Oklahoma Prepares to Kill Another Man Who Says He’s Innocent
Oklahoma Prepares to Kill Another Man Who Says He’s Innocent
Richard Rojem’s death sentence was twice overturned by appellate courts, but his conviction itself has never been fully revisited.
RICHARD ROJEM JR. had 20 minutes to address the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. Wearing a maroon prison uniform, he raised his cuffed right hand and swore to tell the truth, then gave his pitch for why his life should be spared. It would take less than 90 seconds.
“This hearing didn’t have to take place,” he began. Prosecutors had offered a plea deal right up until the day of his 1985 trial; if he’d admitted to abducting, raping, and murdering his young stepdaughter, Layla Cummings, Rojem could have avoided a death sentence. But he refused: “An innocent man doesn’t ever plead guilty to a crime he hasn’t committed.”
Rojem spoke via video link from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. It was June 17, and his execution was 10 days away. At 66, he’d been on death row for virtually his whole adult life. He’d survived for so long in part because appellate courts had deemed his original trial to be unfair, upholding his conviction but twice overturning his death sentence. Meanwhile, fingernail scrapings taken from Cummings revealed an unknown male DNA profile and nothing from Rojem. This was potentially powerful exculpatory evidence. But a third jury, unaware of the DNA testing, resentenced him to die.
Forty years later, Rojem had no illusions of mercy. He’d seen 124 people escorted to the death chamber.
Waiting for your execution - seeing the others go.
40 Years long.
Finally DNA comes to the rescue, but resentenced to die anyway.
WTF is this torture?
The united states legal system.
Meanwhile, fingernail scrapings taken from Cummings revealed an unknown male DNA profile and nothing from Rojem. This was potentially powerful exculpatory evidence. But a third jury, unaware of the DNA testing, resentenced him to die.
How on Earth was the third jury “unaware” of the DNA testing? Was it because of legal shenanigans, or a fantastically bad defense? Also, why was there even a third trial to begin with?
I don’t know about this case, but judges exclude or forbid presentation of evidence for whatever reasons and it’s considered normal. A just system would demand that any and all exculpatory evidence must be heard to prevent wrongful convictions, but that’s not the system we have.
These were exactly the kind of “legal shenanigans” I had in mind.
One of many reasons I oppose the death penalty for almost all crimes.
The only purpose executions serve is revenge, and the state should not be in the revenge business.
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The death penalty is an important bargaining tool with the spies of other countries in regards to serious cases of espionage.
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It may be necessary to apply the death penalty in the case of a state in dire circumstances in which the release or escape of a prisoner may be regarded as deadly to the commonwealth - such as a dictator with large minority support or support amongst the elite still remaining being prosecuted for their crimes.
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As deterrent in extreme matters of desertion, war crimes, or crimes against peace.
Fucking wild that a place where the sentiment of 'eat the rich' is commonly passed around recoils at the idea of executing a dictator after a trial if his crimes warrant it and there's a reasonable threat that he could be sprung and returned to power by the elite or a radical minority.
Like, really?
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It makes zero sense: they say they don't trust the government for the simplest things but suddenly they cool with it making life/death decisions often informed by legit incompetence/malevolence.
They are not serious, good-faith people who should have any influence or agency
If a sentencing judge gives someone the death penalty they should be willing to put their own life on the line. If, after the fact, the person is exonerated, execute the judge.
This is how you make sure nobody gets exonerated ever