STORY: "Skinner defence: New DNA testing suggests his innocence: Attornies suggest an uncle of Twila Busby is more likely suspect," by reporter Jordan Smith, published by the Austin Chronicle on September 6, 2013.
GIST: "The results of new, additional DNA testing in the Hank Skinner case demonstrate he is innocent of the multiple murders in the Panhandle that sent Skinner to the row in 1995, defense lawyers argue in new court filings. Skinner was sentenced to die for the New Year's Eve 1993 murders of his longtime girlfriend Twila Busby and her two grown sons in the Pampa home they shared. Skinner has maintained he is innocent of the crime, saying he was passed out on booze and drugs and that when he came to he found the family slaughtered. That's why previous DNA testing – reported in November 2012 by the state – revealed his profile in blood found on a dresser, door frame, multiple doorknobs, a comforter, and a tennis shoe in the home, his lawyers, including Rob Owen from the University of Texas Capital Punishment Clinic, argue. Notably, in that round of testing an unknown male DNA profile was found on a knife believed to be used in the crime, found on the front porch of the home and on carpeting in the bedroom Busby's sons shared. This newest round of testing, conducted on a series of hairs found clutched in Busby's hand, reveal that one belongs to Skinner, but also that at least two hairs belong to someone related to Busby, even though a visual analysis by the Texas Department of Public Safety concluded that they did not belong to Busby or either of her sons. That is significant, Skinner's lawyers say, because it suggests that an alternate theory of the crime long floated by Skinner's defense may in fact be key to solving the crime. According to Skinner's defense, Busby's uncle, Robert Donnell (now deceased), had been stalking Busby and making sexual advances toward her at a party the night she died. Indeed, a windbreaker stained by blood that was found at the crime scene was tied to Donnell, known to be violent; that windbreaker has never been tested. In fact, that crucial piece of evidence has simply disappeared and no one in law enforcement seems to know what has become of it."
The entire story can be found at:
http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2013-09-06/skinner-defense-new-dna-testing-suggests-his-innocence/
PUBLISHER'S NOTE:
Dear Reader. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following this case.
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