Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Cameron Todd Willingham
Although innocent, Cameron Todd Willingham was executed in Huntsville, Texas on February 17, 2004. His story is on Frontline tonight.
Here's David Grann's powerful New Yorker article, "Trial by Fire", from September 7, 2009.
Although innocent, Cameron Todd Willingham was executed in Huntsville, Texas on February 17, 2004. His story is on Frontline tonight.
Here's David Grann's powerful New Yorker article, "Trial by Fire", from September 7, 2009.
Labels: willingham
¶ 5:04 PM
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The state of the forensics in the Cameron Todd Willingham case is this:
1) Of all of the forensics reports, that I have read, which find fault with the arson findings, none exclude arson. They conclude that the fire could be either arson or an accident.
2) Other reports continue to find for arson.
Other, non fire forensic, evidence against Todd Willingham not only continues to find for guilt but there is, now, more and stronger evidence against him.
Expert witnesses:
We have all seen where there are equally qualified experts in a trial that have opinions that are complete opposites. In some cases, there can be credible disagreement. In others, we respond with a deserved cynicism,
With the Willingham fire, no credible person has denied that the fire could be arson.
Dr. Hurst demurred. “I never had a case where I could exclude arson,” he said. “It’s not possible to do that.”(1) Never, inclusive of the Willingham fire. of which Hurst was speaking.
Sadly, but in character, Barry Scheck and the Innocent Project have stated, flatty, that it wasn't arson and that Willingham was an innocent executed. (2) All that Scheck and the IP are doing is injuring the credibility of forensic science. Evidently, for them, the find their agenda worth it. Former Texas Governor Mark White, now an anti death penalty activist, appears headed down this path, as well.
(1) "Family’s Effort to Clear Name Frames Debate on Executions", John Schwartz, New York Times, October 14, 2010,
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/15/us/15execution.html?_r=1
(2) New Report Shows that Cameron Todd Willingham, Executed in Texas in 2004, Was Innocent, NEWS RELEAE, Innocence Project, 8/31/09
http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/New_Report_Shows_that_Cameron_Todd_Willingham_Executed_in_Texas_in_2004_Was_Innocent.php
The false innocence claims by anti death penalty activists are legendary. Some examples:
1) "Cameron Todd Willingham: Another Media Meltdown", A Collection of Articles
http://homicidesurvivors.com/categories/Cameron%20Todd%20Willingham.aspx
2) "The Innocent Executed: Deception & Death Penalty Opponents"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/10/08/the-innocent-executed-deception--death-penalty-opponents--draft.aspx
3) The 130 (now 139) death row "innocents" scam
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/03/04/fact-checking-issues-on-innocence-and-the-death-penalty.aspx
4) Sister Helen Prejean & the death penalty: A Critical Review"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/05/04/sister-helen-prejean--the-death-penalty-a-critical-review.aspx
5) "At the Death House Door" Can Rev. Carroll Pickett be trusted?"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/01/30/fact-checking-is-very-welcome.aspx
6) "A Death Penalty Red Herring: The Inanity and Hypocrisy of Perfection", Lester Jackson Ph.D.,
http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=102909A
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1) Of all of the forensics reports, that I have read, which find fault with the arson findings, none exclude arson. They conclude that the fire could be either arson or an accident.
2) Other reports continue to find for arson.
Other, non fire forensic, evidence against Todd Willingham not only continues to find for guilt but there is, now, more and stronger evidence against him.
Expert witnesses:
We have all seen where there are equally qualified experts in a trial that have opinions that are complete opposites. In some cases, there can be credible disagreement. In others, we respond with a deserved cynicism,
With the Willingham fire, no credible person has denied that the fire could be arson.
Dr. Hurst demurred. “I never had a case where I could exclude arson,” he said. “It’s not possible to do that.”(1) Never, inclusive of the Willingham fire. of which Hurst was speaking.
Sadly, but in character, Barry Scheck and the Innocent Project have stated, flatty, that it wasn't arson and that Willingham was an innocent executed. (2) All that Scheck and the IP are doing is injuring the credibility of forensic science. Evidently, for them, the find their agenda worth it. Former Texas Governor Mark White, now an anti death penalty activist, appears headed down this path, as well.
(1) "Family’s Effort to Clear Name Frames Debate on Executions", John Schwartz, New York Times, October 14, 2010,
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/15/us/15execution.html?_r=1
(2) New Report Shows that Cameron Todd Willingham, Executed in Texas in 2004, Was Innocent, NEWS RELEAE, Innocence Project, 8/31/09
http://www.innocenceproject.org/Content/New_Report_Shows_that_Cameron_Todd_Willingham_Executed_in_Texas_in_2004_Was_Innocent.php
The false innocence claims by anti death penalty activists are legendary. Some examples:
1) "Cameron Todd Willingham: Another Media Meltdown", A Collection of Articles
http://homicidesurvivors.com/categories/Cameron%20Todd%20Willingham.aspx
2) "The Innocent Executed: Deception & Death Penalty Opponents"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/10/08/the-innocent-executed-deception--death-penalty-opponents--draft.aspx
3) The 130 (now 139) death row "innocents" scam
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/03/04/fact-checking-issues-on-innocence-and-the-death-penalty.aspx
4) Sister Helen Prejean & the death penalty: A Critical Review"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/05/04/sister-helen-prejean--the-death-penalty-a-critical-review.aspx
5) "At the Death House Door" Can Rev. Carroll Pickett be trusted?"
http://homicidesurvivors.com/2009/01/30/fact-checking-is-very-welcome.aspx
6) "A Death Penalty Red Herring: The Inanity and Hypocrisy of Perfection", Lester Jackson Ph.D.,
http://www.tcsdaily.com/article.aspx?id=102909A
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