Troy Davis Gets His Day in Court

Tomorrow, a Savannah federal district court will hold an evidentiary hearing to decide if death row inmate Troy Davis will get a new trial.

In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court ordered the hearing last year.  The Court’s decision came after civil rights groups, members of Congress, and world leaders demanded a new trial for Davis, who currently sits on death row in Georgia for a murder he may not have committed.

In 1991, Troy Davis was found guilty of the murder of an off-duty police officer in Savannah, Ga., based solely on witness testimony. Since then, seven of the nine non-police officer witnesses have recanted, or changed, their testimony against Davis. Many of the witnesses claim to have been pressured into providing damaging testimony against Davis by police officers eager to secure a conviction.

Unlike a trial, the burden of proof in this hearing is on Davis.  The recanting witnesses will testify and the court will determine whether or not there was evidence that could have been obtained at the time of Davis’ original trial that could prove his innocence.

Amnesty International is holding a Day of Solidarity today to “reflect on how far we have come in highlighting the fundamental unfairness in this case, and a time to show that we remain hopeful, but vigilant, and that we recognize the great challenge Troy Davis faces in the requirement to prove his innocence.”