"IN RESPONSE TO A PLEA BY THE INNOCENCE PROJECT, CHROMOSOMAL LABORATORIES IN PHOENIX, ARIZONA HAS OFFERED ITS ACCREDITED DNA TESTING SERVICES TO HELP PURSUE JUSTICE. THE OFFER WAS MADE TO THE HONORABLE RICK PERRY, GOVERNOR OF TEXAS FOR TESTING DNA EVIDENCE THAT COULD PROVE THE INNOCENCE OR GUILT OF HANK SKINNER. MR. SKINNER IS SET TO BE EXECUTED ON MARCH 24TH FOR THE MURDER OF HIS GIRLFRIEND AND HER TWO ADULT SONS, WHICH HE WAS CONVICTED OF IN 1995. THE INNOCENCE PROJECT HAS ASKED THAT CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS TO URGE GOVERNOR PERRY TO ORDER A STAY OF EXECUTION UNTIL THE TESTING CAN BE COMPLETED.
DNA EVIDENCE IN THIS CASE WAS NEVER TESTED AND THE TEXAS’ HIGHEST CRIMINAL COURT HAS REFUSED TO INTERVENE IN THE CASE. MR. SKINNER’S ATTORNEY CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE UNCOVERED EVIDENCE THAT SUBSTANTIATES HIS CLAIM THAT ANOTHER SUSPECT IS INVOLVED AND PLACES DOUBT ON HIS GUILT OF THIS CRIME. MR. SKINNER HAS ALWAYS MAINTAINED HIS INNOCENCE AND REQUESTED THAT DNA TESTING BE DONE ON POTENTIALLY INCULPATORY EVIDENCE, IN PARTICULAR A WINDBREAKER, KNIFES AND HAIRS RECOVERED FROM ONE OF THE VICTIM’S HANDS......WHEN SIMPLE DNA TESTING MAY HELP PREVENT SUCH A MISCARRIAGE, IT SEEMS IMPLAUSIBLE THAT THE GOVERNOR AND STATE OF TEXAS WOULD ALLOW THE EXECUTION TO PROCEED. IN ORDER TO HELP PREVENT THIS, CHROMOSOMAL LABORATORIES HAS DECIDED TO OFFER ITS SERVICES WITHOUT ANY FEES. WE HOPE THAT THE GREAT STATE OF TEXAS WILL ACCEPT THIS OFFER IN THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS INTENDED, TO HELP PROMOTE JUSTICE."
FROM ANNOUNCEMENT OF OFFER FROM CHROMOSOMAL LABORATORIES TO TEXAS GOVERNOR RICK PERRY: PRO BONO TESTING FOR HANK SKINNER CASE; IN COOPERATION WITH INNOCENCE PROJECT;
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BACKGROUND: The editor of the Texas Tribune says in a note that "Hank Skinner is set to be executed for a 1993 murder he's always maintained he didn't commit. He wants the state to test whether his DNA matches evidence found at the crime scene, but prosecutors say the time to contest his conviction has come and gone...... We told the story of the murders and his conviction and sentencing in the first part of this story." Reporter Brandi Grissom, author of the Tribune series on Hank Skinner, writes: "I interviewed Henry "Hank" Watkins Skinner, 47, at the Polunsky Unit of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice — death row — on January 20, 2010. Skinner was convicted in 1995 of murdering his girlfriends and her two sons; the state has scheduled his execution for February 24. Skinner has always maintained that he's innocent and for 15 years has asked the state to release DNA evidence that he says will prove he was not the killer."
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"In response to a plea by the Innocence Project, Chromosomal Laboratories in Phoenix, Arizona has offered its accredited DNA testing services to help pursue justice," the announcement, released earlier today, under the heading "Chromosomal Laboratories Offers Pro Bono DNA Testing to Help Stay an Execution," begins.
"The offer was made to the Honorable Rick Perry, Governor of Texas for testing DNA evidence that could prove the innocence or guilt of Hank Skinner," the announcement continues.
"Mr. Skinner is set to be executed on March 24th for the murder of his girlfriend and her two adult sons, which he was convicted of in 1995. The Innocence Project has asked that concerned individuals to urge Governor Perry to order a stay of execution until the testing can be completed.
DNA evidence in this case was never tested and the Texas’ highest criminal court has refused to intervene in the case. Mr. Skinner’s attorney claim that they have uncovered evidence that substantiates his claim that another suspect is involved and places doubt on his guilt of this crime. Mr. Skinner has always maintained his innocence and requested that DNA testing be done on potentially inculpatory evidence, in particular a windbreaker, knifes and hairs recovered from one of the victim’s hands.
While the Innocence Project does not maintain the innocence or guilt of Mr. Skinner, as they do not represent him, they point out that everything possible should be done before Mr. Skinner pays the ultimate price in what may be a colossal miscarriage of justice. When simple DNA testing may help prevent such a miscarriage, it seems implausible that the Governor and State of Texas would allow the execution to proceed. In order to help prevent this, Chromosomal Laboratories has decided to offer its services without any fees. We hope that the great State of Texas will accept this offer in the manner in which it is intended, to help promote justice."
The announcement indicates that: Chromosomal Laboratories, Inc. is a full service DNA laboratory that specializes in providing advanced DNA testing for forensics, paternity, immigration and other relationships that can be resolved through DNA identification. Chromosomal Laboratories also provides research and development and DNA consulting services. The company is based in Phoenix, Arizona.
The announcement can be found at:
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=114430
Harold Levy...hlevy15@gmail.com;
