Posted on 03/01/2010 2:04:45 PM PST by Dallas59
More than a decade after he died in prison, Fort Worth’s Tim Cole – wrongly convicted of rape – finally received a pardon from the state.
Gov. Rick Perry sent out a statement saying that he gave Cole the state’s first posthumous pardon, saying he was innocent of the rape conviction that put him behind bars more than 25 years ago.
“I have been looking forward to the day I could tell Tim Cole’s mother that her son’s name has been cleared for a crime he did not commit,” Perry said in a written release. “The state of Texas cannot give back the time he spent in prison away from his loved ones, but today I was finally able to tell her we have cleared his name, and hope this brings a measure of peace to his family.”
This comes days after the state Board of Pardons and Paroles recommended that Perry issue the pardon.
(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...
From the article:
Gov. Rick Perry sent out a statement saying that he gave Cole the state’s first posthumous pardon, saying he was innocent of the rape conviction...
Bad eyewitness ID of a suspect is a real issue. Bad police work makes it even worse, because if you show a witness a picture of the suspect, then ask the witness to to pick the suspect out of a lineup, there is a tendency to pick the guy whose picture you have seen before. Especially if the actual perp is not in the line up.
Texas has a very good system now -- when the police use it. A request is made to the Department of Public Safety, saying they want a photo line for suspect X. Assuming he/she has a drivers license photo, or ID photo, on file, the DPS creates a digital lineup sheet with X, and seven other people of the same age, sex, ethnicity, skin color, and hair. Since all the photos come from the Drivers License records, suspect X is not singled out because, for instance, his picture is the only mug shot in a lineup.
“Isn’t it strange how the real rapist seems to have felt so much guilt over this but committed multiple rapes?”
People tend to justify and rationalize their own actions. I would think that all serial rapists view women as sex objects and not fellow human beings. Statistically it is thought that 3 to 4 percent of men are sociopaths. A much higher percentage have some sociopathic tendancies.
“Hmmmmmmm...that probly won’t cost the State of Texas too much....”
It should cost them a Hell of a lot.
“Hmmmmmmm...that probly won’t cost the State of Texas too much....”
It should cost them a Hell of a lot.
Probly will...
14 yrs at $80,000 per yr....a good chunk but still not enough...IMO. This young man lost more than money could ever buy and he can never be replaced. This is such a tragedy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.