Davis Hopes For High Court Reprieve

There are only a couple of days left for the nation’s high court to consider a last-chance hearing for Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis. With summer recess for the U.S. Supreme Court ahead, lawyers for Davis and others are watching to see whether the most recent petition is successful. It is generally assumed that if the high court does not decide by Tuesday to hear the Davis-petition, it would then be up to the Chatham County district attorney whether or not to go ahead with the execution warrant. Davis was convicted of murdering a Savannah police officer 20 years ago. Since then, several witnesses have recanted testimony. Davis has already had his execution delayed three times.

Davis Case On U.S. Supreme Court Docket

Whether Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis should get the chance to have his high-profile case heard by the nation’s high court-might be determined soon. The Davis-case is on the docket of the U.S. Supreme Court today. Since the Davis conviction for the killing of a Savannah police officer almost 20 years ago, several witnesses have recanted testimony. Still, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals says it was "unpersuaded" by affidavits supporting Davis, and cleared the way again for execution. The Davis-case has drawn the attention of former president Jimmy Carter, the Pope, and several high profile U.S. lawmakers, among others.

NAACP Continues Push For New Davis Hearing

About 200 people were on-hand Saturday afternoon in a Savannah park, joining the NAACP in a rally to support Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis. NAACP President Ben Jealous led the rally, and later led supporters in a petition drive hoping to pressure local prosecutors to re-open the case. Davis was convicted in 1991 of the killing of police officer Mark McPhail 20 years ago. Since then, several witnesses have recanted testimony, and high profile names such as former president Jimmy Carter have called for a fresh look at the case.

The NAACP hopes to get 10,000 signatures on a petition local prosecutors to step in. But barring an late intervention by the U.S. Supreme Court, Davis could be executed next month. The nation’s high court has the Davis-case on its Thursday docket.

White Supremacist Execution Back On

The execution of a white supremacist convicted of murdering one of his followers is back on for tonight at 7pm. William Mark Mize was scheduled to be put to death last night, but was granted a stay by the Georgia Supreme Court--it ruled the trial judge denied a Mize request for a hearing but never decided upon the motion itself. Late Tuesday afternoon, that motion was denied, now clearing the way for execution this evening.

Court Issues Stay of Execution

The Supreme Court of Georgia today issued a stay of execution for William Mark Mize. Mize was schedule to die by lethal injection at 7 tonight. The court issued the stay to give a trial court judge time to rule on Mize’s motion for a new trial. Mize was convicted of the 1994 murder of Eddie Tucker, one of his white supremacy followers, in Oconee County.

Davis gets stay of execution

Death row inmate Troy Davis received another stay of execution on Friday--this from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta. Davis was scheduled to die by lethal injection Monday. In its ruling, the three-judge panel said "upon thorough review of the record, we conclude that Davis has met the burden for a stay of execution". The panel ordered both sides to draft briefs for their arguments.

Supporters of Davis continue to press for a new trial, based on seven of nine witnesses who have recanted testimony. Davis was convicted in 1991 of the murder of Savannah police officer Mark McPhail two years earlier.

This is the latest turn in the case of Davis. Recently, Georgia’s longest serving death row inmate lost an appeal in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. Davis’ lawyers now have 15 days to file legal briefs on their arguments.

Davis execution re-set

Georgia’s longest serving death row inmate again has an execution date set--7pm October 27th. A Chatham County judge yesterday decided on the window for the execution of Troy Davis. The Department of Corrections then set the exact time and date. This represents Davis’ third execution date in little more than a year. Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court cleared the way for execution by refusing to step into the debate over Davis’ case.

Davis is convicted of the 1989 murder of a Savannah police officer. Since that trial, seven of nine witnesses have recanted testimony.

Troy Davis execution likely

Georgia's most high-profile death row inmate has lost his last chance at clemency. Today the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case of Troy Davis. Davis was sentenced to death for the 1989 murder of a Savannah police officer. He had requested a new trial because seven of the nine witnesses against him have recanted their testimony. The nation's highest court granted Davis a temporary reprieve September 23rd just hours before his scheduled lethal injection.

(Associated Press)

US Supreme Court to hear Troy Davis case today

The U.S. Supreme Court meets to decide the fate of Troy Anthony Davis today. Davis was scheduled to die last week by lethal injection but got a last minute stay of execution. He was convicted of killing a Savannah police officer in 1989. His case has become an international controversy because 7 of nine witnesses have since recanted their testimony against him.

Family outraged at execution delay

The family of a police officer killed in 1989 is upset that the execution of the man convicted of his murder was delayed. Mark McPhail's mother, Anneliese MacPhail, said "I'm furious, disgusted and disappointed." Troy Davis' family and a busload of supporters sang, wept and prayed yesterday when they learned he was granted a temporary reprieve from the Supreme Court just hours before he was to be executed. Seven of the nine key witnesses who helped put Davis on death row have since recanted their statements.

