Wrongful execution averted
Glen Chapman spent 14 years on death row ... until yesterday.
Fortunately, his time there ended with release, not a dying breath in the execution chamber.
A court-ordered retrial resulted in dismissal of all charges for lack of evidence, The News & Observer reports.
This isn't a matter of legal technicalities. Chapman's conviction in the first place looked bogus.
Some people say we need swifter justice in capital cases. Better justice is more important.
Comments (3)
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The point that is missed, this is just another example of good ole boy justice. The Duke men, Allen Gell, and now this man. Of course its easy to get away with it in NC, no one is punished. There is no out cry from the media.
There may be a least 3 people dead because of a probation screw up. Yet the correct answer is, these people are over worked. Not one person has been fired. If a private company had screw up like this, lawsuits would be flying and the media would go nuts, but we are dealing with the good ole boy justice system.
I am so glad that FOX carried the story about this great American getting strong armed by the Greensboro Police dept. This crap that if you touch a police you will go to jail, is pure bullfeathers. If this police had did this to some left wing nut, the outcry from the media, would have been everywhere. If the folks of Greensboro, do not get the chiefs head on a platter, it will be ashamed. If the media does not ask for his head, its worst than that. The good news this is being talked about in many places and most agree with me. Most people know that I am on the police sides 99% of the time, but this SUCKS.
Posted on April 3, 2008 4:21 PM
Nothing exonerates Glen Chapman, it just says there's not enough evidence to retry him.
"Innocent" and "Not Guilty" are two entirely different circumstances.
Posted on April 3, 2008 6:02 PM
Technically, you're right. But exculpatory evidence withheld (think Mike Nifong) and prosecution witness lying are serious flaws. Someone should not be convicted and sentenced to death in those circumstances.
Posted on April 3, 2008 6:09 PM