Savannah police officer Mark MacPhail was shot and killed when intervening in a dispute between two men in a parking lot.

Sylvester “Redd” Coles, who was part of the altercation, went to police and implicated Davis in the shooting.

Davis was arrested.

Sylvester “Redd” Coles

During the trial, several witnessed said they saw Davis shoot the officer.

Two others said that Davis confessed to the killing.

No murder weapon was found. No other physical evidence

connected Davis with this crime.

Davis was convicted of the murder of Officer MacPhail and was sentenced to the death penalty.

In 2000, Davis challenged the use of the electric chair in Georgia, on the grounds that it is cruel and unusual punishment.

July 17, 2007 – execution was stayed after appeals from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Pope Benedict XVI, Amnesty International, among others.

September 2008 – execution was stayed after appeals from Rev. Al Sharpton, former President Jimmy Carter, among others.

October 27, 2008 – execution was stayed after Court receives petition with 140,000 signatures

Several of the key witnesses recant their testimony.

Some witnesses claim that police coercion was involved in the case.

At least one witness says Coles confessed to the shooting of the officer.

August 2010 – Federal district court upholds Davis’ conviction.

March 2011 – Supreme Court rejects appeal by Davis

September 17, 2011 – Petition with over 600,000 signatures presented to Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles asking for clemency for Davis.

September 19, 2011 – Clemency hearing for Davis.

September 20, 2011 – Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denies Davis clemency. Many, including politicians, are upset over this.

Troy Davis was executed by lethal injection in Georgia.

Time of death - 11:08 p.m.