Execution halted by U.S. Supreme Court

The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a stay of execution for Troy Anthony Davis. Davis was scheduled to die at 7 tonight by lethal injection. He was convicted of killing a Savannah police officer in 1989, but his case has received international attention for its controversy. Davis was sentenced to death based solely on the testimony of 9 witnesses. Since then 7 of the have admitted they were lying. And Davis’ lawyers say three others have come forward claiming to have heard the confession to the crime by one of the men who took the stand against Davis. The U.S. Supreme Court will reconsider Davis’ appeal at its conference next Monday.

Georgia top court says no to halt of Davis execution

Troy Davis is scheduled for execution tonight at the state prison in Jackson. Another request for a new trial before the Georgia Supreme Court yesterday was denied, the second time Georgia’s high court has done so. Unless a last minute stay comes from the U.S. Supreme Court today, Davis will die by lethal injection at 7pm. The Davis case has received much attention as seven of the nine witnesses who originally testified against him have recanted.

State executes Alderman

Jack Alderman was executed last night at the state prison in Jackson. Georgia’s longest-serving death row inmate was pronounced dead at 7:25 following a 14-minute lethal injection procedure. Prison officials say Alderman barely touched his last meal, and refused a sedative for the process. He also declined to make a final statement. Alderman was put to death for the killing of his wife in 1974.

Alderman clemency bid to be heard today

The state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles will convene this morning at 9 o’clock to consider a plea for clemency for convicted killer Jack Alderman. Monday, a Fulton County judge ruled Alderman should get a stay of execution until an appeal was heard. Alderman was scheduled to die tonight at 7pm for the 1974 murder of his wife. The board of Pardons and Paroles will hear from Alderman’s family and friends, religious leaders and a psychologist. Alderman is the longest serving inmate on Georgia's death row.

Alderman gets stay of execution

Convicted killer Jack Alderman was granted a stay of execution by a Fulton County judge Monday morning. Superior Court judge Melvin Westmoreland said in a hearing that Alderman's sentence should not be carried out until he receives a "meaningful" hearing with the state Board of Pardons and Paroles. Alderman was scheduled to die at 7pm tomorrow night for the death of his wife Barbara in Chatham County in 1974. Alderman is the longest serving prisoner on Georgia's death row.

Troy Davis gets new execution date

A death row inmate is scheduled to die by lethal injection September 23rd. Troy Davis was convicted of gunning down a Savannah police officer in 1989. Davis' case has drawn international headlines since several witnesses recanted their testimony against him. However the Georgia Supreme Court rejected Davis' appeal in March and a plea to reconsider the ruling in April. His appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to consider his case is pending. Yesterday the state scheduled another execution date, that of Jack Alderman, for September 16th.

Execution date set

Georgia authorities have set Sept. 16 as an execution date for convicted killer Jack Alderman. Alderman is sentenced to die in the 1974 slaying of his 20-year-old wife, Barbara, in Chatham County. Authorities say Alderman and an accomplice wanted to collect $20,000 in life insurance money. Alderman was just a day away from being put to death last October. The Georgia Supreme Court issued a stay halting the execution while the U.S. Supreme Court considered the issue of lethal injection. The nation's high court ruled earlier this year that lethal injection does not violate the Constitution. Georgia has executed two men since that ruling. A third had his death sentence commuted to life in prison by the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles.

(Associated Press)

Convicted murderer Osborne put to death

The state went through with its second execution in a month last night, as convicted murderer Curtis Osborne was put to death. The execution was delayed by two hours as the U.S. Supreme Court considered an appeal. There was also difficulty in the execution process, as prison officials had trouble finding a vein to administer the lethal injection cocktail. Osborne was pronounced dead at 9:05pm. Earlier in the day Wednesday, Georgia's Supreme Court refused to halt the execution.

State set for second execution in a month

Georgia is set to go through with its second execution in a month. Curtis Osborne is scheduled to die tonight for a double murder committed in 1990. On Monday, the state Board of Pardons and Paroles ruled that Osborne should not be granted clemency. Osborne, who is black, has claimed he was sentenced to death because his defense attorney was racist. This scheduled execution comes less than a month after Georgia put William Earl Lynd to death.

Condemned man appeals to state board

Attorneys for a condemned Georgia man are seeking to avert his execution next week. They say a defense attorney for Jack Osborne, who is black, was allegedly racist and provided inadequate legal defense. Spaulding County District Attorney Scott Ballard called the claims “outlandish.” A state parole board will consider the charges today. Osborne is scheduled to be executed by lethal injection on June 4^th for fatally shooting a couple in 1990.