THERE'S really no such thing as a death-penalty case that isn't
problematic, but in the past few days we've seen a flurry of
stories about a handful of cases which are more troubling than
usual. In Mississippi, Cory Maye had been sentenced to death
after accidentally killing a cop who burst into his home on a
faulty tip about a drug dealer in the neighbourhood. He is now
set be freed after a new plea agreement and following the
investigative work of journalist Radley Balko. In Texas,
officials are waiting for the US Supreme Court to decide whether
to stay the execution of a Mexican national who was not informed
of his right to speak to consular officials after raping and
murdering a girl in San Antonio in 1994. Rick Perry, the state's
governor, has also come under renewed scrutiny for his
aggressive record on the death penalty. Of particular concern
is his handling of the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham, who
was convicted of killing his children by setting his house
on fire, on the basis of what a slew o