In this Texas case, the murder victim’s family did not want the death penalty and so the prosecutor did not seek it.

From KSLA:

An East Texas man has plead guilty to capital murder and will spend the rest of his life in jail.
Back in March, 34 year old Joe Don Turner killed an 86 year old man who refused to give him money.
The state intended to seek the death penalty against Turner, but after consulting with the victim’s widow, they agreed to a life sentence as part of a plea deal.

From the Longview News-Journal:

Snitker’s wife of 26 years Helen Snitker stood in court and said she forgave Turner for his crime, and hopes that his gift of continued life will give him time to reflect upon his actions, according to court reports. Court reports also stated Turner expressed remorse for killing Snitker, throughout the investigation.

Yesterday, we posted about the sentencing retrial that resulted in life in prison for John Adams, a person formerly on Texas death row. His co-defendant Gregory Wright was executed in 2008. Wright professed his innocence until his death. He said in his last words that it was John Adams who actually killed the victim. Now, Adams has been removed from death row and given life. But did Texas execute someone who did not kill anyone, namely Greg Wright? http://www.freegregwright.com.

Below is the post we made right after the 2008 execution of Greg Wright, a person who most assuredly did not kill anyone and so was wrongfully executed by Texas.

If you are outraged about the Texas Death Penalty, plan to join us in Austin on October 30, 2010 for the 11th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty.

The photo is of Greg Wright 15 minutes after his execution on Oct 30, 2008 in Texas. His friend Bente Hjortshøj is standing on the left. She wrote this caption to the photo:

“The first time we touched you Greg…you were still warm…you looked at peace…as though you were just sleeping and would wake up soon….it was sooooo hard to see you like this though you were finally free..this is just about 15 minutes after the execution…sooo surreal….BUT dearest Greg…..Me and Connie kept our promise to you and for that we are glad…but it was tougher than we thought…. we did it out of love and respect for you!! LOVE YA LOADS!!!!”.

Bente Hjortshøj has given permission for the photo to be distributed around the internet, “me and Connie decided to publish all pictures to show the world the cruel and unusual punishment and its horrible consequences”.

The photos are from her recent trip to Texas when she witnessed the execution of Greg Wright (website) on October 30, 2008.

“The truth doesn’t matter,” Wright said in an interview from death row a few days before his execution. He said he was stunned when his guilty verdict was announced. “I couldn’t believe what was happening … I am innocent.”

Wright again proclaimed his innocence in his last statement at his execution, when asked if he had anything to say:

“Yes I do. There has been a lot of confusion on who done this. I know you all want closure. Donna had her Christianity in tact when she died. She never went to a drug house. John Adams lied. He went to the police and told them a story. He made deals and sold stuff to keep from going to prison. I left the house, and I left him there. My only act or involvement was not telling on him. John Adams is the one that killed Donna Vick. I took a polygraph and passed. John Adams never volunteered to take one. I have done everything in my power. Donna Vick helped me; she took me off the street. I was a truck driver; my CDL was still active. Donna gave me everything I could ask for. I helped her around the yard. I helped her around the house. She asked if there were anyone else to help. I am a Christian myself, so I told her about John Adams. We picked him up at a dope house. I did not know he was a career criminal. When we got to the house he was jonesin for drugs. He has to go to Dallas. I was in the bathroom when he attacked. I am deaf in one ear and I thought the T.V. was up too loud. I ran in to the bedroom. By the time I came in, when I tried to help her, with first aid, it was too late. The veins were cut on her throat. He stabbed her in her heart, and that’s what killed her. I told John Adams, “turn yourself in or hit the high road.” I owed him a favor because he pulled someone off my back. I was in a fight downtown. Two or three days later he turned on me. I have done everything to prove my innocence. Before you is an innocent man. I love my famly. I’ll be waiting on ya’ll. I’m finished talking.”

The lethal injection was then started. He was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m.

Grits For Breakfast, recently named by the ABA as one of the top 100 legal blogs, commented on Wright’s last statement:

When you read the final statements of most executed offenders, at least those who choose to give them, they tend to express remorse, often apologizing to victim families, or else offering comfort to friends and family they’re leaving behind. Wright’s final statement was noteworthy because he defiantly maintained his innocence until the end, instead insisting that an informant who testified against him really did the deed.

