), was stated by former death row inmate Cook, that was let off for being proven

One example of wrongful execution is the Cameron Todd Willingham case. Willingham was executed in February 2004 by the state of Texas for committing murder to his three daughters by setting his house on fire. Prosecutors believed that the girls were abused and killed by setting the house on fire to attempt to cover up the evidence (1). Willingham had maintained his innocence and spent 10 years appealing for his convection up until his execution in 2004 via lethal injection. However, there were multiple issues surrounding the investigation method, evidence,

This criminal code is one of the most sophisticated in the country and has become a model for other states to follow. But research studies conducted to compare effects of the death penalty nationwide have shown some conflicting results. Comparison studies done to show homicide rates of retentionist and abolitionist jurisdictions from 1999 to 2001 (Sorenson & Pilgrim) have shown that death penalty states tend to have a higher murder rate than abolitionist states. This result creates the argument of the overall deterrent effect of execution. Texas is still in the top 20 of states with the highest homicide rate even though it is the highest in death penalty executions. “If the death penalty were a deterrent, the argument goes, then Texas should be located among those states with the lowest homicide rates” (Sorenson & Pilgrim, P. 25).

Born in Hampton, Virginia, Steve Earle wrote an astounding piece of information that shocked thousands of people. The story, “A Death in Texas,” changed my views of the death penalty, and really put some things in perspective. Starting in 1608, the death penalty became present, and it is a sanctioned practice where a person is put to death by the state as a punishment for a crime. Although people make mistakes, the death penalty should be abolished due to inhumanity, taking away precious lives, and it is an ineffective tool.

Todd Willingham was a man living in the state of Texas with his wife and three kids. He was a man who was described to be a delinquent his whole life getting into small crimes as he grew up and matured. On December 23, 1991 a fire broke out in his household which led to the death of all three of his children. In his statement to the police he said he was woken up by the screams of his kids but could not get to them in time before they were killed, which was later found out to be a lie. The cause of the fire was unknown but thought to be just an accident that ended in tragedy. After the fire Willingham’s demeanor was said not to be of a person who had just lost his three children. He was reported getting drunk with his friends the day after and making comments that were on the suspicious side, such as now that this has happened the money will start rolling in. After this police began to investigate the fire and concluded that it was not accidental but actually arson and Willingham had become the prime suspect. He was later arrested on accounts of arson and three accounts of murder for each of his children. He was sentenced the death penalty but still claimed to be innocent. While on death row a fellow inmate reported that he allegedly confessed to him that he did set the fire and this only added to evidence against him. As he sat in jail awaiting death he began to write to a woman who eventually came to see him in jail. This woman said Willingham seemed to be a great guy and

More than two centuries ago, the death penalty was commonplace in the United States, but today it is becoming increasingly rare. In the article “Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished?”, Diann Rust-Tierney argues that it should be abolished, and Joshua Marquis argues that it should not be abolished. Although the death penalty is prone to error and discrimination, the death penalty should not be abolished because several studies show that the death penalty has a clear deterrent effect, and we need capital punishment for those certain cases in which a killer is beyond redemption.

The first execution was in 1982 with Charles Brooks, Jr. Death Penalty has become a very important issue in Texas. Many disagree on the harsh punishments others are given, especially those who are executed without any evidence and whom are not guilty. Cameron Todd Willingham was one of the innocent ones. He was wrongfully charged with arson and the murder of his three children.

Adams did not. (Radelet, 2011). After Adams took the stand and pleaded once again his ignorance of the crime, the prosecution presented a signed document that they claimed was Adams confession; but in reality stated that at some point during the day, Adams had been near the scene of the crime. They then sent to the stand surprise witnesses that the defense was not informed of. The defense intended to cross examine the witnesses but the prosecutions said that they were out of town and would be unable to return. Not surprisingly the jury returned a verdict of guilty; now the prosecution would turn its attention to Mr. Adams sentence (Martin, 2011). Seeking the death penalty the prosecution called on two expert witnesses: psychiatrist Dr. James Grigson, whom was known as Dr. Death, and Dr. John Holbrook, who was the former chief of psychiatry for the Texas Department of Corrections (Radelet, 2011).

Cameron Todd Willingham – In 1992, Willingham was convicted of arson murder in Corsicana, Texas. He was believed to have purposely set a fire that killed his three kids. In 2004, he was put to death. The Texas Forensics Science Commission didn’t find out UNTIL AFTER his execution the evidence was misinterpreted, and they concluded that none of the evidence used against Willingham was valid. The fire was accidental. Maybe if they would have looked harder into it they would have found out that fires are started accidentally all the time! Fires are started by cooking, the heater, washing machines and dryers, air conditioners and fans, candles, electrical equipment, if its fourth of July your fireworks can start a fire, Christmas trees, sometimes your cigarettes are not all the way out like you think they are and they can start the fire (most things in the world can). Look at your facts and look over the crime scene

One day Cameron Todd Willingham woke up to his house on fire and was lucky enough to escape, but sadly his three children were left behind and did not survive. After the horrific incident, Willingham was prosecuted and received the death sentence for starting a fire with the intention to kill his children. Before the prosecution, an investigation developed that involved professionals and eyewitness testimonies that concluded Willingham as guilty. Unfortunately, there were many flaws during the process of the investigation. The investigation had weak evidence with no scientific background, some prosecutors appeared bias, and the prosecution relied too much on eyewitness. The criminal justice system had many flaws when it came down to Willinghams prosecution and I blame the people involved in the system.

On December 23, 1991 Willingham’s home caught on fire with his three babies stuck in the house. There was immediate suspicion about what happened because he did not go back in the house to find his children. All of his actions that occurred before and after the fire lead him into being a primary suspect. When Willingham was in prison an informant named Webber came forward saying Willingham admitted to setting the fire, he was sentenced to death. Later on toward his execution day Webber came forward again and admitted to lying. He said that Willingham never confessed to him and that he was innocent. February 17th came and that was Willingham execution date. After hiring an arson specialist evidence came back and showed that he was innocent but it was too late. This is a perfect example on how taking informants serious is not always a good idea. The informant lied just because he was being offered something by one of the police officers. Because of the informants lies this man was sentenced to death and died an innocent

Years went by, and Willingham lost one appeal after another. Finally, in 2004, just weeks before Willingham’s scheduled execution, Gerald Hurst, an internationally known fire and explosives expert from Texas, was brought in to support a petition for clemency. 
After reviewing the evidence and videotapes of the fire scene, Hurst wrote a report debunking the Vasquez findings, calling them “invalid in light of current knowledge” (Starr, 2011). Hurst said the blaze was almost certainly accidental, perhaps caused by a faulty space heater or electrical connection. But even that would be difficult to prove, because the house had been shoveled out by investigators. The cause of the fire should have been labeled “undetermined,” Hurst said, because there

In this paper, the authors examine how the death penalty argument has changed in the last 25 years in the United States. They examine six specific issues: deterrence, incapacitation, caprice and bias, cost innocence and retribution; and how public opinion has change regarding these issues. They argue that social science research is changing the way Americans view the death penalty and suggest that Americans are moving toward an eventual abolition of the death penalty.