Troy Davis
Troy Davis, 42, was executed in September for the 1989 murder of off-duty police officer Mark MacPhail. Davis, 42, was convicted of slaying the Savannah cop in 1991, but since his arrest, Davis has constantly maintained his innocence.Thousands of people came out to oppose the execution of Davis, who only 19 when he was arrested in connection with the shooting. What makes Davis’ case a controversial one was that no physical evidence was presented against him during his trial. Additionally, multiple witnesses have recanted or changed their testimony in the years since the murder. There were reports of several protest rallies being held in an attempt to sway the five-member panel of the Georgia Pardons board. The board was also given the names of 663,000 people asking for Davis to be spared execution. Among Davis’ supporters were Amnesty International, NAACP, and ordinary citizens, some death penalty advocates and opponents, as well as former President Jimmy Carter and Pope Benedict. While on his death bed, Davis reportedly told the officer’s family that he was “sorry for your loss, but I did not personally kill your son, father and brother. I am innocent.”Davis also reportedly said: “The incident that night was not my fault, I did not have a gun,” and urged authorities to continue to look deeper into this case in order to find the “truth.” His execution drew condolences tweet from celebrities such as Busta Rhymes, Mack Maine, Ice-T and Russell Simmons. More than 1,000 people attended his funeral. REUTERS

Georgia executed inmate Troy Davis Wednesday night for the 1989 of a police officer, a crime he maintained to the end he did not commit.

Davis, 42, was executed by lethal injection at 11:08 p.m. EDT, according to reports.

The inmate was defiant to the end, proclaiming his innocence in the 1989 slaying of off-duty Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail.

According to reports, Davis had garnered support from former United States president Jimmy Carter, Pope Benedict XVI, former FBI director William Sessions and others.

Several celebrities and hip hop notables tweeted their reactions to the news:

May God be with Troy Davis!!!! Cash Money/Young Money President Mack Maine tweeted.

REST IN POWER AND IN PEACE #TROY DAVIS!!! BLESSINGS 2 UR FAMILY AS WELL, Busta Rhymes responded once the news had broken.

I think executions should be broadcast live on television, Russell Simmons tweeted. Let us see the barbarianism we've sanctioned. [iVillage]

Troy Davis was executed six minutes ago...Wow. The American Justice System. SMH, Ice-T tweeted about the execution.

Reality television personality Kim Kardashian is among those lending their fame to Davis’ case.

“I want to vent about the execution of Troy Davis!” she posted on her Twitter feed Tuesday morning. “He is getting the death penalty tonight but I believe he is innocent!” [iVillage]

“This #TroyDavis execution is very disturbing!” actor LeVar Burton posted about an hour ago. [AJC]

CNN commentator Roland Martin and Tameka Raymond, a boutique owner and former wife of R&B artist Usher, tweeted the same thing.

“There is #TooMuchDoubt to kill Troy Davis tomorrow,” tweeted Atlanta music producer Jermaine Dupri on Tuesday. [iVillage]

Media Mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs also instructed his four million followers to call Attorney General Eric Holder to urge him to intercede on Troy Davis and listed the phone number to call. [AJC]

Atlanta rapper Big Boi traveled to the state prison in Jackson where Davis, convicted in the 1989 shooting death of off-duty Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail.

“I’m heading to the rally in Jackson Georgia 40 miles outside of Atlanta,” the artist tweeted Thursday morning. [iVillage]

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