The story of Cameron Todd Willingham

[woodworkingboy]

Likely innocent man, put to death by a corrupted Texas justice system.

Trial by Fire
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[lumberjack]

I thought that was a long story on that page. Then I realized there were another 16 pages like it.

Workin through it now, but Cliff Notes would be nice.

 

[woodworkingboy]

I found it easier to read with the one long page option.

I think it's worth learning about the guy and what he went through.

 

[Che]

I just read/heard about that a few days ago. Very sad.

 

[MasterBlaster]

What Carl said.

 

[stehansen]

I'm not convinced he's innocent.

 

[woodworkingboy]

I don't think the article is trying to say that he's innocent, but the things that have played out over time, may lead to that conclusion somewhat, so perhaps a better shake, at least in terms of a stay of execution, would have been a fairer move.

 

[lumberjack]

16,252 words.

I think the article was trying to both show his innocence (the story from the 1600's) and the flaws of capital punishment.

 

[stehansen]

I think 12 years is enough time. Pretty interesting experiment with burning an identical house though. Lesson here, make sure your kids are out of the house before you come out, wait for the fire dept to arrive then attempt to re-enter when it is obviously too late.

 

[Che]

I must have heard the story on the radio. It followed this story pretty much, but I don't think quite as much detail.

Steve, in reading how all the evidence was proven to be false, why is it that you still regard this guy as guilty. Sure doesn't sound like an all around nice guy, but there are alot of creeps who wouldn't kill their own kids.

I'd like to think he WAS guilty and got what he deserved.

 

[stehansen]

I think that 12 years was enough time to prove this in court.

 

[woodworkingboy]

If the court was willing to hear the evidence.

If you really believe that the worst scenario of the justice system is killing an innocent man, to be avoided at all costs as is said, you have to think that he didn't get a fair shake in terms of proper allowing the later evidence that came to light. There probably has been a lot of situations like that.

There is pressure on cops to get their man.

 

[Che]

I remember from my younger days hearing that you do NOT want to get mixed up in the Texas legal system.

If the court was willing to hear the evidence.

That's what this article and what I heard was saying just wouldn't be allowed to happen.

 

[stehansen]

If the court was willing to hear the evidence.

If you really believe that the worst scenario of the justice system is killing an innocent man, to be avoided at all costs as is said, you have to think that he didn't get a fair shake in terms of proper allowing the later evidence that came to light. There probably has been a lot of situations like that.

There is pressure on cops to get their man.

Isn't there an automatic appeal trial?

 

[woodworkingboy]

His appeals for a new trial were denied. Texas was notorious for upholding convictions, even when new information came to light in the defendant's behalf.

 

[stehansen]

In Cali there is an automatic appeal upon a death penalty case. It is filed immediately upon conviction. So what did they do for 12 years if they didn't have another couple of trials?

 

[woodworkingboy]

Aside from one short stay of execution from a writ of habeas corpus, they didn't do anything. It took that long to get around to his lethal injection. His few supporters busted ass to get the new information and additional opinions by a real fire forensic expert, evaluated by the courts, but were unsuccessful. They ran out of time.

 

[BlackSmith]

don't expect justice from the judicial system/industry

 

[Fiddler]

don't expect justice from the judicial system/industry

got that right.