April 30, 2013
I’m writing to insist that you stay the execution of Willie Manning and
order DNA testing of the physical evidence.
Mr. Manning was convicted on circumstantial evidence, including the
testimony of a jailhouse informant … who had previously implicated
another person.
No physical evidence ties Mr. Manning to the crime or the crime scene.
None. He has always maintained his innocence.
DNA testing provides definitive proof of guilt or innocence. And when
prosecutors and judges are afraid of the proof of guilt or innocence, you
must become afraid of them.
The buck stops with you. And the buck belongs to the taxpayers. While many
of them [are] in favor of the death penalty, you can bet your life that none of
them are in favor of executing an innocent.
Yours is the only life that is yours to bet. Not Willie Manning’s.
Order the DNA tests, sir, and if they indicate innocence, immediately
investigate the prosecutors. The history of exonerations indicates that
malicious prosecutions are often serial, not singular, and that the Bar
often knows of bad players, and does absolutely nothing to hold them in
check.
Break from the pack, Governor Bryant. Do the right thing.
Sincerely,
Susan Chandler
I wrote to Governor Bryant via an Innocence Project action campaign, because it was the only campaign on Willie Manning’s behalf that I’m aware of. I no longer support the Innocence Project, as I believe that Bar members are far more responsible for false convictions and wrongful executions than law enforcement officers. That said, I hope that every reader will take action through the IP to ensure that Governor Bryant orders DNA testing of Willie Manning’s evidence. Here’s the link: http://www.capwiz.com/innocenceproject/issues/alert/?alertid=62629516&type=CU
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