Letters: Exhibit A for keeping capital punishment

Re “A case of true confession?,” Column One, Oct. 10

The fact that a dying inmate may have falsely confessed his guilt to exonerate another inmate on death row is only one reason voters should pause before voting to abolish the death penalty.

Eyewitnesses who now say they are no longer certain of their earlier identification that served to convict the supposedly “innocent” defendant also have this motive to lie: that the victim is long dead and nothing can bring him back, and there is pressure in the neighborhood where the crime was committed now to support the defendant, not the police.

Saying that they are no longer “sure” may seem a small concession for such witnesses under such pressure.

Robert S. Henry

San Gabriel

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