Comments on: Hank Skinner Execution Update: Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles Deny DNA Test Request

By: Flellaemupt

Flellaemupt — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 03:37:16 +0000

Hi
I am a newbie here.
Glad to find this forum…as what I am looking for

By: The Liberty Papers »Blog Archive » SCOTUS, Not Gov. Perry, Grants Hank Skinner a Reprieve

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 23:42:45 +0000

[...] Related: Hank Skinner Execution Update: Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles Deny DNA Test Request [...]

By: Stephen Littau

Stephen Littau — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 20:42:04 +0000

Good point Nick. Why doesn’t the Texas Death Panel take this into consideration?

By: Nick M.

Nick M. — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:51:12 +0000

Stephen,

Go back and read Balko’s article again as to there being no request for DNA testing. Skinner wrote to his lawyer to have him request DNA testing, and his lawyer (the guy who previously prosecuted Skinner) did not.

By: Stephen Littau

Stephen Littau — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 19:45:26 +0000

Walter, I’m originally from Texas. I lived my first 19 years of life there. I have a great deal of love for Texas (for what it’s worth, my favorite NFL team is the Dallas Cowboys). I grew up in a small town not too far from where these murders took place.

My problem is with the broken Texas criminal justice system not the people. The Texas criminal justice system has wrongfully convicted more individuals than any other state. Dallas County alone has wrongfully convicted more individuals than all but 3 STATES. I take no pleasure in reporting these unfortunate facts.

I hardly think that testing evidence (without using a dime of taxpayer money) that the state currently has in its custody that could be easily tested is putting an undue burden on the state. After waiting 15 years, what’s 30 more days to be sure they are killing the right person?

“Which part of the world being imperfect do you fail to grasp when condemning an imperfect system (with juries of knuckle-dragging Texans, no less) for executing innocent people?”

This is the reason I am opposed to the death penalty in principle – because it’s a human system it will always be an imperfect. If the system is imperfect, the system has no business taking someone’s life. Taking one’s freedom is one thing, taking someone’s life is quite another.

By: Walter

Walter — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:49:08 +0000

Pardon, that was unkind. I meant parochial pablum.

By: Walter

Walter — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 18:45:37 +0000

Nice to see what ill you think of us knuckle-dragging Texans. Which part of “due process” is it that that you confuse with endlessly fishing for a way out? Which part of the world being imperfect do you fail to grasp when condemning an imperfect system (with juries of knuckle-dragging Texans, no less) for executing innocent people?

Thank you for the framable example of pablum.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:11:58 +0000

Thank you for this excellent essay. I have to wonder what those opposed to DNA testing are afraid of. If they are so positive that Skinner won’t be exonerated by the results of these tests, why don’t they want the full truth to come out? If that’s true, the tests would only strengthen the case against Skinner, so what are they trying to hide?

Is this merely a matter of pride? Or is there corruption being hidden? Either way, it’s hard to believe this is happening in our country, in our great state. I’m stunned.

By: Sandra Lewis

Sandra Lewis — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:12:58 +0000

Unfortunately, in this case I believe he committed these heinous crimes. I don’t believe DNA evidence can possibly prove that he didn’t do it. Sorry guys, but in the sorry state of Texas, they got it right this time.