RNS
\nby Michelle Rindels
\nThe Vatican is appealing to U.S. officials to commute the
\ndeath sentence of a Georgia man convicted of killing a police officer in
\n1989.
\nSaying that a number of key witnesses have recanted their
\ntestimonies, the Vatican embassy in Washington sent a letter to Georgia
\nGov. Sonny Perdue, requesting clemency for Troy Anthony Davis, 38.
\n“In the name of Pope Benedict XVI, I am respectfully asking you to
\ncommute Troy’s sentence to life in prison without parole,” wrote Vatican
\ndiplomat Monsignor Martin Krebs.
\nDavis was sentenced to death for the murder of Mark MacPhail, a
\nSavannah police officer.
\nHis execution was originally scheduled for Tuesday (July 17), but is
\non hold while the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles weighs the case.
\nThe board must rule by Oct. 14.
\nThe Vatican is joined by civil rights leader and U.S. Rep. John
\nLewis, D-Ga., in petitioning for clemency for Davis.
\n“As a man of faith, I am sure I know what God wants you to do. Do
\njustice. Commute the sentence of Troy Anthony Davis,” Lewis said at a
\nclemency hearing last week.
\nWhile he was present at the scene of the murder, Davis says that he
\nwasn’t responsible for the murder. Seven witnesses have recanted or
\ncontradicted testimony implicating him, according to Davis’ lawyers.
\nThe Board of Pardons and Paroles has received thousands of letters
\non Davis’ behalf. A representative said they will treat the Vatican’s
\nrequest like the others.
\n“The board has to base its decision on facts,” spokesman Scheree
\nLipscomb told The Associated Press.
\nCopyright 2007 Religion News Service<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RNS by Michelle Rindels The Vatican is appealing to U.S. officials to commute the death sentence of a Georgia man convicted of killing a police officer in 1989. Saying that a number of key witnesses have recanted their testimonies, the Vatican embassy in Washington sent a letter to Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue, requesting clemency for…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n