ALBANY (WALB) - People rallied outside Monday's Board of Pardons and Paroles hearing in support of Troy Davis. They believe he is not guilty of a crime that could cost him his life.
"Seven of the witnesses came forth to recant their statements," said Rev. Ezekiel Holley.
Holley, president of the Terrell County NAACP branch, sat in on a 2010 federal court hearing in Chatham County in which 7 of 9 witnesses who initially testified against Davis, changed their stories about what happened the night Savannah Police officer Mark McPhail was shot to death in 1989. He says that testimony casts doubt over Davis's conviction.
"If a guilty person comes forth after an execution it's too late. You've executed the wrong person. Then you've got blood on your hands," Holley said.
People all over the world are backing clemency in this case, including The Pope and President Jimmy Carter. But the life or death of Troy Davis comes to down to a decision made by 5 people.
"It's going to weigh heavily on the 5 people who sit on the board of pardons and paroles. And it's going to weigh heavily on the state of Georgia because the whole world is watching this case," said Holley.
There are others, though, who back the court's decision including the original prosecution team and members of the MacPhail family.
"If you break the law, you don't get what you want. If the law said death sentence, I'd like to see it upheld," said Savannah native Randy Edenfield.
Along with those 7 witnesses who recanted their testimony, 3 jurors who served on the death penalty trial signed affidavits stating they have doubts in the case.
The board could release a decision by Wednesday or decide to stay the execution to study the case further.
Since 1978, the Board has granted fewer than 10 clemency requests.
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