Thomas Arthur has sat on Alabama's death row for over 20 years for murdering Troy Wicker, and he has always maintained his innocence. He has been scheduled for execution 4 times. Hair and finger prints found at the crime scene did not match him. No physical evidence linked him to the murder. No murder weapon was ever found. Eye witnesses said he was 75 miles away when the murder was committed. The state's key witness, the victims wife, Judy Wicker (Mary Turner now) was serving a life sentence for the murder and was given an early release to testify against Arthur. In 7 sworn statements she has previously stated Thomas Arthur had nothing to do with the murder.She stated she was raped by an intruder and the intruder killed her husband. Judy Wicker told police in the 7 prior statements two other people had assisted her with the murder, her sister, Theresa Rowling and her sister's boyfriend, Thereon McKinney. Neither person was questioned, all though evidence was collected that confirmed Judy Wickers statements. Judy had stated she gave her sister $6,000.00 and the check was found cashed by Theresa. Judy Wicker told police she gave Thereon McKinney a trans am. Thereon had the trans am in his possession. It was also proven that Judy's sister, Theresa had previously hired the murdered victim, Troy Wicker to burn her house down to collect insurance money. However, Theresa and Thereon were never questioned or charged with a crime. Judy and Theresa were both found at the crime scene with blood on their clothes. Neither woman was tested to see if they had fired a weapon. The bloody clothes have never been DNA tested to see if Troy Wicker's blood was on them. Judy was convicted of killing her husband and collecting the insurance money,$90,000.00. Judy Wicker was given an early release to change her testimony and say Arthur killed her husband. Other state witnesses were given something in exchange for their testimonies or strong armed into testifying. State medical and forensic witnesses could not identify or confirm much of anything. This conviction was and is purely circumstantial and the key witness is an admitted liar and committed perjury. She is also a convicted murderer. DNA Evidence that includes blood, hair and semen was recovered and still exists, but it has never been tested!!! Yet the State of Alabama not only REFUSES to DNA test the crime scene evidence---but it is refusing to allow Arthur to have the evidence DNA tested at HIS EXPENSE!!! See all the Evidence Collected By The State of Alabama
Thomas Arthur's most recent execution scheduled for July 31, 2008 was stayed by the Alabama Supreme Court after the stay had already been denied. Another man, Bobby Ray Gilbert said he committed the murder not Thomas Arthur. He said Judy Wicker ask him to commit the murder. He said Judy Wicker was having sex with him prior to and the day of the murder. He signed a confession admitting to the murder and gave details of the crime, including the location of the murder weapon. Read Confession The same day as the confession and the stay of execution the state of Alabama's attorney general, Troy King and Clay Crenshaw claimed the rape kit and other physical evidence is missing. After all these years of trying to obtain it, it is now missing. Troy King also stated to the media the DNA would not have matched Thomas Arthur anyway. King said Arthur had planted all the DNA evidence. This stunned legal professionals especially since DNA testing was not around in 1982 when the murder was committed. Instead of investigating the confession and trying to locate the murder weapon and the missing DNA evidence, Troy King, in a desperate move, immediately filed motions to reset the execution date and for a rehearing on the Courts decision to stay the execution. His motions were denied. Read States Affidavit
The Alabama President of District Attorneys has stated Attorney General Troy King is inexperienced to be handling Death Penalty Cases. Read Recent Article 42 Counties in Alabama have all agreed, Troy King is to inexperienced to handle Death Penalty Cases. Read Entire Article Troy King is also making headlines that he misjudges his role. Read Entire Article
June 30, 2008, A United Nations report described Alabama's death penalty system as being so flawed the state may have executed innocent people.The report also found that instead of facing their flawed system, they would rather take the risk of executing innocent people. Read U.N Report A 2007 American Bar Association Report and study also showed the same serious flaws in Alabama's death penalty system. Read Report
A Moratorium should be put in place based on these two reports !!
Judicial Murder Despite Doubts, Alabama Man Faces Execution July 23, 2008 DER/SPIEGEL, Marc Pitzke of New York writes Most death row inmates claim their innocence, but Arthur's case is different, there is plenty of potentially exculpatory DNA evidence. Yet the governor of Alabama, the Republican, Bob Riley, is refusing to permit tests on it and is insisting that the execution be carried out on the stated date---even though the wrong man may die. Read Article
SIGN PETITION TO PREVENT THE EXECUTION OF THOMAS ARTHUR AND DEMAND DNA TESTING TO HEAR A LIVE INTERVIEW WITH ARTHUR FROM DEATH ROW, CLICK ON SOUND LINK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS HOME (A live interview from death row was done with Arthur's daughter asking the questions. This interview was done 09-14-07. Arthur has had three scheduled executions 09-27-07, 12-06-07, & 07-31-08. All three executions were stayed. This interview was done prior to the 3 scheduled executions)
CBC, Producer, Howard Goldenthal was in Alabama to produce a documentary with Arthur's daughter prior to the scheduled execution July 31, 2008. He witnessed Alabama's judicial system. Hear "6:00 O clock In Alabama" Documentary
The Innocence Project based in New York and headed by Barry Scheck and Peter Neufield are involved in Arthur's case. They never take a stance on a inmates innocence or guilt. They are perhaps the Nation's leading authority on DNA testing and wrongful convictions. The Innocence Project was asked by the legal advisor to Alabama Governor Riley to provide guidelines for post-conviction DNA testing in Alabama. See letter Innocence Project wrote to Governor Riley. Alabama is one of the few states in this country that do not provide any statutory right to post-conviction DNA testing. Alabama is the ONLY state in the United States that does not provide an attorney for death row inmates during post-conviction appeals. See IP Fact Sheet The Innocence Project to this date has exonerated over 215 innocent people, and currently represents over 220 individuals seeking post-conviction DNA testing, or relief from their convictions based on DNA results. The Innocence Project has assisted Arthur's legal counsel and have written so many letters and done so much, we have dedicated a link exclusively for the Innocence Project and all they have done in Arthur's case. Please click on the Innocence Project link to see all they have done in Arthur's case and all they are doing for many inmates all across the United States.
There are other prominent organizations that have requested DNA testing in Arthur's case. Amnesty International, The Saint 'Egidio Community, The Justice Institute, for the wrongfully convicted, DER/SPIEGEL, former Governor Jim Petro, Alabama Senator Hank Sanders, Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama, Sister Helen Prejean. There are many other organizations involved in demanding DNA testing in Arthur's case. Project Hope to Abolish the death penalty, National Coalition to Abolish the death penalty, Florida support groups, The Patrick Crusade, are among the many organizations that have been involved. There are many individuals who are helping on a personal level. There are to many to name them all. Literally thousands of United States Citizens, and people around the World have written or called Alabama Governor Riley on Arthur's behalf.
In spite of a confession and qualified opinions from the leading experts in DNA technology, the State of Alabama immediately pushed for an execution date to be reset. This can only make you wonder why? It certainly appears the State would rather take the chance of executing an innocent person. It is not the first time and will not be the last time Alabama is accused of executing innocent people. The United Nations agree as well as The American Bar Association. The State of Alabama's motion to set a new execution was denied by the Alabama Supreme Court September 2008. A February 17, 2009 hearing has been scheduled in Jefferson County Circuit Court to determine if Thomas Arthur should be allowed to present new evidence and DNA testing of crime scene evidence to a Court of Law.
To see Arthurs Daughter on You Tube click here (Video was made 09-2007 before Arthur's 3 scheduled executions)
To hear a live interview with Arthur from death row click on sound link below. (Interview was done 09-14-07, before Arthurs 3 scheduled executions)
