The Devil Made Him Do It

Published September 18, 2009 @ 04:10PM PT

I posted a couple of weeks ago about the case of Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed in Texas in 2004 for allegedly setting a fire to his house that killed his three small children. Last night, Nightline followed up on the story with interviews with the trial prosecutor, who is now a judge, and the arson investigator. They stand by their decision, and the prosecutor adds some outrageous new claims to the mix. The video is above.

Before Willingham was executed, Texas officials received a report debunking the arson science at his trial. The lethal injection went ahead anyway, and Willingham's last words were: "I am an innocent man - convicted of a crime I did not commit. I have been persecuted for 12 years for something I did not do."

Since his execution, two more reports by arson experts have completely debunked his conviction. In the September 7 New Yorker, David Grann finished the case, debunking the arson and all of the other evidence presented at Grann's trial. Judge John Jackson is not going down without throwing all the dirt he can at the innocent executed man. Watch the video above and you'll see what I mean.

Jackson says it's very likely that Willingham was "obsessed with Satan-like figures" and that this points to his guilt. His evidence: Jackson alleges that Willingham sprayed lighter fluid in the shape of a pentagram. The first problem with this argument: more than six arson experts have already found that there was no accelerant.

But this devil worship nonsense isn't Jackson's only offense in the interview. The other comment is just plain sad, and it's a strong argument for the end of the death penalty. Reporter Terry Moran asks Jackson is the debunking of the arson evidence gives him pause for sending a man to death on questionable evidence, and Jackson responds: "Not a man like Todd." So because he was a bad guy, it's ok that he was innocent of this crime?

By the way, I've enjoyed following the great conversation following the last Willingham post, thanks to all who have participated. It's great to know so many thoughtful people are committed to following these issues and bringing about real change in the system.

Opinions expressed here are my own and don't represent the Innocence Project (where I work when I'm not blogging here).

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Sign the petition to Governor Rick Perry and the State of Texas to acknowledge that the fire in the Cameron Todd Willingham case was not arson, therefore no crime was committed and on February 17, 2004, Texas executed an innocent man

We plan to deliver the petition signatures to Perry at his office during the 10th Annual March to Abolish the Death Penalty on October 24 in Austin.

Posted by Texas Moratorium Network on 09/18/2009 @ 04:18PM PT
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What is truley sad is this happens all the time, the lack of real investigative work, the lack of consciences, the constant hateful act of profiling...I can unfortunatly fill this page-young men-women-our youth are dying in prison literley, death row is full of many innocent-railroaded, people now numbered to die-women seperated from children for astricnomanal sentences many never to see the light of day lock down for 23 hours unsitmulated,tortured abused and murdered. While child killers walk,true evil men go free and kill and kill again while unjustly accused die,spead life in prison over a drug charge, or for being addicts....I cant help but believe only when Christ returns will true justice be...but many who have devoted their lives for change You have not or are not doing it i vain..United!

Posted by Renee Seabrooks on 09/27/2009 @ 08:22PM PT
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UNBELIEVABLE!

The Devil Made Him Do It ?

What kind of crap and claim is that?

It is my understanding that "devil" worshippers are very proud of their actions and don't hesitate to glorify their "Master". Cameron made no such claim that we know about.

Pattern of pentagram on the burned floor...jumping to conclusion with a vivid imagination unless... the devil did show up to autograph the floor.

Talking prejudice: metal music, skulls drawings, tattoos, records, beatings, manipulations etc. Take a close look at Cameron pix too, the one with a beard; abundance of dark hair and piercing black eyes.....can't you see the horns too!

No one wrapped up in bigotry and prejudice should ever be eligible to occupy any post of responsability to the service of the public unless.... the Devil Makes Them Do It!

Posted by Michele Queyroy on 09/18/2009 @ 05:32PM PT
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This video demonstrates all that is wrong with the "system." It demonstrates why promotions in the Criminal Justice System, based upon "numbers" and conviction rates, should be completely abandoned. This prosecutor was elevated to Judge? His skewered thinkin put an innocent man to death and his reward...Judge others?

Although I have no scientific understanding of Arson, an average person, faced with the information available now from scientific experts who do have this knowledge indicates that there was more than a reasonable doubt about the arson cause of the fire. Yet this "Judge" stands by his decision to persecute this young man all the way to death. Possibly he would be better off as a Judge at the local dog show.

It is sad to say, there are literally thousands of these Judges and prosecutors in our midst, controlling the American system of justice. Each and every decision they make affects thousands of households across America. It should seriously undermine our faith in this "system" to recognize that such people are actually at the helm of the criminal process in this country, condemning millions of people to prison for long periods of time.

Foremost to me in this entire saga though, is the reliance these pillars of our society put on the "snitch" system. "

"All wrongful convictions detract from the public’s faith in the

fair administration of justice, but the cost is especially high

when wrongful convictions result from the testimony of

questionable witnesses"

http://www.pewtrusts.org/uploadedFiles/wwwpewtrustsorg/Reports/Death_penalty_reform/Jailhouse%20snitch%20testimony%20policy%20brief.pdf

The common practice of using "jailhouse informants" to substantiate criminal convictions is one of the most flawed aspects of our system. Throughout history these vermin have not only corrupted the system we rely on for fairness and "justice" but they have been rewarded for doing so. http://www.snitching.org/2009/09/judge_finds_prosecutorial_misc_1.html

Rest in Peace Cameron, they can persecute you no more.

