Post by marion on Jun 29, 2006 2:06:11 GMT -5
Sedley Alley Executed with Evidence Untested and Guilt in Doubt
by Randy Tatel,
Tennessee Independent Media
June 28, 2006
Uncertainty and Unanswered Questions Shroud Tennessee Execution
Nashville: Despite serious questions as to the reliability of his
conviction, the state of Tennessee executed Sedley Alley in the early hours
of the morning. Alleys execution came only days after the Chicago Tribune
revealed evidence that Texas executed an innocent man, Carlos De Luna, in
1989. Sedley Alley was convicted of the 1985 murder of Suzanne Marie
Collins, but recently revealed evidence has led to questions about his
guilt.
Evidence withheld from the defense at trial reveals that Alley was under
police surveillance at the time of Collins death. The state also placed
heavy emphasis on Alleys supposed confession, but the confession bore all
the earmarks of being false or coerced. Many facts of Alleys confession bear
no resemblance to the facts of the actual murder. More disturbingly, Alley
was interrogated by police for over two hours, but the tape recording of the
interrogation is under one hour long. The tape includes seven places where
the recording was stopped and then restarted. DNA evidence exists that could
be tested to prove, once and for all, whether Alley was guilty or innocent.
But the state continually refused to allow the testing.
Tennesseans deserve certainty, and in the case of Sedley Alley, we have been
denied that, said Randy Tatel, the Executive Director of the Tennessee
Coalition to Abolish State Killing. This execution has demonstrated that the
state is more interested in pursuing revenge than the truth.
Across the nation, 124 death row inmates have been freed from death row
after evidence of their innocence came to light. Even more disturbingly,
Carlos De Lunas case makes the fourth time in nineteen months that
investigative journalism exposed an execution of an innocent man. In
Tennessee, Paul House still sits on death row after 20 years despite DNA
evidence pointing to his innocence.
The people of Tennessee are coming to realize that our capital punishment
system is clearly broken, said Tatel. The execution of Sedley Alley once
again demonstrates the risks inherent in the use of the death penalty. Until
we can be certain that no innocent person will be threatened with execution,
we call for an immediate halt to all executions.
The official cause of death listed on the death certificate of a person who
has been executed reads homicide.
The murder of Suzanne Marie Collins was a tragedy. Her family members are
the survivors of a homicide victim, and our hearts go out to them, said
Tatel. But, by its actions tonight, the state of Tennessee has made Sedley
Alleys two innocent children, David and April, survivors of a homicide
victim as well.
by Randy Tatel,
Tennessee Independent Media
June 28, 2006
Uncertainty and Unanswered Questions Shroud Tennessee Execution
Nashville: Despite serious questions as to the reliability of his
conviction, the state of Tennessee executed Sedley Alley in the early hours
of the morning. Alleys execution came only days after the Chicago Tribune
revealed evidence that Texas executed an innocent man, Carlos De Luna, in
1989. Sedley Alley was convicted of the 1985 murder of Suzanne Marie
Collins, but recently revealed evidence has led to questions about his
guilt.
Evidence withheld from the defense at trial reveals that Alley was under
police surveillance at the time of Collins death. The state also placed
heavy emphasis on Alleys supposed confession, but the confession bore all
the earmarks of being false or coerced. Many facts of Alleys confession bear
no resemblance to the facts of the actual murder. More disturbingly, Alley
was interrogated by police for over two hours, but the tape recording of the
interrogation is under one hour long. The tape includes seven places where
the recording was stopped and then restarted. DNA evidence exists that could
be tested to prove, once and for all, whether Alley was guilty or innocent.
But the state continually refused to allow the testing.
Tennesseans deserve certainty, and in the case of Sedley Alley, we have been
denied that, said Randy Tatel, the Executive Director of the Tennessee
Coalition to Abolish State Killing. This execution has demonstrated that the
state is more interested in pursuing revenge than the truth.
Across the nation, 124 death row inmates have been freed from death row
after evidence of their innocence came to light. Even more disturbingly,
Carlos De Lunas case makes the fourth time in nineteen months that
investigative journalism exposed an execution of an innocent man. In
Tennessee, Paul House still sits on death row after 20 years despite DNA
evidence pointing to his innocence.
The people of Tennessee are coming to realize that our capital punishment
system is clearly broken, said Tatel. The execution of Sedley Alley once
again demonstrates the risks inherent in the use of the death penalty. Until
we can be certain that no innocent person will be threatened with execution,
we call for an immediate halt to all executions.
The official cause of death listed on the death certificate of a person who
has been executed reads homicide.
The murder of Suzanne Marie Collins was a tragedy. Her family members are
the survivors of a homicide victim, and our hearts go out to them, said
Tatel. But, by its actions tonight, the state of Tennessee has made Sedley
Alleys two innocent children, David and April, survivors of a homicide
victim as well.