July 5, 2005
Virginia capital defendant's DNA evidence illegally thrown away
Despite this error, Robin Lovitt's execution is scheduled for July 11th.
All of the DNA evidence presented at trial was inconclusive and any hope
of presenting conclusive evidence was made impossible when further DNA
evidence was illegally thrown away.
Other evidence tying Lovitt to the crime was merely circumstantial. The
eyewitness at trial admitted uncertainty when fingering Lovitt. Other
testimony came from a jailhouse informant whose testimony was
inconsistent.
We cannot afford a death penalty system that is willing to execute under
these circumstances. This case highlights one of the many reoccuring
problems with capital punishment in the United States.
Act now by contacting the state of Virginia and asking that Lovitt's
execution be halted!
Read More and Take Action at
http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/
campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=930
Plea of insufficient resources unheard as Georgia man awaits execution
Robert Conklin's trial attorney knew that with severely limited resources
and only 37 days to prepare for trial, he would never be able to provide
adequate defense for his client. The trial judge, however, refused to
grant even a brief extension or the scarcest of funds that may have made
the difference between life or death for Conklin.
It is indigent persons such as Conklin who are most often sentensed to
death in the United States. It is clear that the death penalty does not
target the "worst of the worst" offenders. Rather the targets are those
who are poor: people without access to resources for defense.
Act now to urge Gov. Sonny Perdue and the Georgia Board of Pardons and
Parole to stop Conklin's execution!
Read More and Take Action at
http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/
campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=931
See and act on all current Execution Alerts at
http://www.ncadp.org/execution_alerts.html
July 11: Robin Lovitt, Virginia
http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/
campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=930
July 12 : Robert Conklin, Georgia
http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/
campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=931
July 19: Michael L. Pennington, Oklahoma
http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/
campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=932
July 26: Ricky Dale Newman, Arkansas
http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/
campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=940
July 27: Kevin Conner, Indiana
http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/
campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=939
July 28: David Martinez, Texas
http://www.demaction.org/dia/organizations/ncadp/
campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=934
(source: National Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty)
