Motion for DNA Testing Granted
The student attorneys and their professor of the Clinical Law Program at West Virginia University have successfully argued the case before Judge Phil Jordan, Circuit Judge 21st Judicial Circuit, Tucker County for DNA testing on physical evidence in this case.
Judge Jordan made his ruling on 4 Nov 2009. The WV State Crime Lab is ordered to conduct the necessary testing and provide the results to the Court within 120 days.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Strengthening Forensic Science in The United States: A Path Forward
The National Academy of Sciences has just released a prepublication pdf of -
Strengthening Forensic Science in The United States: A Path Forward
This important work has resulted from the collaboration of scholars from multiple disciplines leading to 13 recommendations for the improvement of forensic science in the US.
It is available from The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C. www.nap.edu
The National Academy of Sciences has just released a prepublication pdf of -
Strengthening Forensic Science in The United States: A Path Forward
This important work has resulted from the collaboration of scholars from multiple disciplines leading to 13 recommendations for the improvement of forensic science in the US.
It is available from The National Academies Press, Washington, D.C. www.nap.edu
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Contact Page in WebSite
The contact page in my website - http://www.mmstoddart.com/ has not been working for some time but has just now come to my attention. My apologies. Anyone wishing to send me a message please do so via this blog or my email margaret@nativefusion.com
Sorry for the trouble.
The contact page in my website - http://www.mmstoddart.com/ has not been working for some time but has just now come to my attention. My apologies. Anyone wishing to send me a message please do so via this blog or my email margaret@nativefusion.com
Sorry for the trouble.
Friday, November 28, 2008
Homicide?
How can a man be convicted of homicide when no homicide was proven?
The medical examiner failed to prove that a homicide occurred.
The medical examiner misunderstood wound ballistics. He wrote on the autopsy report that the manner of death was homicide without scientific evidence. The medical examiner misapplied a ballistics test and ruled on a manner of death in the absence of scientific fact and contrary to scientific knowledge… with disastrous results.
Does this matter today? Should we care? Is there any benefit to be gained from correcting that error now? How many lives would it affect? Is that even a gauge we should use when deciding if it is worth fixing?
We are not talking about expensive forensic testing. Just a common sense look at known facts of wound ballistics available to anyone who cares to do a little internet research and … SHAZAM!! there it is. Proof of error. Not just a small error. An error that cost a man his freedom for life. His family’s honor. The victim’s family’s peace of mind. And on and on and on.
Now what?
Should the forensic science community be concerned with upholding its integrity? Should the justice community be concerned with repairing the errors it committed while trusting the forensic community?
Should the people, when made aware of this error, expect it to be corrected?
How can a man be convicted of homicide when no homicide was proven?
The medical examiner failed to prove that a homicide occurred.
The medical examiner misunderstood wound ballistics. He wrote on the autopsy report that the manner of death was homicide without scientific evidence. The medical examiner misapplied a ballistics test and ruled on a manner of death in the absence of scientific fact and contrary to scientific knowledge… with disastrous results.
Does this matter today? Should we care? Is there any benefit to be gained from correcting that error now? How many lives would it affect? Is that even a gauge we should use when deciding if it is worth fixing?
We are not talking about expensive forensic testing. Just a common sense look at known facts of wound ballistics available to anyone who cares to do a little internet research and … SHAZAM!! there it is. Proof of error. Not just a small error. An error that cost a man his freedom for life. His family’s honor. The victim’s family’s peace of mind. And on and on and on.
Now what?
Should the forensic science community be concerned with upholding its integrity? Should the justice community be concerned with repairing the errors it committed while trusting the forensic community?
Should the people, when made aware of this error, expect it to be corrected?
Monday, September 15, 2008
Truth In Justice
The Forensic Examiner, The Journal of the American College of Forensic Examiners, has an interesting article in its current issue, Volume 17 Number 3 Fall 2008. (Available at Chapters stores in Canada.) Written by John Lechliter, editor in chief, the piece deals with the Truth in Justice organization and its web site, www.truthinjustice.org run by Sheila Berry and her husband Doug.
With over 1600 pages of material on cases of wrongful conviction the site is well worth visiting and according to The Forensic Examiner, it has drawn the attention of network producers looking for related news stories.
The Forensic Examiner, The Journal of the American College of Forensic Examiners, has an interesting article in its current issue, Volume 17 Number 3 Fall 2008. (Available at Chapters stores in Canada.) Written by John Lechliter, editor in chief, the piece deals with the Truth in Justice organization and its web site, www.truthinjustice.org run by Sheila Berry and her husband Doug.
With over 1600 pages of material on cases of wrongful conviction the site is well worth visiting and according to The Forensic Examiner, it has drawn the attention of network producers looking for related news stories.
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