Clemency Appeal on Troy Davis' Case
MALVEAUX: To "Choose the News," text 22360 for the story that you would like to see. Text 1 for garden of the future. A giant park built in the middle of downtown Singapore mixes nature and technology in some surprising ways. Text 2 for sleep and relaxation apps for those who can't stop bringing our smartphones to bed. Some new apps promise to help us sleep better and more soundly. And text three for Guinness world records, a roundup of some of the wackiest records of 2012, from growing the largest afro to squeezing into the smallest space. That sounds like fun. You can vote by texting 22360. Text 1 for garden of the future, 2 for smartphone sleep apps, or 3 for 2012 world records. Winning story is going to air in the next hour. A last-ditch effort is under way now to halt the execution of death row inmate Troy Davis, convicted of killing a Savannah police officer back in 1989. Well, Davis' supporters are demonstrating outside the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles while the five-member board holds a final clemency hearing. The pope, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former President Jimmy Carter and more than 50 members of Congress have added their voices to calls for mercy because of questions about the evidence in the case. Now, if clemency is denied, Troy Davis is set to be executed by lethal injection on Wednesday. Our David Mattingly is outside the Parole Board Meeting in Atlanta. David, first of all, there's a lot of attention that's being paid to this particular case. We know that time is running out here. Seven of nine witnesses have recanted their testimony against Davis, but he's never won any appeals. Do you think that clemency is even likely?</s>DAVID MATTINGLY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, this is an extraordinary case, and what his supporters are looking at is the fact that even though he was denied clemency back in 2008 by this very same board, there are now three new board members sitting there hearing this case for the first time. So they're hoping that the presentation of their arguments regarding what they say are the lack of evidence and the people who have recanted their testimony, they are hoping that fresh ears and fresh eyes looking at this case will give them the votes they need to get Davis off of death row. So right now, what we're seeing happening today, we're seeing attorneys for both sides, both for the prosecution and for Troy Davis' defense going back to this board and giving their best, one last best shot to either preserve or deny this death row.</s>MALVEAUX: Right. And do we expect that Troy Davis himself will speak at the hearing?</s>MATTINGLY: He will not speak at the hearing, but he will be heard from. He is actually, he's been interviewed by a staff member working for this board. Just as he has been interviewed behind bars in the past, he has been again this time. So his words will be entered into the record. The board members will have that to look at. In addition to everything that the attorneys on both sides are presenting them. This is a huge case. This has been in the appellate level for 20 years now, and Davis has lost at every single turn. So that just shows you what kind of drama is going on right here.</s>MALVEAUX: Sure.</s>MATTINGLY: It is literally about life and death. He has no other place to go except to this board, and they have the power right now over whether or not Troy Davis lives or dies.</s>MALVEAUX: And, David, of course, we can't forget the victim in all of this. Savannah Police Officer Mark MacPhail, and his family believes the right man has been convicted. That it is Troy Davis. Are they here as well for the hearing and will they be making a statement?</s>MATTINGLY: Well, their point of view will be put into the record as well. We have heard from his mother over the weekend. She says that the family has been having a rough time with this. They want some resolution here. And they want some peace. The mother says she's had a hole in her heart for the last 20-odd years, that this, since her son was killed. They believe that the courts have got this right. They believe that Davis is guilty. The prosecutors in this case have maintained that he is guilty and the courts have backed them up at every turn. Listen now to what his mother had to say.</s>ANNELIESE MACPHAIL, MOTHER OF KILLED POLICE OFFICER: It has been hell, because I want -- I would like to have some peace. I would like to have this situation over with. We are the victim.</s>MATTINGLY: And the families for -- the family members for Davis, they have been incredibly active over the last couple of decades. In fact, they have been the ones responsible for maintaining his innocence in the public, gathering support and it has really taken on an incredible life of its own. This is extraordinary in the way that he has gathered support from around the world. Over 600,000 signatures on petition from around the world. All of that presented for this board to see as well. Suzanne?</s>MALVEAUX: All right, David. We're going to be following this very closely. Obviously a lot of twists and turns, and there will be developing news either way in the next 48 hours on this case. Thank you very much, David. We're going to have more after this break.