Well I have already conceded that mistakes could happen in the conviction and execution of heinous criminals just like they do in other types of cases. Such criminals are often the most heinous of the heinous and the evidence is usually overwhelming. Some evidence is usually brought into question or doubt, which gives recourse to those who would attempt to exonerate the convicted.
The point that I made was that thousands of truly innocent men, women, and children have been raped, tortured, and murdered by heinous creeps who've been given multiple extra chances at freedom, ... something you refuse even to acknowledge let alone factor in to the issue.
In any event I looked up the case on one of your claims and like all cases there are those who would find reason to doubt. If I have time I might look into some of the others. It is an interesting topic.
However, your New York Times account comes up lacking.
The New York Times. Spence was convicted of murdering three teenagers in Texas in 1982 based on what many now believe were fabricated accounts by jail house stool pigeons eager for early release. He was executed by lethal injection, despite the fact that abundant physical evidence was found at the scene of the crime scene of the crime — and none of it matched Spence.
Here is your innocent man subject to travesty (your claim). Your choir boy was a mean, sadistic, vicious SOB.
David Spence
1. By the time his case came to trial he was already serving a 90 year sentence for another crime (aggravated sexual abuse of an 18 year old man).
2. The New York Times article left out a few details (in other words, presented a false accounting).
* His two accomplices plead guilty and testified to the details of the crime.
* There were six jail house snitches. Only two of them said they had just done it for some extra privileges.
3. He was granted a second trial after appealing and submitting voluminous jail house lawyer documents identifying flaws. He was convicted again at the second trial.
4. Former District Attorney Vic Feazell, who now has law offices in Waco and Austin, was more blunt. He called questions about the defendant's guilt "B.S." "Anyone who's read the trial transcrips ... would know better and would know better and wouldn't give this story the time of day." Former District Attorney Vic Feazell, who now has law offices in Waco and Austin, was more blunt. He called questions about the defendant’s guilt “B.S.”
5. His two accomplisces plead guilty and provided the details of the event.
On the morning of July 13, 1982, Jill Montgomery and Raylene Rice drove to Waco to pick up and cash Jill's paycheck from the Fort Fisher Ranger Museum and to meet their friend Kenneth Franks. Later that day, the three drove to Koehne Park, located on the banks of Lake Waco.
They were never seen alive again by their loved ones. Their bodies were found in a wooded area of Speegleville Park, across the lake from Koehne Park, a day later. Their last moments are recorded in the record of the two trials.
After arriving at the park, Kenneth, Jill, and Raylene encountered Spence and his cohorts, Anthony (Tony) and Gilbert Melendez. The six "hung out" together for some time drinking beer and smoking marijuana joints. After a few hours, in the evening, Spence persuaded the group to go to a convenience store and buy more beer. En route in his car, Spence attempted to grab Jill's breast. When she resisted, they argued heatedly. Spence then warned Kenneth and Jill he was going to "get even" with them "for some dope that he [Kenneth) had burned me for." Kenneth denied he had "burned" Spence for anything.
Instead of driving to the convenience store, Spence turned and drove back into a wooded area in Koehne Park. After everyone got out of the car, he produced a knife and in vile terms ordered Jill and Raylene to undress. The girls immediately complied. Spence then forced Jill to walk with him to another part of the park. Gilbert ordered Raylene to get into the car. Gilbert then raped her.
Spence told Anthony to bring Kenneth, forcibly, to where he was with Jill, so that Kenneth could watch him rape Jill. Spence forced Jill to the ground, sat on her legs, and rubbed her breasts with his knife. He then raped her while Kenneth and Anthony watched. After Spence finished, Anthony traded places with him and raped Jill. Spence marched Kenneth back to the car where he raped Raylene.
After this rape, Spence returned to Jill. He cut her breasts and repeatedly stabbed her. At some point, Spence bit off one of Jill's nipples. He then handed his knife to Anthony, telling him to stab Jill. When Spence believed that Anthony was not properly stabbing her, Spence took back his knife and finally inflicted the lethal wounds.
Spence then returned to the car and stabbed Kenneth to death. After this second murder, Spence grabbed Raylene and repeatedly stabbed her. He also ordered Tony to stab her. He then bit her body several times and rammed a piece of wood --which he referred to as his "lovestick" -- into her vagina.
While Spence remained with the bodies, Anthony and Gilbert drove to Spence's mother's home and exchanged the car for Gilbert's pick-up truck. During their absence, Spence bound the bodies. When the Melendezes returned, the trio threw the bodies into the back of the truck and, at Spence's direction, drove to Speegleville Park. They dumped the dead teenagers' bodies apart from each other in an off-the-road area. In placing Kenneth's body, Spence boasted to Tony that the police "were going to freak out when they find this boy because he will be sitting up." Spence and the Melendez brothers divided up several hundred dollars Spence had taken from Jill's wallet.
The tortured bodies of Jill, Raylene, and Kenneth were found the next day.
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