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    Timeline of Troy Davis Case

    By William Browning | Yahoo! Contributor Network – Wed, Sep 21, 2011
    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
    Do you have a story to tell? Become a Yahoo! contributor

    Troy Davis is scheduled to die by lethal injection as supervised by the Georgia Department of Corrections at 7 p.m. EDT today. Davis will be the 52nd person to die in Georgia since 1976 and the fourth this year if the sentence is to be carried out.

    The reason the case has garnered so much attention is that witnesses in the case have come forward and recanted their stories. Groups are holding vigils and pushing for his release based upon the recantation of so many people's testimonies.

    Here is a timeline of relevant events in the case of Davis.

    Aug. 19, 1989: McPhail murder

    Savannah police officer Mark McPhail was off-duty and working as a security guard at the local Greyhound bus station. There was a fight at the adjacent Burger King and McPhail went to investigate. He was shot several times and died at the scene.

    Aug. 23, 1989: Davis surrendered

    Davis surrendered to authorities four days later. He was only 19 years old at the time and has been incarcerated for over half his life. Witnesses reported seeing Davis at the scene of the murder and firing a gun.

    Aug. 30, 1991: Sentence handed down

    A jury handed down the death sentence for Davis two years after he was arraigned for the crime. Davis was found guilty on five felony counts including that of malice murder, according to the Georgia attorney general's office .

    Feb. 26, 1993: Georgia Supreme Court upheld sentence

    The Georgia Supreme Court unanimously upheld the sentence and convictions of Davis in a court case. The panel found that evidence had supported each and every one the convictions even though no murder weapon was every found.

    Sept. 9, 1997: Denied a new trial

    Davis had attorneys represent him while he was on death row. The Georgia Supreme Court was again involved in denying leniency for the convicted killer. Davis was disallowed a new trial as judges determined they cannot supplant the role of a qualified jury that found enough evidence to convict him.

    Sept. 26, 2006: U.S. federal court denied Davis new trial

    Despite several appeals through the court system again, the 11th District of U.S. federal court denied Davis a new trial. Their basis was Davis did not have a substantial claim of innocence.

    August 2009: U.S. Supreme Court heard case

    The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the U.S. Supreme Court took up Davis' case. Justices instructed a lower court to review the matter once again to see if the convicted killer was actually innocent.

    Sept. 20, 2011: Final appeal denied

    The Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles issued its final ruling on the matter. Clemency was denied and the execution is still scheduled for today. PBS states the governor of Georgia has no authority to commute death sentences and the clemency hearing was the final appeal.

    William Browning is a research librarian.

     

    17 comments

    • Lee
      Lee  •  8 mths ago
      God does forgive those who truly repent, but He doesn't take away the earthly consequences.
    • Meen
      Meen  •  8 mths ago
      Mr. Browning, where in your timeline does the mention of the witnesses recanting or changing their story come in?
    • AndreaI
      AndreaI  •  8 mths ago
      It is appalling to me that our country continues to execute people, especially with all the flaws of our judicial system and especially a country that considers itself so Christian. Did Jesus not say: "Those who have not sinned throw the first stone?" and to "turn the other cheek?" How much clearer does he need to be? Isn't life in prison enough??? Poor Troy. He will be executed on International Peace Day, how awful. Killing people for killing people DOES NOT MAKE SENSE!
      • The Voice
        The Voice 8 mths ago
        Andrea, the bible teaches that murder is punishable by being stoned to death. Only two witnesses were required. Of course thats in the Old Testament - the law of moses. But Jesus said he did not come to destroy the Law but instead He came to fulfil it.
    • Meen
      Meen  •  8 mths ago
      Mr. Browning, where in you timeline does the mention of the witnesses recanting or changing their story come in?
    • Karen
      Karen  •  8 mths ago
      I cannot judge him, he has already been judged by a court of law, however, if he is innocent may God have mercy on the one's who put him to death!
    • Meen
      Meen  •  8 mths ago
      Innocent or not...he deserves a new and fair trial. Casey Anthony undoubtedly killed her 2 year old daughter. Not only is she free, but she's a millionaire!!! Where's the justice??
      • Resident PITA
        Resident PITA 8 mths ago
        God keeps a close watch over the white folks and protects them. He does not care about the darked skins.
      • Meen
        Meen 8 mths ago
        Well why was a "white folk" just executed in Texas? Dumb ass.
    • Devin
      Devin  •  8 mths ago
      I am sure if there was not a police officer involved he would have been released or at least granted a new trial based off the eye witnesses taking back testimony
      • spindrift
        spindrift 8 mths ago
        You're wrong. A murder is a murder no matter who the victim is; the fact that it was a police officer, who was murderd while trying to HELP someone, is just more horrible. This #$%$ should have died years ago, he is LONG overdue to be executed. Save your sympathy for the VICTIM.
      • Overtime
        Overtime 8 mths ago
        How do you know that he is in fact a murderer?
    • watchdog
      watchdog  •  8 mths ago
      At 7pm this date the world will be safer place to live.
    • Just B
      Just B  •  8 mths ago
      fry Troy Davis dont you mean... HA HA HA HA AH HAAAAA after his next cocktail he will wake up in HELL with a hangover
    • Donna
      Donna  •  8 mths ago
      At 7:05 I will still be eating, maybe sit down and relax with my family....what's that? Where will Troy be? I'd say he would be sheeting and peiesing his pants as his heart goes ker-chunka per splop...ker thunk..uh oh!................
    • Christopher
      Christopher  •  8 mths ago
      About 6:55 P.M. I'll reach into my humidor and take out a fine Diamond Crown Robusto #1 cigar--light it and savor it for a couple of hours. My cigar will last longer than Troy Davis.
    • Tera
      Tera  •  8 mths ago
      It's another sad, sad story, full circle, except the fact that the bible teaches that GOD does forgive you if you are truely repentant...
    • Resident PITA
      Resident PITA  •  8 mths ago
      What's all the uproar about? Isn't Davis black?
    • spindrift
      spindrift  •  8 mths ago
      This piece of #$%$ has had twenty more years than his victim. Hopefully in the next life he will learn that murder is wrong.
    • joe
      joe  •  8 mths ago
      free troy davis!!!!!!!!!!
      • spindrift
        spindrift 8 mths ago
        Why? So he can kill more innocent victims? Idiot. Pity he wasn't allowed to move in with YOU.
      • Donna
        Donna 8 mths ago
        They are, they are freeing him from his earthly shackles.
    • Johnny's Pizzeria
      Johnny's Pizzeria  •  8 mths ago
      Officer Mark MacPhail was shot and killed while working an off duty security job at a bus station. He was shot while attempting to break up a fight in the parking lot of a nearby fast food restaurant.

      The man shot him underneath his vest and then again in the head as he fell.

      The subject was sentenced to death. On March 28, 2011, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the man's appeal.

      Officer MacPhail was a U.S. Army veteran and had served with the Savannah Police Department for three years. He was survived by his wife, 1-year-old daughter, infant son, mother, and siblings.
    • Johnny's Pizzeria
      Johnny's Pizzeria  •  8 mths ago
      I think everyone should calm down and order a delicious pizza from Johnny's Pizzeria...Then at 6:55 this evening, sit down and watch a Black man get posioned to death....Only in America!!!
     Post a comment
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