Update on a post from earlier this evening: The US Supreme Court has denied Troy Davis a stay of execution. The official statement, in its entirety [PDF], reads:
The application for stay of execution of sentence of death presented to Justice Thomas and by him referred to the Court is denied.
The Georgia death row inmate, in a high-profile case that led to renewed worldwide debate over the death penalty, is expected to be killed by lethal injection by 11pm Eastern US Time.
"This case has really revealed to the world that we cannot continue with this system," Amnesty International USA Executive Director Larry Cox said just now. "I think people know in their hearts that this is shameful."
Terry Moran, who covers the Supreme Court for ABC News: "Another man confessed. Seven eyewitnesses recanted. Police accused of coercing witnesses. No DNA. No murder weapon. Justice?"
Former FBI Director William S. Sessions on this case: "When it comes to the sentence of death, there should be no room for doubt."
Update, 11:13pm ET: The execution began at 10:53pm. Troy Davis was reported dead at 11:08PM ET. Media witnesses say that he refused a final meal; he refused a final prayer; he did not take an anti-convulsive, anti-anxiety, hypnotic drug called Ativan that was offered to him to ease the procedure. As is customary with prisoner executions in the United States, his death certificate will be marked "homicide."
The final words of Troy Davis at his execution, according to media witnesses:
The incident that took place that night was not my fault. I did not have a gun. [Addressing the victim's family] I did not personally kill your son, father, brother; I am innocent. Look deeper in this case, so you can find the truth. To the people who are about to take my life: May God have mercy on your soul. May God bless your soul.
View the original article here
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The Court currently has three similar cases before it, all brought by the same attorney. The suits are virtually identical in their terms, but filed on behalf of different film production companies. In all three, the plaintiffs sought, and the Court granted, expedited discovery allowing the plaintiffs to subpoena information from ISPs to identify the Doe defendants. According to some of the defendants, the plaintiffs then contacted the John Does, alerting them to this lawsuit and their potential liability. Some defendants have indicated that the plaintiff has contacted them directly with harassing telephone calls, demanding $2,900 in compensation to end the litigation. When any of the defendants have filed a motion to dismiss or sever themselves from the litigation, however, the plaintiffs have immediately voluntarily dismissed them as parties to prevent the defendants from bringing their motions before the Court for resolution.