Troy Davis Story: Executed Inmate's Sisters 'Fighting for Justice'
Troy Davis' sister, Martina Correia, told her brother before he was executed Wednesday, "We're not just fighting for your innocence; we’re fighting the judicial system here."
In an interview with the Associated Press Friday, Correia spoke of an unwillingness to waste time on anger and explained, "We’re going to keep moving forward."
"That's what my brother would have wanted us to do, not be angry and wallow and those kinds of things," said Correia.
"My brother's case has brought people together from all over the world, and what a family does is stick together," said younger sister Kim. "Our family isn't only our physical blood relatives. It expands way beyond that."
The 42-year-old-Davis was executed on Sept. 21 for the 1989 slaying of Georgia police officer Mark MacPhail, despite what supporters call a mountain of doubt concerning his guilt.
On Wednesday night, right before his execution, Davis looked at MacPhail's relatives and said, "I am innocent."
Kim spoke of her family's noticeable lack of emotion and related that people have asked "Why aren't you crying? Why aren't you grieving?"
She then described Troy Davis' emotions on the night of his execution, "My brother was at peace with God. He told us before, 'Even though the state of Georgia may execute me, they will only take my physical body, never my soul.'"
Even in days leading up to his execution Correia said her brother remained in high spirits. She related that during family visits they laughed and joked and swapped memories of their family. They said there was no fear in him.
According to the sisters, the one thing he requested was that they keep up the struggle, so his death would not be in vain.
Troy Davis' sisters said they are still making arrangements for their brother's funeral. As of Friday, the state still had not released his body to the family.