A stay in Georgia, but for how long?

The U.S. Supreme Court yesterday issued a stay of execution for Troy Davis less than two hours before he was scheduled to be executed in Georgia. Davis had already said what he thought would be final goodbyes to his family members, and he had recorded his final statement. Davis, 39, has been on Georgia’s death row for nearly two decades for a murder he has always said he didn’t commit.

The court announced that the stay would grant the justices time to consider whether to hear an appeal by Davis’ attorneys as to whether Davis deserves a new trial or a hearing based on new evidence of his innocence. Although seven of nine non-police eyewitnesses have recanted their testimony that Davis was the shooter, the Georgia Supreme Court has rejected Davis’ requests for a new hearing.

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Supreme Court issues stay of execution for Davis

(09/23/08)