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Troy Davis

Troy Anthony Davis, 42, was an African-American death row inmate in Georgia who was executed on Sept. 21, 2011, at 11:08 p.m. EST. He was convicted in the 1989 murder of off-duty Georgia police officer Mark MacPhail, who was shot and killed while rushing to the aid of a homeless man being attacked in a parking lot.

Davis's conviction and death sentence have sparked an international firestorm of controversy because his conviction was based solely upon eyewitness testimony, with no murder weapon, DNA evidence or fingerprints linking him to the crime. Additionally, all but two of the original non-police witnesses have recanted or contradicted their testimony implicating Davis as the shooter.

Advocates in support of Davis said that there exists too much doubt over his guilt. His case had been heard by the U.S. Supreme Court and had garnered attention from high-profile advocates such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu and President Jimmy Carter.

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Georgia Prisoners Stage Hunger Strike for Change

Inmates in a Georgia prison are making a second attempt at staging a hunger strike in efforts to bring awareness to the unreasonable and inhumane treatment they face at the hand of prison guards and officials.

Judge Throws Out 1991 Murder Conviction, Death Sentence

Jermaine Marlow Wright’s conviction for a 1991 killing was thrown out because the judge said he had “no confidence” in the evidence.

Troy Davis’ Execution

It was a day that many will never forget. On September 21, Troy Davis was executed at 11:08p.m. Davis was convicted of killing Mark MacPhail, a 27-year-old white off-duty police officer 22 years ago, but his innocence, until the day of his death a...

Report: Death Sentences Plunge to Historic Lows

The Death Penalty Information Center reported that 78 people were sentenced to death in 2011, down from nearly 30 percent in 2010 and 65 percent since 2000. They say the decline could be because of “growing discomfort” among Americans to high-prof...

Commentary: Mumia Was Spared, but a Brutal Practice Continues

The announcement that Mumia Abu-Jamal will no longer face the death penaly is a welcome relief for many, but death penalty opponents cannot relax their struggle for a more humane criminal justice system in the U.S. Read More

Troy Davis’s Sister Has Died

Martina Davis-Correia, the sister of Georgia death row inmate Troy Davis, lost her battle to breast cancer on Thursday.

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