I'm currently reading "The Trial, A History, from Socrates to OJ Simpson" by Sadakat Kadri. In it he describes Medieval justice where it was necessary to get a confession from the accused to “seal” the guilty verdict. Extreme means including death threats and torture were used to this end since not having a confession might mean that an innocent person had been convicted. Many accused were tortured to death maintaining their innocence rather than confess and be executed following their conviction.
Thus, I find it ironic that Governor Swartzenegger has denied clemency for Stanley Tookie Williams because “Without an apology and atonement for these senseless and brutal killings, there can be no redemption.” In other words, because Mr. Williams maintains his innocence, he will be executed. Had he admitted guilt and expressed remorse, there is at least a possibility that the governor would have commuted his sentence. But I guess we can expect no better thinking than that.
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