David R. Dow

The Autobiography of an Execution actually deals in detail with three executions. One of the defendants is obviously guilty and is pretty much a despicable human being. A second defendant is put to death despite having an IQ of 53, well below the limit defining people as mentally fit. However, what makes this book such a powerful work is the third defendant who despite obviously being innocent, is trapped in judicial process that almost systematically executes anyone entering it. The author tells us of his many attempts to get these men off death row, but what becomes very clear despite what you might think or see in the movies, there are very few cases where the defendants get that last minute reprieve. Whether the criminal is a deplorable monster, mentally unfit, or even innocent, once a defendant enters that death row system. there's little chance of escaping it.… (más)