MacPhail Family Speaks on Davis Case

By Odette Yousef

Atlanta, GA – For the first time in Atlanta, family and friends of the man whom Troy Anthony Davis is convicted of murdering, are speaking out. At the state capitol today, they said that Mark Allen MacPhail has been the true victim of an 18-year long judicial process.

WABE's Odette Yousef reports.

The dozen or so came mostly from their hometown of Columbus, Georgia, wearing shirts that said "Georgians for Justice." Annalei Reaves, MacPhail's older sister, says they're talking now because her brother has been forgotten in the popular frenzy behind Davis's cause:

REAVES: We get so tired hearing Troy Davis didn't have a fair trial. He had a fair trial. Davis was represented by superbly skilled criminal defense lawyers, and I believe he was asked every day in court if he was satisfied with his counsel.

The U.S. Supreme Court most recently referred the case back to a federal district judge in Savannah to review new evidence. Seven of nine witnesses have changed their testimony since the conviction, but Reaves is skeptical:

REAVES: They never came out and said he didn't commit the murder, they're just saying Oh, maybe I don't remember.'

Reaves says that either way, they must have lied on the stand, or they're lying now.

Odette Yousef, WABE News.