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This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences between a news story and an opinion column.

Justice is staggering

With the advent of DNA “evidence,” many would-be death penalty victims were spared going to their deaths innocent of any crime, thus exposing the weaknesses and disastrous shortcomings of a judiciary system that in some states still allows such mistakes to occur (where witness-only testimony satisfies an “eye-for-an-eye” outcome).

On Aug. 24, several of the “witnesses” who put Troy Davis on death row in Georgia recanted their versions of what they “saw.” Yet a federal judge refuses to stay his execution, to allow justice to take its due course.

Imagine if this was your son or daughter or spouse. While our justice system sometimes gets it right, it’s far from perfect. Help stop this travesty of justice. If you care, contact Amnesty International for more information. It could be you next time, instead of Troy Davis.

Thomas Keenan

Coeur d’Alene

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