NewsMine — security — prison-incarceration — deathpenalty — Viewing Item

Governor orders innocence test of executed man { January 6 2006 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-dna6jan06,1,3241472.story?coll=la-headlines-nation http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-dna6jan06,1,3241472.story?coll=la-headlines-nation From the Los Angeles Times THE NATION In Virginia, DNA Tests Ordered in Case of Man Executed in 1992 From Associated Press January 6, 2006 RICHMOND, Va. — Gov. Mark R. Warner on Thursday ordered DNA evidence to be tested to determine whether a man convicted of rape and murder was innocent when he was executed in 1992. If the testing shows Roger Keith Coleman did not rape and kill his sister-in-law in 1981, it will be the first time in the United States a person has been exonerated by scientific testing after his execution, death penalty opponents said. Warner said he ordered the tests because of technological advances that could provide a level of forensic certainty not available in the 1980s. "This is an extraordinarily unique circumstance, where technology has advanced significantly and can be applied in the case of someone who consistently maintained his innocence until execution," said Warner, a Democrat who leaves office Jan. 14. "I believe we must always follow the available facts to a more complete picture of guilt or innocence," Warner said. Coleman was convicted and sentenced to death in 1982 for the murder of 19-year-old Wanda McCoy, his wife's sister, who was found raped, stabbed and nearly beheaded in her home in Grundy. The case drew international attention as the well-spoken Coleman pleaded his case on talk shows and in magazines and newspapers. Time magazine featured the coal miner on its cover. Then-Gov. L. Douglas Wilder's office was flooded with calls and letters of protest. Warner has heard requests throughout his term from death penalty opposition groups who wanted the evidence retested. "This is a proper action for the governor to take. It's not right to shy away from a difficult question or even shy away from reopening cases when there is a chance that something new might be learned," said Richard Dieter, head of the Death Penalty Information Center. Coleman's lawyers argued that he did not have time to commit the crime, that tests showed semen from two men was found on McCoy's body and that another man bragged about killing her. Coleman was executed May 20, 1992. "An innocent man is going to be murdered tonight," the 33-year-old said moments before he was electrocuted. "When my innocence is proven, I hope America will realize the injustice of the death penalty, as all other civilized countries have." Brad McCoy, who was married to Wanda McCoy when she was slain, said he remained convinced Coleman killed her and said he had been hurt by the questions about Coleman's guilt. "I really don't understand why it's being done," said McCoy, who has remarried. "We keep talking about Roger Coleman as the victim. Wanda McCoy was the victim. I have no doubt in my mind it will prove him guilty. Where does it end?"

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

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.