Vigil Opposing Workman Execution

TCASK Vigils Opposing Philip Workman's Execution

NASHVILLE: Philip Workman is scheduled to be executed at 1:00am Wednesday morning for the murder of Memphis Police Lt. Ronald Oliver, despite overwhelming evidence that Workman did not fire the bullet responsible for Oliver’s death. The only witness who claimed to see Workman shoot Oliver, Harold Davis, has recanted his testimony and this recantation has been verified by polygraph examination. Ballistics experts have testified that “to a degree of medical certainty” the bullet that killed Lt. Oliver could not have come from Workman’s gun. The Tennessee Supreme Court has stated that if Workman did not fire the shot, he is not guilty of a capital crime. Five of the jurors from Workman’s original trial, the original prosecuting attorney, and Lt. Oliver’s daughter have called for clemency for Workman. However, no court has examined all this evidence and Workman is now only hours away from execution.


The state of Tennessee continues to press relentlessly ahead with its plans to kill Philip Workman, despite strong evidence of his innocence of capital murder charges and expert testimony demonstrating that Tennessee’s lethal injection procedures run a high likelihood of causing unnecessary and inhumane suffering to Workman if he is executed.

The Tennessee Coalition to Abolish State Killing will carry out vigils and prayer services tonight to bear witnesses to the people of Tennessee’s opposition to an unjust an immoral execution. Services will also be held in Jackson, Memphis, and Knoxville.