There is so much controversy that surrounds capital punishment. Some people are for it, while others are very much against the practice. Whether you’re for it or against it, there have been incidents where the system has killed innocent people. Private investigators in Oklahoma City have discovered a handful of cases where the condemned were unjustly murdered by the judicial system, as their innocence was proven after they got put to death. These cases are complete travesties.
Six accounts of innocent people wrongfully put to death:
- Cameron Todd Willingham – In 1992, Willingham was put to death for allegedly setting his home ablaze and burning his three children to death. After Willingham had suffered capital punishment, a forensics team discovered that the blaze was indeed an accident and not started by Willingham.
- Ruben Cantu – At the tender age of 17, Cantu was alleged to have committed a heinous murder. He was sentenced to death. 12 years after Cantu died, his friend came forward and admitted that he had allowed Cantu to take the wrap for the murder that he committed.
- Larry Griffin – Griffin was executed by the state in 1995 for the 1981 murder of drug lord, Quintin Moss. Eyewitnesses came forward and said that Griffin wasn’t even present during the attack.
- Carlos DeLuna – DeLuna was charged, convicted, and sentenced to death for the 1989 slaying of a convenience store attendant. Over 20 years later, the Chicago Tribune produced evidence that there was no way DeLuna could have possibly committed the murder.
- David Wayne Spence – Spence was put to death in 1997 for the assassination of three Texas teenagers. After his death, the lead investigator on the case admitted that he did not feel that Spence killed the teens.
- Jesse Tafero – In 1976, Tafero and an accomplice were accused of murdering a state trooper. The man who killed the officer fingered Tafero as the one who did the crime. After Tafero had been put to death, the real killer admitted to his unlawfulness.
These are by far not the only cases where innocent people have been wrongfully condemned to die for crimes that they did not commit. Capital punishment might look like a great idea for some criminals, but how do we know that the justice system hasn’t made a mistake? You can always release someone from prison, but you can’t give life back to the dead.
Dr. John Patrick Keefe II, a private investigator in OKC, says, “I don’t think we should have the death penalty; it seems so barbaric to me.” Many folks tend to side with John Keefe II, especially those who have been directly affected by family members being wrongfully put to death.
If you have a family member or friend currently sitting on death row, contact private investigator Dr. John Keefe II to take a look at the case. You never know: perhaps your condemned family member is innocent, and Dr. John Keefe II is just the man to uncover the truth.
There are several possible situations in which an innocent person could die at the hands of the judicial system .
Use of force by law enforcement :
Sometimes the law enforcement agencies use their force mistakenly . The officers use excessive force during arrest or in custody . These excessive force and pressure can cause injury and death .The reason for this is lack of proper training and misinterpretation . In some cases the officers shoot , because they feel threatened . During custody excessive use of physical restraint also causes injury and death .
Innocent Person Sentenced to Death:
In some cases innocent people are sentenced to death due to wrong information . The individual did not do any crime; this can be injustice . The public doesn’t trust law enforcement if they did anything wrong and it also affects their reputation. The innocent person loses their life in the hands of the state .
Negligence in legal process :
The other reason the innocent die in the hands of the state is negligence in the legal procedure by attorneys , judges , lawyers and prosecutors. The negligence of court officials and all of these can give the wrong decision and cause of innocent death. Because you have to obey the order of the court decision .
Systemic discrimination :
Inequality and biases in the judicial system can affect different communities . So systemic discrimination is also the reason for an innocent death in the hands of the state . This can lead to wrong decisions and execution of innocent individuals who are unfairly targeted . So in these cases there is an urgent need for reforms to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
