Tag Archives: wrongful convictions

Many Positives

Willie Jerome Manning was permitted to seek DNA and fingerprint testing over two years ago, but still there is no news of the final results. Long waits are normal on death row, but this one must be particularly challenging: Willie … Continue reading

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Extremity of Torture

Richard Glossip came close to execution in Oklahoma twice last month. The first time, the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals granted him a stay to allow his lawyers to submit new evidence; but his ensuing appeal was quickly rejected by … Continue reading

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Prosecutors: Many Bad Apples

The Daily Beast’s series of articles on prosecutors this summer was alarming. This summary gives a taste of the content: “American prosecutors are powerful officials. They have the power to deprive people of their liberty, destroy their reputations, and even take … Continue reading

Posted in capital punishment, death penalty, Mississippi, prosecutorial misconduct, USA, Willie Jerome Manning, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Richard Glossip: Tenuous, Untrustworthy Evidence of Guilt

Richard Glossip is scheduled to be executed in Oklahoma on Wednesday (September 16, 2015). One of his current attorneys, Don Knight, has described his trial in marketing terms: “Basically, you’ve got prosecution trying to sell their product [Glossip’s responsibility for … Continue reading

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Willie’s DNA Profile Requested

Today it is exactly two years – 730 long days – since a mandate from the Mississippi Supreme Court allowed Willie Manning to pursue his request for DNA testing and fingerprint comparison. For Willie the two years must have seemed interminable. … Continue reading

Posted in African American, capital punishment, death penalty, Death Row, DNA profiling, DNA testing, Fly Manning, Mississippi, torture, USA, Willie Jerome Manning, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

False Testimony Amplified

The issue of forensic hair testimony in Willie’s remaining case was clarified last month by D.H. Kaye in three posts on his blog, Forensic Science, Statistics & the Law (see here, here and here). Kaye discussed the errors made by the … Continue reading

Posted in Fly Manning, forensic testimony, Injustice, Mississippi, USA, Willie Jerome Manning, Willie Manning | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Hope in the Midst of Despair

Imagine being on death row for 20 years, convicted of crimes of which you are innocent. Your juries believed the prosecutors, and during the appeals process your innocence becomes irrelevant (appeals focus only on whether correct procedures have been followed). … Continue reading

Posted in African American, capital punishment, death penalty, Death Row, Fly Manning, Innocent, Mississippi State Penitentiary Parchman, prison conditions, Willie Jerome Manning, Willie Manning, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

US Supreme Court: Faulty Analysis of Willie’s Cases

Death penalty supporters disappointed by last month’s US Supreme Court ruling are finding hope for the future in the dissents to the ruling, supported by four of the nine justices. Justice Breyer’s dissent is particularly comprehensive: “I would ask for full … Continue reading

Posted in capital punishment, death penalty, Fly Manning, Glossip v. Gross, Justice Breyer, miscarriages of justice, Mississippi, SCOTUS, US Supreme Court, USA, Willie Jerome Manning, Willie Manning, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A Bitter Blow

The Glossip v. Gross ruling is a bitter blow for death penalty opponents. A deeply divided and acrimonious US Supreme Court ruled 5:4 last week that: “Because the death penalty is constitutional there must be a constitutional way of carrying it out.” … Continue reading

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DNA Testing: Semen Found

The results of preliminary DNA testing in Willie Manning’s Steckler-Miller case were made public yesterday. The results, given in a letter from a Senior Forensic DNA Analyst at the Cellmark Forensics Dallas Lab, are as follows: Rape kit Three swabs were tested … Continue reading

Posted in African American, capital punishmant, death penalty, Death Row, Fly Manning, forensic testing, Mississippi, USA, Willie Manning, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment