Bulletin: Texas; Richard Kussmaul, James Pitts Jr, Michael Shelton, and James Long. New DNA testing approved for 1992 murder;

STORY: "New DNA testing approved for 1992 murder and sexual assault trial," by reporter Adam Shear, published by News Channel 25 on August 31, 2012.

GIST: "New DNA testing was approved for four men who were sentenced in 1994 for raping a teenage girl and then murdering her and a friend. Four guilty pleas in 1994 found that in 1992 Richard Bryan Kussmaul murdered 17-year-old Leslie Murphy and 14-year-old Steven Neighbors with a high powered assault rifle near Moody, TX.........Despite all four men pleading guilty initially, they now say they are innocent and the defense attorneys believes the advanced DNA testing that Judge George Allen approved Friday will prove that.........The defense also said the men all claim they were told in 1994 that they could either get the death penalty if they went to trial or plea guilty and receive probation for the crime. According to the defense, the threat of the death penalty, lead the men to accept the plea, despite knowing they were innocent. The defense attorneys argued that DNA testing in 1994 was not comparable to today's testing technology."

The entire story can be found at:

http://www.kxxv.com/story/19431946/new-dna-testing-approved-in-1992-murder-and-sexual-assault-trial

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

I am monitoring this case. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments.

The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:

http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:

http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html

Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.