Monday, June 17, 2013

Bite mark "evidence": (Junk science. HL); Associated Press reveals that since 2,000, at least 18 men convicted in rapes and murders largely because of bite mark analysis have been exonerated by DNA testing or otherwise proved not guilty; Summaries of cases provided.


STORY:  "Men  wrongly convicted or arrested on bite evidence," by reporter Amanda Lee Myers, published by the Associated Press on June 15, 2013.

PHOTO CAPTION: In this Jan. 30, 2009, file photo Robert Lee Stinson, second right, hugs a family friend as his sister Charlene Stinson, right, wipes her tears after Stinson walked out of the New Lisbon, Wis., Correctional Institution. Stinson was convicted in 1985 of raping and killing a 63-year-old Milwaukee woman and sentenced to life in prison. Stinson was exonerated and released in 2009 after more than 23 years in prison. Bite-mark analysis, though common in trials involving rape, murder and child abuse, and often cited as key evidence leading to arrests, convictions and imprisonment, is a field under fire. Since 2000, at least 18 men convicted in rapes and murders largely because of bite-mark analysis have been exonerated by DNA testing or otherwise proved not guilty. (AP Photo/Andy Manis, File)

GIST: "At least 24 men convicted or arrested based largely on murky bite-mark evidence have been exonerated by DNA testing, had charges dropped or otherwise been proved not guilty. Many spent more than a decade in prison, and one man was behind bars for more than 23 years before he was exonerated. One man is still in prison as an appeal works through the courts. The Associated Press compiled this list using court records, news reports and the help of the Innocence Project, organized by the state in which the crimes occurred."

The entire story can be found at:

http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1806087563/Men-wrongly-convicted-or-arrested-on-bite-evidence?rssfeed=true#axzz2WItnKrqO

See Harriesburg Amercan related story with focus on Mississippi bite mark evidence which appears under the heading: "Bites derided as unreliable in court: Hub City dentist no longer works on bite mark cases."

http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/viewart/20130616/NEWS01/306160026/Bites-derided-unreliable-court

PUBLISHER'S NOTE:

Dear reader: Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following developments relating to this case;

I have added a search box for content in this blog which now encompasses several thousand posts. The search box is located  near the bottom of the screen just above the list of links. I am confident that this powerful search tool provided by "Blogger" will help our readers and myself get more out of the site. 

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.  
  


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