By WTOC staff
ATLANTA, GA (WTOC) - The clemency hearing for convicted killer Troy Anthony Davis is underway in Atlanta.
Davis is scheduled to be executed on September 23. He was convicted in the 1989 killing of Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail.
His supporters say he should be granted a new trial after several witnesses who testified against him recanted their statements.
Around 12:30pm, the defense finished its testimony in front of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles.
The defense had five witnesses who testified in today's hearing. After the first half of the hearing was over, the defense team held a news conference saying they presented overwhelming evidence doubting Davis' guilt in the case.
All five board members are present to hear that testimony and a decision is likely to be reached later today. Among several options, the board could grant Davis a life sentence with or without parole, pardon Davis or go ahead with his scheduled execution.
It is now the prosecution's turn to testify before the board. It is not known how many witnesses will take the stand or if any members of the MacPhail family are in attendance.
Davis' two sisters, brother and mother are at today's hearing.
This is the second such hearing for Davis. In July of 2007, the State Board of Pardons and Paroles granted a 90-day stay of execution the day before he was scheduled to be put to death.
He's also already appealed to the Georgia Supreme Court on the basis that some witnesses recanted their testimony. But last March, Georgia's high court denied him a new trial.
WTOC has a crew in Atlanta and we'll have more information as it becomes available.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2013 Worldnow and WALB, a Raycom Media Station. 
