Thomas Thompson Execution

Those who support capital punishment have an urgent opportunity to reflect on Conrad’s question (“Dead men walking. But how many are innocent?� July 22): Is Thomas Thompson, whose execution is scheduled for Aug. 5, unquestionably guilty of the crime for which he was sentenced to death?

A federal judge, a Reagan appointee, had substantial questions and reversed the special circumstance conviction that made Thompson eligible for the death penalty. Seven former prosecutors, all strong supporters of capital punishment, have such significant doubts about Thompson’s guilt that they filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court urging reversal of his death sentence, and support his petition to Gov. Pete Wilson for clemency (to commute his sentence to life in prison without parole).

An execution is not something that some unknown executioner does in San Quentin. It is not solely the responsibility of Wilson, Atty. Gen. Dan Lungren or the criminal justice system. It is the responsibility of each one of us--the state kills these people in the name of all of us, those of us who oppose all executions as well as those who support the death penalty.

Are we willing to take upon ourselves any risk of error? Do we need to risk killing someone without regard to credible and significant questions about his innocence, just to maintain a politically popular “tough on crime� position? It seems to me that all of us, opponents and proponents of capital punishment, must be unwilling to take that risk.

JEAN GUELPA

Catholic Chaplain

L.A. County Men’s Central Jail