Florida Scheduled to Execute Defendant with Strong Claim of Innocence

Wayne Tompkins is sched­uled to be exe­cut­ed in Florida at 6 pm on February 11 despite evi­dence that he could be inno­cent. Tompkins was sen­tenced to death for a mur­der in which even the victim’s death is in ques­tion. The body used as evi­dence in the case was iden­ti­fied by par­tial den­tal records match­ing one tooth, and sev­er­al indi­vid­u­als have signed affi­davits say­ing they saw the vic­tim alive after the alleged mur­der. Gov. Crist could stay the execution.

Update: Wayne Tompkins was exe­cut­ed on February 11.

(Press Release, ​“Innocence Project of Florida Urges Governor to Stay Wayne Tompkins’ Execution,” Innocence Project of Florida, February 10, 2009). This would be Florida’s first exe­cu­tion in 2009. There have been 10 exe­cu­tions in the U.S. this year, all in the South, includ­ing 7 in Texas. Florida has had the most inmates from death row exon­er­at­ed since 1973. See Innocence.