THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, October 2, 1995 TAG: 9509300006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 58 lines
Regarding ``Va. Supreme Court Rebuffs Stockton'' (news, Sept. 23): I really have to wonder if our courts in Virginia seek the truth. I am not saying Dennis Stockton was innocent or guilty, but it seems to me if a jury was willing to convict and sentence this man to death, on the word of one lifetime criminal, we should at least have evaluated the statements of three other people that this man was innocent.
What in the world would Randy Bowman's son, ex-wife and close friend possibly have to gain by coming forward and admitting that Bowman confessed to them that he himself killed Kenneth Ardner? Are our courts more concerned with ``procedure'' than the question of innocence or guilt in a capital case?
Our justice system is not perfect. We must realize that there are innocent people on death row. The Virginia General Assembly should act quickly and repeal the ``21-day Evidence Law.'' Evidence that points to innocence should be heard no matter whether it comes in 21 days or 21 years later. When the sentence is irreversible, we cannot accept a ``margin of error.''
JAMES P. HERBST
Virginia Beach, Sept. 28, 1995
I felt relieved that the execution of Dennis Stockton, planned for (and carried out) Sept. 27, had been postponed pending a hearing to consider new evidence of his innocence.I consider the death penalty an abomination in any case. There is ample evidence that it does not do even what the state sets out to do - deter crime, especially murder. I do not believe that the murder rate has gone down since the death penalty was reinstituted in the 1980s.
The state's killing people shows criminals that it is all right and even ``cool'' to do just that: kill people. The state has been and is guilty of barbarism. Small wonder that there is an upsurge of crime and lawlessness today. The state is leading the way.
DIANA STRELOW
Portsmouth, Sept. 26, 1995
It is scary enough that Virginia has embarked on a program bent on simultaneously reducing investment in education and committing our children's and grandchildren's money to finance a mammoth prison expansion. But the truly frightening development concerns Dennis Stockton, who was executed on Sept. 27.
I did not know Mr. Stockton and I am not well-versed in the details of the case against him. I do know that evidence came to light that brought his guilt into reasonable doubt.
It is shocking that few Virginians seem to care. When that ``proof'' is called into question, as occurred in Mr. Stockton's case, the possibility of innocence should be the overrarching concern . . . for everyone.
JAMES H. NEWTON
Virginia Beach, Sept. 28, 1995 by CNB