In 1991, Troy Davis was convicted for the murder of police officer Mark MacPhail in Savanna, GA, despite the fact that there was no physical evidence, no DNA, no smoking gun, tying him to the crime. On top of that, since his trial, 7 of the 9 witnesses in his case have recanted their testimony, some citing police pressure to testify. To make matters worse, “several people have said that one of those who testified at Davis's trial, Sylvester ‘Redd’ Coles, has admitted to them that he was the killer.”
Around the world, thousands of peole, including Pope Benedict XVI, former President Jimmy Carter, and actress Susan Sarandon are asking Chatham County District Attorney Larry Chisolm to reopen Troy Davis's case. This would give his lawyers the chance to prove his innocence with the information that has come to light since his 1989 trial. Please, take action now, sign the petition and ask Larry Chisolm to reopen Troy Davis's case!
I urge you to use your authority as the District Attorney of Chatham County, Georgia, to prevent the execution of Troy Davis and reopen the investigation in his case. As you know, Mr. Davis was convicted almost solely on the basis of witness testimony, and most of the witnesses (7 out of 9) have recanted or changed their trial testimony. No federal court has yet been willing to hold a hearing to fully examine these witnesses, and serious doubts about Mr. Davis's guilt remain unresolved.
As Jews, we are motivated by the facts of Mr. Davis’s case, and by Jewish values and teachings. The ancient Jewish court known as the Sanhedrin was considered tyrannical if it put to death only one person in seven years. Since the courts have failed to adequately intervene in Mr. Davis’s case, it may be up to you - if the US Supreme Court fails to act - to guarantee that a miscarriage of justice does not take place.
Since the trial, several people have come forward and provided evidence in sworn affidavits suggesting that one of the remaining two witnesses who have not recanted may in fact be guilty of the crime for which Troy Davis has been sentenced to die. The execution of Troy Davis without proper review of his innocence claims would severely undermine public confidence in our criminal justice system. I urge you to act in the interests of justice and fairness to reopen this case and ensure that justice is served.
