Percy Walton’s death sentence commuted
Posted June 11th, 2008 by April | Amnesty News
In human rights activism and particularly in opposing the death penalty, it’s always heartening to receive a little good news. On Monday, Virginia Governor Tim Kaine commuted the death sentence of Percy Walton.
Walton was convicted of the 1996 murders of Elizabeth and Jessee Hendrick and Archie Moore, and was sentenced to death in 1997. However, he was shown to be severely mentally ill, to the extent that he did not understand what it meant to be executed. Walton reportedly told psychiatrists that after his execution he planned to go to Burger King and ride a motorcycle. A 1986 Supreme Court decision forbids the execution of inmates who cannot understand the punishment they are about to receive.
Governor Kaine is to be commended, both for staying Percy Walton’s execution to allow ample time for the review of his mental capacity, and for commuting the sentence after Walton was thoroughly evaluated.
Thanks to all those who wrote and acted on Percy Walton’s behalf.
- Find out more at the AIUSA death penalty blog
- Profile of Walton’s case by VA Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Update: Here is some additional information from AI.
Read Governor Kaine’s statement
Please take a moment to call or write to Governor Kaine to thank him for commuting the sentence. Or you can thank Governor Kaine via the online action.
Gov. Tim Kaine
Phone: (804) 786-2211
Fax: (804) 371-6351
Tell the Lancaster Intelligencer Journal your opinion of the death penalty
Posted April 24th, 2008 by April | York PA
Thanks to Kathleen Lucas and Jen Horwitz for this alert:
The Lancaster Intelligencer Journal’s “People Poll” asks, “Do you favor the death penalty?” Please call 1-866-346-7655, and press 2# for “no”. It literally takes 20 seconds. Voting ends Friday at 5pm, and the results will be published on Saturday.
This is a key area of the state for us. There is a significant Latino population, a diverse faith community, including strong Mennonite and Catholic communities, and a strong peace-and-justice crowd there. And there are key legislators in this county. Call now!
Supreme Court allows execution by lethal injection
Posted April 16th, 2008 by April | Amnesty News
From Reuters:
“The Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected a challenge to the lethal three-drug cocktail used in most U.S. executions during the past 30 years. By a 7-2 vote, the high court rejected a challenge by two Kentucky death row inmates who argued the current lethal injection method violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment by inflicting needless pain and suffering.”
Amnesty International USA responds:
Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Kentucky’s use of lethal injection, fails to address the costly, ineffective and inefficient system that places the United States at the fringes of the world community.
Figures from a new report, released by Amnesty International on Tuesday, show that more than two thirds of the countries in the world have now abolished the death penalty in law or practice.
As in previous years, the vast majority of executions worldwide were carried out in a small handful of countries. In 2007, 88 per cent of all known executions took place in five countries: China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the USA.
Statement by Larry Cox, Executive Director of AIUSA
Summary of AIUSA’s new report on the use of the death penalty worldwide
Thanks to Brendan, the death penalty abolition coordinator of Group 342, for alerting me to this news.
Public Forum on the Death Penalty (Bethlehem)*
Posted April 9th, 2008 by April | Bethlehem, Other Human Rights News
*This is not an Amnesty International event, but may be of interest to AI supporters.
From State Death Penalty Abolition Coordinator Maria:
I hope you will consider attending the following event organized by two Lehigh students who have interned this semster with the Lehigh Valley Committee Against State Killing as part of their class on Community Activism and Democracy.
Sunday, April 13, 7PM at Lehigh University, Maginnes Hall, Room 101 there will be a public forum on the death penalty sponsored by the Black Student Union, the College Democrats, the College Republicans, and the Lehigh Patriot.
This debate/discussion will feature attorney Jim Moreno and State Rep. Doug Reichley.
Jim Moreno is a capital defense attorney with the Defenders Association of Philadelphia. He lives in Macungie and was one of Dennis Counterman’s appellate defense attorneys. Jim was instrumental in having Dennis’ capital conviction overturned, and in having Dennis released from prison.
Doug Reichley is a state representative from Emmaus. He is also a former DA, and represented the state of PA against Dennis Counterman at the appellate level.
This is a great opportunity to take part in a thoughtful and informative discussion of the death penalty. Hope to see you there!
Race and the Death Penalty: Is Justice Color Blind? (Wilmington)*
Posted April 2nd, 2008 by April | Other Human Rights News
*This is not an Amnesty International event, but may be of interest to AI supporters.
Race and the Death Penalty: Is Justice Color Blind?
Tuesday, April 15, 7:00 pm
Widener University School of Law
Moot Courtroom, Law School Building
4601 Concord Pike, Wilmington DE
Featuring
Sheri Lynn Johnson, Professor of Law, Cornell University School of Law, and Assistant Director, Cornell Death Penalty Project
Distinguished Panelists include:
Robert L. Hayman, Professor of Law, Widener University School of Law
Judith L. Ritter, Professor of Law, Widener University School of Law
Keisha N. Hudson, Assistant Federal Defender, Capital Habeas Unit
Free and open to the public. Co-sponsored by Delaware Citizens Opposed to the Death Penalty, Law and Inequality Project of Widener University School of Law, Phi Delta Alpha of Widener University School of Law, ACLU-DE Chapter, Delaware Pacem in Terris, and Wilmington Friends Meeting Ad Hoc Committee on Peace.
