Texas Death Row Inmate Jeff Wood's Clemency Plea is Denied
The State of Texas to Execute a Man Innocent of Murder
Wood's case gained notoriety when family, friends and death penalty abolitionists grouped together to protest his execution. Wood was convicted under "The Law of Parties" statue, which states you can get the death penalty for just being present at the scene of a crime. Another inmate, Daniel Earl Reneau was executed in 2002 for the murder of Kris Keeran in 1996.
Almost one year ago another Texas death row inmate, Kenneth Foster Jr. was granted a commutation of sentence, and is now serving life in Texas. His case was similar to Wood's because he too was sentenced under "The Law of Parties" and he never touched the murder weapon. Supporters of Foster generated over 17,000 calls to The Parole and Pardons, and Governor Rick Perry to protest his execution.
Approximately 80 Texas inmates are currently on Texas death row, that were not the actual murderer, but present at the crime scene.
We strongly urge anyone who reads this to contact the Governor of Texas in protest
Sources:
Associated Content Producer Dee
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/832923/texas_gives_execution_date_to_man_who.html?cat=17
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/841727/the_texas_law_of_parties_702.html?cat=17
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/313159/supporters_to_rally_for_kenneth_h_foster.html?cat=8
Published by Dee
I am a prison activist/advocate writing about prison issues, hoping to make awareness, and bring reform. One out of every thirty-two people in the USA are currently on parole, probation or in prison. I am ow... View profile
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17 Comments
Post a CommentLucky, thanks for calling in. The Gov. recieved many calls throughout the USA and abroad.
Great reporting. Texas breeds a lot of capital criminals and accomplices.
In last second many opposers of death penalty Germans called the Texas Gouerneur by telephone and asked for a stay.
We are very happy and thankful for this decision in last second.
We are exited.
Thank
I am new to this website and I just want to say "thank you" for it. I just heard this evening , Aug.21, about Jeff Wood from a Free Speech broadcast of Democracy Now W/ Amy Goodman. I was afraid I had missed an opportunity to weigh-in on this as I was unsure of the precise time of execution. I feel very strongly that any execution demeans all of us in the human race and is made even more egregioius with the addition of extenuating circumstances. Again, I thank you for the knowledge that my failure to be on top of this was of no consequence.
Despite the 7-0 decision from the board of parole and pardons, news has just come in that the Governor of Texas has granted Wood an indefinate stay so his mental capacities can be re-evaluated. Thanks to all who called in, faxed, or prayed!
Thanks for reporting this !
VERY good point! And you know what else? An eye for an eye was not coined or conceived with punishment in mind, but RESTRAINT! It's message is not that if you kill you should be killed. It's message really is more that if, say, you steal someone's cow, that your punishment should not be the loss of 10 of yours, but 1.
But, that aside, my earlier point is still my most ardent one - the state - that is, the government and the law, to which we are all allegedly held accountable, has NO right to kill - certainly not on my behalf, or on my dime, or anyone else's.
Thanks for this piece, Dee. I know this is a divisive issue, but my feelings on this are very strong. NO state has the wisdom or authority to take a life. If the person about to be executed had killed or defiled a child, a nun, a police office, a single mother of 5, or a pope or rabbi or bishop or saint, I'd feel the same way. It's not the nature of the victim that makes the death penalty right or wrong. It's the death. Which is wrong, period.
As always super!
Thanks for these articles Dee, great reporting. I think the Texas criminal system needs some serious revamping. It is sad anyone dies, either at the murder scene, or those who were present but not guilty of the crime. I thought that ius what the death sentence was supposed to be about is guilt, not because, "Well you were there". I live where the Texas seven were captured and one of them committed suicide when the police were coming in because he could not face going back to the Texas Penal system. What does that say for them, he would rather die than go back there. I've heard lots of BAD about the Texas penal system and I never lived there, their system is infamous, and not in a good way.