ATLANTA (September 16, 2011) –Sen. Nan Orrock (D-Atlanta) has sent a memo to the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles to stay the execution of Troy Anthony Davis. Joining Sen. Orrock’s call to grant clemency, or alternatively a new trial, is U.S. Rep. John Lewis (D – 5th District), U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-13th District) and U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop (D – 2nd District).
“As members of our state’s Board of Pardons and Paroles, you bear the awesome and heavy burden of making life and death decisions that, in the case of execution, can never be rescinded. Given the gravity of the decision before you regarding the outcome for Troy Davis, I pray that you fully weigh all the facts in this matter and act, with an abundance of caution, so as not to take the life of an innocent man,” Sen. Orrock said.
Davis was convicted in 1991 for the shooting death of Mark MacPhail, an off-duty Savannah police officer. In light of the new information from the seven witnesses who recanted their original testimony, Sen. Orrock strongly urges reconsideration of Davis’s execution. Former FBI Agent William Session has also requested a stop on his execution based on his understandings of the case.