I’m bringing you the second GUEST VOICE at TMV by Mr. Elijah Sweete. To give perspective to his article below, of the 1,175 people put to death nationwide since 1977 when executions resumed in the USA, 441 have been in Texas. There have been 39 executions in the USA so far this year 2009, 18 of them in Texas.
Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés
TEXAS GOV. PERRY THROWS WRENCH INTO
INNOCENT EXECUTION INVESTIGATION
by Elijah Sweete
Five years ago the state of Texas executed Cameron Todd Willingham for the “arson” related deaths of his children. It is widely believed that the forensic evidence used to support the conviction was faulty and that the fire was not arson. One of the foremost experts on the subject, Craig Beyler, has referred to the evidence underpinning the conviction as “junk science”.
The Texas Forensic Science Commission was reviewing the case and was expected to take up the Beyler report today. But, on Wednesday Governor Rick Perry (R-TX), without prior notice, replaced three of the members of the Commission, including the chairman. As a result, today’s meeting of the Commission has been cancelled.
According to the Dallas Morning News, “The newly appointed chairman…would not commit to reviewing the Beyler report.” The same article in the Dallas Morning News contains the following:
“Texas was on the verge of being the first state to admit it executed an innocent man, critics said, until the governor replaced board members and their replacements cancelled Friday’s meeting.”_________
CODA; The image I chose for Mr. Sweete’s article is called Pieta, by Artist Paul Fryer. Pieta was recently put on display in a cathedral in Gap, France. If the image is offensive to anyone, I apologize. In my religion and its dedicated social justice stance against executions, this representation would be considered by most to cause contemplation and action, rather than offense. But, I realize, to each their own. Thanks. Dr. E.