Monday, November 21, 2005 TX Probably Executed an Innocent Man CNN: Ruben Cantu was 17 in '84 when he was charged with capital murder in the fatal shooting of a man during an attempted robbery in San Antonio. The victim was shot 9 times w/ a rifle before the gunman unloaded more rounds into the only eyewitness. Cantu had always professed his complete innocence, and now that lone eyewitness has recanted: The eyewitness, Juan Moreno, told the Houston Chronicle that it wasn't Cantu who shot him. Moreno said he identified Cantu as the killer during his '85 trial because he felt pressured and was afraid of authorities. Meanwhile, Cantu's co-defendant, David Garza, recently signed a sworn affidavit saying he allowed his friend to be accused, even though Cantu wasn't even w/ him the night of the killing. I have said it before, the death penalty in this country is waaaay overused and should be reserved for only THE WORST cases known to law. I think only the most heinous of crimes is worthy of the death penalty; cases such as serial killings, mass murders, and crimes that involve sexual predators killing children. But this did happen in TX, so should we be shocked? |