Crimesider
Crimesider
September 23, 2011 10:03 AM

"Court had no option" but to kill Troy Davis, said former Justice Stevens

By
Edecio Martinez
Topics
Daily Blotter

"Court had no option" but to kill Troy Davis, said former Justice Stevens

Troy Davis

/ AP/Georgia Dept. of Corrections

(CBS/AP) BOULDER, Colo. - Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens says the high court made the correct decision in not intervening in Wednesday night's execution of a man convicted of the 1989 killing an off-duty police officer in Georgia.

Speaking to a group of law students, faculty and judges at the University of Colorado at Boulder on Thursday, Stevens said, "I think the court had no option but to uphold the decision."

The Supreme Court decided not to intervene in the execution of Troy Davis, who was convicted in 1991 of killing officer Mark MacPhail in Savannah, Ga.

Davis was pronounced dead late Wednesday night after the Supreme Court rejected an 11th hour request for a stay.

The high court did not comment on its order.

Complete Coverage of Troy Davis on Crimesider


Add A Comment +

Follow Crimesider

Scroll Left
Scroll Right More »
48 Hours 48 Hours for iPad® A perfect companion to TV's most popular true-crime series.
CBS News on Facebook

  • 48 Hours iPad App

    Big changes for the 2012-2013 season! Watch the current week's episode for FREE up to a week after it airs or subscribe for access to all shows, classic episodes and more!