For more information www.enddeathpenaltyde.org or call (302) 656-2721.
Fairness Matters for Troy Davis
Posted November 7th, 2007 by April | Take Action
A message from AIUSA
Because of you, Troy Davis is still alive today. Listen to Troy thank you personally.
Last July, despite strong evidence of his innocence, Troy Davis came within 24 hours of execution by the state of Georgia. Thanks to the 34,000 individuals who sent appeals, Troy was granted a 90-day stay.
The Georgia Supreme Court will decide if Troy gets a new trial and an opportunity to finally present evidence that has never been heard in court.
- There was no physical evidence against Troy Davis.
- The weapon used was never found.
- The case against him consisted entirely of witness testimony.
- 7 of the 9 non-police witnesses have recanted or contradicted their testimony.
- Many of these witnesses have stated that they were pressured or coerced by the police. One of the witnesses who has not recanted is the principle alternative suspect.
- Nine individuals have signed affadavits implicating this suspect as the actual shooter.
- Troy Davis has never had a hearing in federal court on the reliability of the witness testimony used against him.
Troy’s life was temporarily spared, yet the possibility of his execution still remains if he is not granted a new hearing or trial. Please sign the petition today, and ask five of your friends to do the same.
Together, we’ll send a strong message to the Georgia authorities that when it comes to the death penalty, fairness matters.
Posters and signs needed for Regional Conference death penalty rally
Posted October 30th, 2007 by April | Amnesty News
We are having a rally at this year’s regional conference to repeal the death penalty. If your group plans on attending, we would really appreciate sign/poster making. Try to aim for 20! To make it easy, below is a list of slogans for your signs:
$$Capital Punishment is EXPENSIVE$$
Repeal the Death Penalty NOW!
Dear Governor O’Malley, Thank you for leading the way to repeal the death penalty
Innocence exists on death row!
People of faith oppose the death penalty.
Life Without Parole Works Better Than Death!
PA Senate Passes Death Penalty Mental Retardation Bill
Posted October 30th, 2007 by April | Amnesty News
Senate Bill 751, legislation that will ensure that persons with mental retardation will not be executed in Pennsylvania, passed the state Senate yesterday by a landslide vote of 45-3. We are hopeful that this decisive vote will give us momentum in the House. The Mid-Atlantic Regional Office is member of Pennsylvania’s for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, a group that has been working on this issue. PADP is also a partner with Amnesty in our work towards a death penalty moratorium in PA.
Urgent Action files for October 23, 2007
Posted October 24th, 2007 by April | Take Action
AIUSA issued 5 Urgent Action files yesterday, on behalf of people in Brazil, Iran, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Tunisia. Current postage rates for a letter: within USA $.41, to Canada and Mexico $.69, all other countries $.90
Express Concern for Fear of Imminent Execution in Iran (UA 271/07) – Soghra Najafpour is currently believed to be in hiding. If she is taken into custody, she could face imminent execution for a murder committed when she may have been only 13 years old. Please send appeals by December 4.
Halt Fear for Safety for Indigenous Families in Brazil (UA 270/07) – Around 50 Guajajara families, in the remote Arraiboia reservation in the central west of Maranhao state, are at risk of attack from local gunmen allegedly contracted by illegal loggers. Please send appeals by December 4.
Protect 3 Unnamed Men from Torture in Saudi Arabia (UA 273/07) – AI has received reports that 2 men have been sentenced by a court in al-Baha in Saudi Arabia to 7,000 lashes each for sexual intercourse. A third man was said to have been sentenced to 450 lashes for drug related offenses by the same court. Please send appeals by December 5.
Stop Fear of Torture for 5 Men in Tunisia (UA 15/07) – Ousama Abbadi, Mohammed Amine Jaziri, Ramzi el Aifi, Oualid Layouni, & Mahdi Ben Elhaj Ali were allegedly tortured by the prison guards in Mornaguia Prison around 16 October. Some of them need urgent medical treatment. AI fears that may be subjected to further torture/other ill-treatment. Please send appeals by December 4.
Defend Journalists from Death Threats in Mexico (UA 260/07) – Journalists for El Imparcial del Istmo, a regional newspaper based in Oaxaca, have been receiving death threats, apparently as a result of the newspaper’s coverage of a drug-trafficking gang’s activities in the state. 3 of their colleagues were shot dead earlier this week. Please send appeals by November 22.
Virginia Stayed their 99th Execution
Posted October 23rd, 2007 by April | Amnesty News
A Virginia death row inmate received a stay of execution from the Supreme Court on Wednesday, October 17th, just hours before he was to be put to death. Last month the Supreme Court agreed to decide a challenge to the lethal injection method.
For more information about the case, click here for an article:
Supreme Court Grants Stay of Execution for Virginia Man (The New York Times, October 18 2007)