State of Georgia v Davis
Davis v. The State of Georgia: Sentencing and Appeals
Eugene Berry
5/5/15
Crj2200 Week 3 Assignment 2
In the case of The State of Georgia v. Troy Davis on the date of august 28, 1991 Troy Davis was claimed guilty by jury after two hours. Davis was guilty on the charge of murder, aggravated assault, having a firearm during the commission of a felony, as well as obstruction of justice. Davis was convicted by the superior court of Chatham County, Davis appealed these charges due to the possible capital crime punishment, but was affirmed due to evidence supporting aggravating circumstances against the police officer who was engaged in performing his duties, and that the murder was horrible or outrages to reasonable people, on account of execution style shooting. Overall this case was appealed three times overall across several years finally ending in his death penalty being carried out by lethal injection.
During the original trial in 1991, Davis originally denied shooting a person earlier in the day as well as shooting the officer. Davis testified that his friend assaulted the first person and the Davis himself fled well before there were any guns used and did not know who shot either person. During the sentencing of the first trial Davis and his three of his family members testified for Davis. In the final statement to the jury Davis said “spare my life. Just give me a second chance. That’s all I ask.” Davis told the jurors he didn’t commit the crimes they convicted him for. Unfortunately the officer family and friends were not allowed to testify for the prosecution. If the officer was still alive then I believe this would have been a non-capital punishment since murder would be taken off the list. And most likely he would have been able to testify about who shot him and what he saw happen that night. In the end it might have ended up as an attempted murder charge, or if he returned fire then the case could possibly not exist if Davis died from
Eugene Berry
5/5/15
Crj2200 Week 3 Assignment 2
In the case of The State of Georgia v. Troy Davis on the date of august 28, 1991 Troy Davis was claimed guilty by jury after two hours. Davis was guilty on the charge of murder, aggravated assault, having a firearm during the commission of a felony, as well as obstruction of justice. Davis was convicted by the superior court of Chatham County, Davis appealed these charges due to the possible capital crime punishment, but was affirmed due to evidence supporting aggravating circumstances against the police officer who was engaged in performing his duties, and that the murder was horrible or outrages to reasonable people, on account of execution style shooting. Overall this case was appealed three times overall across several years finally ending in his death penalty being carried out by lethal injection.
During the original trial in 1991, Davis originally denied shooting a person earlier in the day as well as shooting the officer. Davis testified that his friend assaulted the first person and the Davis himself fled well before there were any guns used and did not know who shot either person. During the sentencing of the first trial Davis and his three of his family members testified for Davis. In the final statement to the jury Davis said “spare my life. Just give me a second chance. That’s all I ask.” Davis told the jurors he didn’t commit the crimes they convicted him for. Unfortunately the officer family and friends were not allowed to testify for the prosecution. If the officer was still alive then I believe this would have been a non-capital punishment since murder would be taken off the list. And most likely he would have been able to testify about who shot him and what he saw happen that night. In the end it might have ended up as an attempted murder charge, or if he returned fire then the case could possibly not exist if Davis died from
References: Execution Set for Troy Anthony Davis, Convicted of 1989 Murder of Savannah Police Officer. (n.d.). Retrieved May 5, 2015, from http://law.ga.gov/press-releases/2011-09-07/execution-set-troy-anthony-davis-convicted-1989-murder-savannah-police Troy Anthony Davis #1269. (n.d.). Retrieved May 5, 2015, from http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/davis1269.htm Davis Evidence Can’t Be Used (May 14, 1991). Retrieved May 5, 2015, from http://multimedia.savannahnow.com/media/DavisMcPhail/1991/05141991HIGHCOURTAFFIRMSBAN.pdf Troy Davis put to death in Georgia - CNN.com. (n.d.). Retrieved May 5, 2015, from http://www.cnn.com/2011/09/21/justice/georgia-execution/index.html (n.d.). Retrieved May 5, 2015, from http://www.dcor.state.ga.us/Research/Annual/Roster_death_row_Jan_2011.pdf Schmalleger, Frank J. Criminal Justice: A Brief Introduction, 10th Edition. Pearson Learning Solutions, 01/2013. VitalBook file. South University Online. (2015). CRJ2200: Introduction to Criminal Courts: Week 1, 2, and 3