Posted by mark schmanke on 09/19/2009 @ 03:18AM PT
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Mark,

I wouldn't even trust the man to be judge at a local dog show! Some breeds of dogs require such special grooming, that you have to know what to look for to say which end is the head of the dog! :)))

Snitches indeed have literally gotten away with murder to the detriment of innocents. The worst part of it is... the awareness of the prosecution.

Posted by Michele Queyroy on 09/21/2009 @ 11:00PM PT
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Michele, just to let you in on a non-secret, the Governmental prosecutor, in his infinite wisdom in my own debacle with the JUST-US system, released a man from prison, who was serving 2 50 year sentences for a double homicide. The reason of course was, he was willing to fabricate testimony on the stand in my trial for "Mail Fraud" which implicated me.

He served less than 5 years on Murder.

When it was revealed that the murderer committed perjury in his testifying at the behest of the prosecution, the prosecutor was let go.

Posted by mark schmanke on 09/22/2009 @ 02:12AM PT
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Sad to hear about your personal experience and to say it is a common and current practice!

Killers and snitches have and will bargain anything without any scruple. They will sell their soul to the devil, to get out of the hole. Some have also received, aside "great deal", huge amount of money in exchange for their false and/or perjured testimony. That is not Justice. The Criminal Justice System has turned into an gigantic "plea-market".

Result: Real criminals that should not be released until they fully pay their dues are indeed, released into communities after serving a minimal sentence if any, while the innocents are incarcerated. For a lot of prosecutors, it is then, business as usual... until (and IF) some one, decade(s) later uncovers the truth. There is a case where a prosecutor committed suicide after it was revealed that he used a perjured testimony to insure his conviction. Remorse of conscience, damaged ego...no one will ever know. Lawyers have been disbarred for improper and inadequate representation; a few judges have been sent to "early retirement". That is no consolation for all the damages and devastation already done to thousands. It is not only one person that becomes the victim, it is the entire family of the wrongfully convicted. The Old West is very much alive: Shot first... then will talk!

To err is human; frailty of the human brain.

However, immunity/unaccountability should not be granted to Judges, Prosecutors and any Law enforcement agents. Then, maybe...the rate of wrongful convictions would go down. My skepticism is growing though, especially with high interests involved, profit and benefit generated by "body count". Keep an eye on Arizona and avoid going there... unless you really feel suicidal :)))

Posted by Michele Queyroy on 09/23/2009 @ 01:08PM PT
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While there are similar injustices throughout the United States it is no surprise that this travesty took place in Texas, the home state of George W. Bush who presided over more executions in Governor since the death penalty was reinstated in the 1970's.

Posted by Charlie Lammers on 09/20/2009 @ 01:48PM PT
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Actually, current governor Rick Perry has presided over 201 executions and GWB signed off on 152 executions. http://www.alternet.org/rights/140398/200_executions_and_counting:_texas_gov._rick_perry%27s_cruel_death_tally/

Perry broke his silence on Friday in on the Willingham case: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-perry_19tex.ART.State.Edition2.4bf3d78.html

Posted by Matt Kelley on 09/20/2009 @ 01:57PM PT
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Society would be much safer if the crooked trial "judge", the perjuring prosecutor, and the corrupt "expert" cop were put on death row and executed. Too many of these bozos advance their careers at the expense of the TRUTH, the Constitutonal Rule of Law, the wrongfully accused and their families, and society, and do their political grandstanding through the news media in high profile cases with total impunity. Corrupt "law & order" hypocrites employed as "judges", prosecutors, and cops are a penny per gross in our Criminal Just Us system--they're a disease and should be eradicated as soon as possible.

Self-policing in the corrupt legal profession/Criminal Just Us system is a major problem, and so is self-granted immunity from prosecution for criminal wrongdoing. The evidence-falsifying, perjuring prosecutor is now a casefixing whore of a "judge" because he put an innocent man on Texas' DeathRow and had him murdered by the state when it should have ended his crooked career, his pension rights, his reputation, and his freedom. The perjuring prosecutor-turned-casefixing shyster "judge" is shameless about being complicit in murdering an innocent man cowering behind GOD to justify his criminality and that of the other authorities involved (The Devil made HIM do it!) and using the old, reliable excuse that Cameron Todd Willingham was a convicted drug criminal so executing him was alright (The police don't arrest innocent people.). Crime pays if you have a law degree or a badge.

Posted by Jeffrey Hill on 09/24/2009 @ 10:18AM PT
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Texas shouldn't be allowed to have a kangaroo kourt system because the bigots, hypocrites,and morons there are too irresponsible, stupid, arrogant, and dishonest to operate it under the Constitutional Rule of Law. (They also have a history of not allowing people of color to vote and live peaceful lives and are under special civil rights laws with the rest of the old confederacy because of it. They can't be trusted to do the right thing even though they talk that GOD crap all of the time -- they're morally-bankrupt, irresponsible, stupid bigots and hypocrites unfit to sit in judgment of anyone, and the Cameron Todd Wilingham case is undeniable, irrefutable proof of that fact!!!)

Posted by Jeffrey Hill on 09/24/2009 @ 11:19AM PT
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In Texas they execute people like they are baking bread! Texas is the only state in the USA with the highest executions. How many are really innocent or guilty?

Posted by Caresse P on 09/27/2009 @ 02:09PM PT
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Matt has worked and volunteered in various capacities in criminal justice reform for several years. When he's not blogging, he works as the Online Communications Manager at the Innocence Project. Views expressed here are Matt's, and don't represent the positions of the Innocence Project.