Thomas Bartlett Whitaker

This petition will form part of an appeal for Mr Thomas Whitaker currently sat in the Polunsky Unit on Texas Death Row. Thomas was involved in a plot to kill his family in December 2003. He did not shot anyone he was the planner. There is no distinction between the shooter and the planner in our eyes; however, Texas law believes there is. The shooter was only charged with 1st degree murder and received a prison term of 30 years, after which he will be eligible for parole. The get away driver was given 15 years in prison. Thomas was convicted under a Texas law known as the Law of Parties, which abolishes the distinction between the shooter and the planner of a crime and says that both can be executed. This law has been the subject of controversy in recent years and is currently under review.

In Capital Punishment trials it is the victims family who will often push to see death perused against the defendant, the one true victim in this case is Thomas father who survived the attack and who has since gone on to forgive his son and continue to build a relationship with him. At the end of the trial he spoke to the jury and the court and asked for his only remaining sons life to be spared. This plea was unheard and unanswered.

This petition and the people who are connected with Thomas are not excusing what Thomas did, as there are no excuses for crime of any magnitude. We simply do not think that death is the answer in this case or any other case. Capital Punishment is retaliation to the crime not a punishment.

We are asking for Thomas sentence to be commuted to life imprisonment. We are asking for the wishes of his father and family to be taken into account, at the same time as perusing justice.

Please, please take and moment to think about the death penalty and its consequences, and considering signing this petition. Thomas still has time and hope that things can changed, but for over 410 men in Texas it is already too late. Please join the thousands of other people fighting to see the end of Capital Punishment Thank You.

An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind. Gandhi