More buzzing about possible wrongful execution(s)

The MSM and the blogosphere continue to discuss the evidence developed by the Houston Chronicle that Texas executed Ruben Cantu in 1993 for a murder he did not commit.  Following up its work discussed here and here, the Chronicle has this addition piece on the Cantu case, and today Reuters produced this article about the Chronicle's analysis of the case.

Meanwhile, the Cantu case has the blogosphere buzzing with posts today from Instapundit and Clayton Cramer and TalkLeft and Abolish the Death Penalty.  And, interestingly, this press release from Amnesty International highlights that, as we approach the 1000th death sentence carried out since capital punishment was reinstated in 1976, there is also "strong evidence" than another innocent man, Larry Griffin, was executed in Missouri in 1995.  (This AP story from July provides background on the Griffin case).

So, while we might have the 1000th execution in the modern death penalty era next week, it may take a few more weeks before we have the 1000th execution of a guilty person in the modern death penalty era.

UPDATE: A helpful reader reminded me of this Chicago Tribune special report from December 2004, which suggests that Cameron Todd Willingham, who was executed by the state of Texas in February 2004, may not have been guilty of the crime for which he was executed.