George James Miller - Carta May 9, '05 9:05 AM ET for everyone
Governor Brad Henry State Capitol Building 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd., Room 212 Oklahoma City, OK 73105 ESTADOS UNIDOS
May 7th 2005
Dear Governor:
With deep consternation I have heard of the sad news that George Miller is scheduled for execution in Oklahoma on May 12th 2005.
I do of course know George Miller was sentenced to death for the murder of Kent Dodd in 1994. So please note that my present letter does not pretend to justify that violent death. I would even appreciate being able to send my most sincere condolences to the victim’s relatives.
But let me also remind you that Oklahoma has the highest rate of execution per capita of all the US death penalty states. It ranks 27th of the 50 US states in terms of population and third in the number of executions carried out since the USA resumed judicial killing in 1977. It accounts for 76 of the nationwide total of 963 executions since that year. Oklahoma has violated international law and standards in its pursuit of judicial killing and its prosecutors have earned a reputation for misconduct in capital cases.
I oppose the death penalty in all cases, regardless of questions of guilt or innocence. Under the United Nations Safeguards Guaranteeing Protection of the Rights of Those Facing the Death Penalty, “Capital punishment may be imposed only when the guilt of the person charged is based upon clear and convincing evidence leaving no room for an alternative explanation of the facts.”
For the reasons I have exposed, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK you to issue a reprieve from execution and to ask the Pardon and Parole Board to reconsider their decision not to recommend clemency for George Miller.
Hoping that you will be able to deal with my request at your very earliest convenience, I look forward to receiving a favorable reply and remain
