this post was submitted on 27 Jun 2024
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RICHARD ROJEM JR. had 20 minutes to address the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. Wearing a maroon prison uniform, he raised his cuffed right hand and swore to tell the truth, then gave his pitch for why his life should be spared. It would take less than 90 seconds.

“This hearing didn’t have to take place,” he began. Prosecutors had offered a plea deal right up until the day of his 1985 trial; if he’d admitted to abducting, raping, and murdering his young stepdaughter, Layla Cummings, Rojem could have avoided a death sentence. But he refused: “An innocent man doesn’t ever plead guilty to a crime he hasn’t committed.”

Rojem spoke via video link from the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. It was June 17, and his execution was 10 days away. At 66, he’d been on death row for virtually his whole adult life. He’d survived for so long in part because appellate courts had deemed his original trial to be unfair, upholding his conviction but twice overturning his death sentence. Meanwhile, fingernail scrapings taken from Cummings revealed an unknown male DNA profile and nothing from Rojem. This was potentially powerful exculpatory evidence. But a third jury, unaware of the DNA testing, resentenced him to die.

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[–] kamenlady 79 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Forty years later, Rojem had no illusions of mercy. He’d seen 124 people escorted to the death chamber.

Waiting for your execution - seeing the others go.

40 Years long.

Finally DNA comes to the rescue, but resentenced to die anyway.

WTF is this torture?

[–] [email protected] 20 points 4 months ago

The united states legal system.

[–] PugJesus 61 points 4 months ago (2 children)

One of many reasons I oppose the death penalty for almost all crimes.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 4 months ago (1 children)

The only purpose executions serve is revenge, and the state should not be in the revenge business.

[–] cheese_greater 28 points 4 months ago

It makes zero sense: they say they don't trust the government for the simplest things but suddenly they cool with it making life/death decisions often informed by legit incompetence/malevolence.

They are not serious, good-faith people who should have any influence or agency

[–] [email protected] 54 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Meanwhile, fingernail scrapings taken from Cummings revealed an unknown male DNA profile and nothing from Rojem. This was potentially powerful exculpatory evidence. But a third jury, unaware of the DNA testing, resentenced him to die.

How on Earth was the third jury “unaware” of the DNA testing? Was it because of legal shenanigans, or a fantastically bad defense? Also, why was there even a third trial to begin with?

[–] [email protected] 29 points 4 months ago (2 children)

I don’t know about this case, but judges exclude or forbid presentation of evidence for whatever reasons and it’s considered normal. A just system would demand that any and all exculpatory evidence must be heard to prevent wrongful convictions, but that’s not the system we have.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Im reminded of the innocent man in Arizona that was murdered in cold blood by that off duty cop that had "you're fucked" carved into the side of his gun

The courts refused to let the body cam footage be shown in court to the jury.

Land of the free, and all of that.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 4 months ago

I believe the jury wasn't even allowed to know about the "you're fucked" inscription as it was deemed prejudicial. That cop had decided by the time he's pointing his gun at you, "you're fucked" but somehow that's not relevant to the case of the innocent man he murdered.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 months ago

These were exactly the kind of “legal shenanigans” I had in mind.

[–] Ultraviolet 18 points 4 months ago (1 children)

If a sentencing judge gives someone the death penalty they should be willing to put their own life on the line. If, after the fact, the person is exonerated, execute the judge.

[–] cosmicrookie 17 points 4 months ago

This is how you make sure nobody gets exonerated ever