News Americas, ATLANTA, Georgia, Weds. Sept. 21, 2011: A Georgia man is scheduled to die on Wednesday at 7 p.m. by injection for killing white off-duty officer Mark MacPhail.
Troy Davis’s clemency was denied by the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles Tuesday despite widespread appeals. It is the fourth time in four years that Davis’ execution has been scheduled by Georgia officials.
The NAACP is among those lobbying for Davis’ life since they argue that since his conviction, the facts of the case have changed dramatically.
“The evidence in the Troy Davis case has always been circumstantial due to a lack of relevant physical evidence and no murder weapon. The conviction was based almost wholly on witness testimony, and seven of the nine witnesses have recanted their testimony or changed their story. In light of this knowledge, the evidence used to convict Troy Davis appears even weaker,” the NAACP said Tuesday.
Davis has captured worldwide attention after his supporters raised concerns that he was a victim of mistaken identity. Several of the witnesses who helped convict Davis at his 1991 trial have backed off their testimony or recanted. Others who did not testify say another man at the scene admitted to the shooting.