According to the Dallas Morning News, a retrial has resulted in life in prison for John Adams, a person formerly on Texas death row. The co-defendant in the case, Gregory Wright, was executed in 2008. Wright professed his innocence until his death, he said in his last words that it was John Adams who actually killed the victim. Now, Adams has been removed from death row and given life. But did Texas execute someone who did not kill anyone, namely Greg Wright? You can read more about the case at www.freegregwright.com.

Here are Greg Wright’s last words:

Yes I do. There has been a lot of confusion on who done this. I know you all want closure. Donna had her Christianity in tact when she died. She never went to a drug house. John Adams lied. He went to the police and told them a story. He made deals and sold stuff to keep from going to prison. I left the house, and I left him there. My only act or involvement was not telling on him. John Adams is the one that killed Donna Vick. I took a polygraph and passed. John Adams never volunteered to take one. I have done everything in my power. Donna Vick helped me; she took me off the street. I was a truck driver; my CDL was still active. Donna gave me everything I could ask for. I helped her around the yard. I helped her around the house. She asked if there were anyone else to help. I am a Christian myself, so I told her about John Adam. We picked him up at a dope house. I did not know he was a career criminal. When we got to the house he was jonesin for drugs. He has to go to Dallas. I was in the bathroom when he attacked. I am deaf in one ear and I thought the T.V. was up too loud. I ran in to the bedroom. By the time I came in, when I tried to help her, with first aid, it was too late. The veins were cut on her throat. He stabbed her in her heart, and that’s what killed her. I told John Adams, “turn yourself in or hit the high road.” I owed him a favor because he pulled someone off my back. I was in a fight downtown. Two or three days later he turned on me. I have done everything to prove my innocence. Before you is an innocent man. I love my famly. I’ll be waiting on ya’ll. I’m finished talking.

From the DMN:

The state of Texas will not execute John Wade Adams for the 1997 murder of Donna Vick. He will serve a life sentence instead.

In a rare Sunday court session, District Judge Gracie Lewis discharged the jury that had been deliberating Adams’ penalty. She ruled that the Dallas County jury was not able to make the life-or-death decision after 27 hours of deliberation over three days.

“Our prayers were answered,” said Bobbie Adams Satterlee, one of a dozen family and friends who came from Louisiana and Alabama for the retrial of the penalty phase.

Adams’ guilt was not at issue. He had been tried for stabbing Vick to death and found guilty of capital murder 12 years ago. The only question was whether his death penalty should stand or be reduced to life in prison.

Defense attorneys argued his punishment should be life in prison because the original trial jury did not hear evidence about Adams’ abusive childhood, evidence that family members presented in a retrial that spanned the last two weeks.

Gregory Wright was also convicted of the Vick murder and was executed in 2008.

To watch Greg Wright’s wife Connie speaking at the 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty in 2009 click here. She starts speaking around the 2 minute 30 second mark.

Below are videos shot by Texas Moratorium Network of the entire discussion on the agenda item dealing with the Todd Willingham case at the Texas Forensic Science Commission on Friday, July 23, 2010 in Houston. The discussion lasted more than an hour. It is divided into seven parts because YouTube limits videos to ten minutes. There are also two shorter videos of Barry Scheck and Patricia Willingham Cox delivering their public comments at the end of the meeting.

Texas Forensic Science Commission Discussion of Todd Willingham Case July 23, 2010 Part 1/7

Texas Forensic Science Commission Discussion of Todd Willingham Case July 23, 2010 Part 2/7

Texas Forensic Science Commission Discussion of Todd Willingham Case July 23, 2010 Part 3/7

Texas Forensic Science Commission Discussion of Todd Willingham Case July 23, 2010, Part 4/7

Texas Forensic Science Commission Discussion of Todd Willingham Case July 23, 2010, Part 5/7

Texas Forensic Science Commission Discussion of Todd Willingham Case July 23, 2010, Part 6/7

Texas Forensic Science Commission Discussion of Todd Willingham Case July 23, 2010, Part 7/7

The videos below are of comments delivered during the public comment period, which took place a couple of hours after the main discussion of the Willingham case by the Commission.

Barry Scheck Speaking to Texas Forensic Science Commission July 23, 2010

Todd Willingham’s Cousin and Stepmother at Texas Forensic Science Commission Meeting July 23, 2010