VADP's offical word on Coleman DNA outcome

Below here is the official comment from Virginians for the Alternatives to the Death Penalty, regarding the DNA test results from Canada which confirmed the guilt of Roger Coleman who was executed during the administration of Gov. Doug Wilder (D) in the 1992 for the brutal murder in the coal-minning community of Grundy of Wanda McCoy in 1992 by the electric chair. Coleman had maintained his innocence up until his last words. I am an opponent of capital punishment, myself, but I realize there is an inherent danger of getting so wrapped up in the cause that it can seem from the other side of the fence that you are an advocate for the murderer, and not the victim. Nevertheless, though the likes of Attorney General-elect Bob McDonnel (R) may like to arbitrarily sweep us under the rug and use this as a means for that, there is still conclusive evidence that innocence people have been put to death in the United States and in spite of the Coleman findings, there are no guarantees that there have been no exectuions of persons innocent of murder here in Virginia, either. Earl Washington of Culpeper, Va., was on death row here in the state, but DNA evidence did prove he was not guilt of murder. He has since been released from prison. Admittedly, Washington was not a model citizen but he was not guilty of murder. Sadly, with the Coleman finding, the general public is likely to forget just how close a definitive execution of a person who did not commit homicide occured here. For my part, however one may despise my political views, I feel for the McCoy family and all family members of homicde victims in our country- not all of whom supprt the death penalty. And, I respect those of who may differ from my POV, but one should realize there are valid reasons why people on my side of the fence feel very storngly in our opposition to what we feel is an inappropriate notion of justice which is not carried out in many countries, including my father's country, Turkey (yes, surprise!).

At any rate, here is the official comment of the VADP regardign the Coleman finding:

 

We are thankful to Gov. Warner for his continuing efforts to advance the cause of justice through the application of the latest scientific advances in DNA technology. His order to test the existent DNA in the case of a man who was executed in 1992 has set a precedent. Had he not done so, no resolution of the persistent question of Coleman's guilt or innocence could have been achieved......

In the vast majority of cases in which DNA is not available or part of the case it is especially critical that the original trial be as fair, complete and vigorous as possible. In this case, we can finally close a chapter with certainty, but in many cases in which DNA testing is unavailable that certainty can never be attained. And, in too many cases, lingering doubt about the guilt of the executed remains.

 

For a complete transcript of the VADP statement, log on to their site at:

http://www.vadp.org