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Monday, September 22, 2008

The Paul House Tragedy Continues: What More Does the DA Want?

Posted by Pete Kotz on Mon, Sep 22, 2008 at 2:42 PM

click to enlarge Paul_20House.jpg
A letter just received from Rep. Mike Turner (D-Old Hickory) on the continuing tragedy that is the Paul House case: In 2007 I met with Joyce House the mother of Tennessee death row inmate Paul House who had been incarcerated on Tennessee’s death row for over 20 years for a crime which new evidence including DNA indicated he did not commit. I was so disturbed by the injustice of this situation that as a Representative of the people of Tennessee I determined I would take action. I drafted a letter to Governor Bredesen, signed by over 30 of my colleagues from the legislature asking him to pardon House. The Governor chose to let the courts handle the matter thought the U. S. Supreme Court that had already stated in 2006 that “it is more likely than not that no reasonable juror viewing the record as a whole would lack reasonable doubt”. Finally in May 2008 Judge Harry S. Matrice ruled that House’s conviction and sentence be overturned. District Attorney General Paul Phillips subsequently decided to retry Mr. House this time seeking a life sentence. The trial is set to begin on October 14, 2008. Because of the generosity of anonymous citizen of Tennessee, House was able to make bond as he awaits trial. Thankfully he is now living with his mother in Crossville and must wear an electronic monitoring device as he sits in his wheelchair. Recently General Phillips decided to test a hair found in the victim’s hand, a hair which has been in the state’s possession since the crime occurred. Phillips stated that if this hair did not belong to House he would consider dropping the charges. The hair was tested and in a hearing in Chattanooga on September 18, it was revealed that the hair does not belong to House. But instead of conceding that a mistake was made 23 years ago, General Phillips has created a new theory to the crime and states that he now believes that “another man’s hair was somehow transferred onto Muncey by House”. As a State Representative I am committed to ensuring that the citizens of Tennessee have faith in the justice system.. The case of Paul House casts grave doubt on the “justice” of the system. Given that the state of Tennessee is dealing with a significant budget shortfall how can we justify the cost of another trial for Mr. House with no evidence pointing his guilt? How much money has already been spent attempting to keep House on death row? Now with even more DNA evidence pointing to House’s innocence how can General Phillips justify his decision to move forward with a new trial? I urge General Phillips to drop the charges against Mr. House restoring confidence in our system and saving Tennesseans precious dollars needed elsewhere. Mr. House has spent 23 years on death row for a crime the evidence indicates he did not commit. The charges against Paul House should be dropped ending an ordeal that has gone on far too long. State Rep. Mike Turner D-Old Hickory

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Why is is so hard for people in law enforcement and the justice system to ADMIT when THEY are at fault? When faced with mounting evidence to the contrary & defense simply wants to admit new evidence, or DNA testing, they balk? Then the system wonders why the common citizen has no respect or faith in them, and leaves a bitter taste in their mouth. These prosecutors and such need to quit playing God with these people's lives, drop the arrogance and come clean, fight clean. These innocent men who fall through the cracks of justice DESERVE the BEST defense allowed. Then, they also need to be given fair compensation once they are exonerated- no dragging it out for YEARS, the payback should be within 6 mos. These "justice" criminals need to walk a mile in the moccasins of these innocents and see how it feels- hold them accountable.

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Posted by Justice4all on September 23, 2008 at 6:01 PM

Why do people in law enforcement and the justice systems have such a hard time admitting when THEY did wrong? I think in the case of these wrongfully convicted individuals who are just looking for (and deserve)TRUE justice, they need to quit playing God and being so arrogant. Fair compensation also needs to be doled out within 6 mos of exoneration, not YEARS. No wonder the common public has lost respect & trust in the justice system. The people within the JS need to walk a mile in the moccasin of the innocents and see how it feels. The prosecutors need to be held accountable for their part in these cases too.

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Posted by justice4all on September 23, 2008 at 6:14 PM

Whoops, I didn't think my FIRST post took, so I re-wrote it. Sorry for the duplication.

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Posted by justice4all on September 24, 2008 at 5:44 PM
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