USA: Less than 'ironclad', less than safe: Federal court ruling may clear way for Georgia to set new execution date for Troy Davis

Index Number: AMR 51/077/2010
Date Published: 27 August 2010
Categories: USA

If a state’s case against a condemned prisoner is not “ironclad”, should not that fact trouble those pursuing his execution? This is a question that should be asked of the authorities in Georgia, USA, following a federal judge’s ruling that, if upheld, will clear the way for the state to kill Troy Davis in its execution chamber. The Troy Davis case is one in which many of the witnesses who testified against the defendant have since retracted or contradicted their trial testimony in sworn statements. Doubt still exists.