The 42 year old's case has been heavily disputed after the majority of witnesses changed or completely retracted their statements.
This excerpt from the BBC News article regarding the case, explains the lack of cold hard evidence that should be needed for such a punishment.
"MacPhail was shot dead in July 1989 as he tried to help a homeless man who was being attacked in a Burger King car park.
Prosecutors said Davis was beating the man with a gun after demanding a beer from him.
No gun was found and no DNA evidence conclusively linked Davis to the murder."
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