security guard had gone to help a homeless man who was being pistol whipped and the officer named mark macphail was shot dead. troy davis was convicted of the murder there was no direct evidence no d.n.a. evidence no gun found seven of the nine police witnesses recanted or changed their testimony jurors came forward said if they knew then what they knew now they would never have convicted him the one of the two people who could not change their testimony sylvester red coals has been fingered by so many as the probable shooter he's the one who pointed the finger originally to troy troy professed his innocence to the end but just let me describe if i have a moment what it was like where that hundred fifty people on the grounds of the prison are waiting vigil outside a thousand people students marched from spelman morehouse college in atlanta to this prison forty miles from there the prison guards gave us the department of corrections the then press packet that said what he would be eating that night very specific grilled cheese burger oven roasted potatoes a great beverage and cole slaw of course