Sharing their Truths and their Lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr. Mary Beth Williams<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Lenore Meldrum first asked me to present at this conference,(Keynote Speech, Australian Congress 2001) I had no idea that she actually wanted me to do keynote presentations. For months, I have mulled over in my mind what “new words of wisdom” I might present and what truths I could share that haven’t been shared countless times before. I made up my mind that I did not want to be just another one of “those Yanks” that come, supposedly dispel their conclusions as to what SHOULD or SHOULD NOT be done in the world of trauma treatment (that comes at the next keynote). Instead, I decided that the survivors themselves could better share their Truths, their lessons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Little About Danny<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n I want to begin my talk by painting you a picture of Danny. First, though, a few facts. It costs more to execute a prisoner than it does to imprison him\/her for life!! No study has provided solid evidence that the death penalty has any deterrent value and, in reality, may sanction violence by showing that killing is a socially sanctioned solution to other violence. The death penalty is not applied fairly nor consistently in the United States. Less than 1% of persons who are sentenced for murder each year receive the death penalty and those who are sentenced, in many cases, did not have the benefit of paid (well paid) counsel, often a factor of their social and economic status, the presence of prosecutors at local and federal levels who see a high profile murder case as a way to “make a name” for themselves, and race (the majority are black) and poor education of the accused. Additionally, because the justice system is not infallible, it becomes inevitable that some innocent persons will be executed, particularly if and when there is a 21-day rule, as there is in the Commonwealth of Virginia, that prevents new evidence from being introduced more than 21 days post-sentencing, when the Supreme Court (the highest level of appeal) is on vacation and a quorum of justices cannot be found, or when the Governor is newly elected and would not find it politically “savvy” to pardon a supposed murderer 7 months into his term!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The United States of America is the only Western democracy that still carries out executions. Take the case of Earl Washington who spent 10 years behind bars. His attorney concealed a syringe so that he could get blood for DNA testing inside a tape recorder. The DNA testing proved beyond any doubt that it was physically impossible for Washington, mentally retarded and from my home-town area, to have killed the elderly woman for whom he was given death. In January 1994, even though evidence showed him to be innocent, his sentence was commuted to life. An appeal for a retrial was denied because of the 21-day rule. It was not until 2001 that he was finally released.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But what does this have to do with Danny King? Perhaps a poem written by Danny might introduce his story<\/p>\n\n\n\n