USA - Georgia. The US Supreme Court refused today to hear arguments in the case of Troy Davis

The US Supreme Court refused today to hear arguments in the case of an African-American granted an 11th hour stay of execution for the murder of a white police officer. The execution of Troy Davis, 39, who has spent 17 years on death row in Georgia, was dramatically halted 2 hours before he was due to die late last month amid growing doubts about his conviction. Defense lawyers had asked the Supreme Court to rule on the constitutionality of executing a person when there is new, substantial evidence to show he was not guilty of the crime. (see also Sept. 12 and 30)