Monday, May 26, 2008

The Bush Legacy: Texas sets date to kill another innocent man

Cultural insanity. Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out.

Texas Death Row Inmate, Greg Wright Gets Execution Date of September 9, 2008 - Associated Content
Despite DNA testing that has cleared Wright of evidence found on a pair of jeans, and a polygraph test that Wright has passed which shows he has been telling the truth all along, as well as a written confession from codefendant John Wade Adams, the state of Texas has issued an execution date of September 9, 2008 for Gregory Wright.

Executions have resumed in Texas after The Supreme Court ruled that lethal injection is not cruel and unusual, and Texas has over 14 executions lined up for the summer months. After a 7 month hold on executions, Texas is wasting no time in executing their inmates, and it doesn't seem to matter to them if they are innocent or not.

However, anyone who has read about the case of Greg Wright has to admit that Wright is an innocent man, and should be removed from the death row unit and freed of all charges, or at least be given a new and fair trial. What more proof of innocence does Texas need to admit that Wright did no wrong doing in the murder of Donna Vick. Wright's codefendant has admitted that he murdered her, and he also sits on death row, waiting his turn to die.

Wright's wife Connie has been by his side throughout his imprisonment since 1997 and has created a website with facts about his case, and a petition for people to sign. She hopes to gather as many signatures as possible to present to the Texas board of parole and pardons. The facts about his case and the petition can be read here. She urges everyone to show their support for an innocent man and sign the petition.

This is not the first time an innocent man has been on Texas death row. In August of 2007, Texas Parole and Pardons voted to commute the sentence of then death row inmate Kenneth Foster. Governor Perry commuted his sentence to life without parole. Foster was sentenced under "The Law of Parties" which states that someone present at a murder scene can also be charged with Capital punishment. Foster was the get away driver, and never left the car. Much publicity was given to this case, as Foster's family and friends protested the execution.


We used to say in Arkansas of Bill Clinton, "We've had him long enough. It's everyone else's turn." But it seems that one of the least educated states in the union has more sense than the denizens of Texas. They pushed their killer off onto the rest of us, but continue with the same insane practices and traditions.

It must be in the water. Whatever the cause, I don't care to go to Texass to find out. In Missouri, we say "... come on vacation, leave on probation". Go to Texass, you're apt to leave in a body bag. Sorry, can't think of a quaint expression for that.