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Death penalty flawed { June 12 2000 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_787000/787416.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_787000/787416.stm Monday, 12 June, 2000, 17:58 GMT 18:58 UK Most US death sentences 'flawed' Illinois has suspended the death penalty amid criticism A major study of capital punishment in the United States says more than two-thirds of convictions are so flawed that they are overturned on appeal. You're creating a very high risk that some errors are going to get through the process Professor James Liebman The Columbia University report describes America's capital punishment system as fraught with errors. And it says the fault lies in part with the prosecutors who refuse to share vital evidence with defence lawyers and juries. Texas governor and presidential candidate George W Bush, who claims that no one has been wrongly executed during his period as Texas governor, risks his campaign being undermined by the report and growing criticism of the death penalty. George W Bush: Confidence in death penalty The study of 4,578 appeals between 1973 and 1995 showed that most cases "are so seriously flawed that they have to be done over again". Report author Professor James Liebman said: "It's not one case, it's thousands of cases. It's not one state, it's almost all of the states. "You're creating a very high risk that some errors are going to get through the process." Prof Liebman says the biggest problem is lazy and incompetent defence lawyers. In one controversial case, death row inmate Calvin Burdine is fighting to overturn his 1983 conviction on the grounds that his court-appointed lawyer slept through much of his two-day trial. Executions suspended Supporters of the death penalty say the study only goes to show how difficult it is to execute an innocent person, given how many appeals against execution are upheld. Opponents say the large number of successful appeals shows how flawed capital trials are throughout the country. The report comes at a time when America's use of the death penalty is more controversial than ever. I know there are some in the country who don't care for the death penalty, but ... we've adequately answered innocence or guilt George W Bush Illinois recently suspended all executions because of doubts about the guilt of those on death row. Mr Bush earlier this month granted his first 30-day reprieve in a death penalty case, but continued to claim confidence in his state's capital punishment system. He said: "I know there are some in the country who don't care for the death penalty, but ... we've adequately answered innocence or guilt. "They've had full access to the courts. They've had full access to a fair trial." Since reinstating the death penalty in 1976, Texas has executed 218 people - more than any other state and about a third of the country's total. With new medical technology reshaping the debate over capital punishment - the recent reprieve by Mr Bush was over DNA tests - a group of public health physicians hopes the American Medical Association will seek a national moratorium on executions. "The possibility exists that in several states innocent individuals may be executed because medical technology will not be made available in time to prevent their death," said the American Association of Public Health Physicians, the nation's largest doctors group. But public support for capital punishment remains high. A Gallup poll in February showed 66% back the use of death sentences, down somewhat from Gallup polls during the 1990s that showed support ranging from 71% to 80%.

1000th execution is white while black spared 8th ncarolina death row inmate freed { May 6 2008 } Ashcroft pursues death { July 1 2002 } California and florida suspend executions after botch Court overturns 100 death sentences { September 2 2003 } Death penalty flawed { June 12 2000 } Death penalty suspended in new york Death row evidence deliberately falsified by police { May 6 2006 } Dna clears death row inmate { April 22 2003 } Dna evidence destroyed in death penalty case { November 30 2005 } Doctors refusal cause execution postponed indefinitely Fed penalty unconstitutional { July 2 2002 } Federal unconstitutional { September 24 2002 } Governor orders innocence test of executed man { January 6 2006 } Halt executions { May 16 2002 } Innocent individuals are executed { August 11 2003 } Jury only { June 25 2002 } Justice stevens cites serious flaws in use of death penalty { August 8 2005 } Lethal injections cause agonizingly painful deaths { April 15 2005 } Md death penalty { May 10 2002 } Md death racial { January 8 2003 } Md study disparities Mentally retarded { June 21 2002 } Mounting evidence innocent people death penalty North carolina executions on hold { February 20 2007 } Us accuses germany undermining death penalty { November 14 2000 } Us courts overturns 100 death sentences { September 2 2003 } Us violated mexicans rights on death row Witness clears man executed in texas in 1993 { November 22 2005 } Files Listed: 29

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