Bearing witness

At 9pm last night I made my way to Grosvenor Square. Upon my arrival at around 9.55pm I saw many familiar faces – my fellow Amnesty International activists, who as always were determined to fight until the very last to ensure that Troy's execution was stayed. There were also many unfamiliar faces - over 200 people had come out into the cold, dark night to light a candle and stand in solidarity with Troy and his family.

A long row of candles was lit outside the US Embassy. I stood with old and new friends and thought about the first time I heard about Troy.

I graduated from UCL in 2007, having read philosophy and having no idea what I wanted to do with my life. After a number of part-time jobs, I applied to the UK section of Amnesty International for a volunteer position. In May 2008 I was welcomed by the Individuals at Risk programme to work with their Urgent Action network. During my first week, I was given a copy of the report 'Where is the justice for me?'

I remember reading about the case of Troy Anthony Davis, who at the time had been on death row for 17 years, with anger and disbelief. Here was a case where the State had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Troy was guilty and yet he was still facing execution. In the months and years that followed, I was convinced that the US would not allow such an appalling affront to justice.

Despite the Georgia Parole Board's decision to deny clemency, I still believed this at 11.58pm last night when we all stood in silence facing the US Embassy. At 12.01am I felt such incredible relief when we watched our fellow activists celebrate outside the prison in Jackson and 200 cheered at the news that Troy had been granted a stay. My faith in the US justice system was restored as I heard that the US Supreme Court had stopped the execution. The rule of law had prevailed!

This feeling however was not to last. The Supreme Court had not granted a stay, but merely delayed the execution in order to deliberate, and after a torturous delay of more than 4 hours, the state of Georgia killed Troy Anthony Davis.

Following the vigil, a friend and I shared a taxi home. Troy's case had been on the radio and the taxi driver asked me whether I believed Troy was innocent. I told him that that was the wrong question to ask; the right question is: was the State sure he was guilty?

I oppose the death penalty unconditionally, regardless of innocence or guilt. I do not believe it makes any sense ethically: why do we kill people who kill people, to show that killing is wrong?

Whether or not you share my ethical beliefs however, I hope you will agree that it is impossible to design a system where we can be sure that an innocent person is not unjustly executed. This is not, by any stretch of the imagination, the first case that has been surrounded by controversy.

During the vigil last night, Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International UK, read this message from Troy:

"The struggle for justice doesn't end with me. This struggle is for all the Troy Davises who came before me and all the ones who will come after me.

I'm in good spirits and I'm prayerful and at peace. But I will not stop fighting until I've taken my last breath."

I am extremely proud of the work Amnesty International, Troy's family, and every other organisation and individual that fought for this case did for Troy and I am honoured to have been at the vigil last night and to stand with them in solidarity and to bear witness to Troy's unjust execution.

I will continue to fight for the abolition of the death penalty. I hope you will join me.