STORY: "Does DNA testing prove Skinner's guilt? That depends on whom you ask," by reporter Jordan Smith, published by the Austin Chronicle on February 6, 2014.
GIST: "Since the first round of testing was completed in late 2012, the state has insisted that the results bolster its case against Skinner. His DNA was found on a knife the state believes was used in the crime, as well as on doorknobs, walls, a comforter, and a tennis shoe. The results "confirm" that Skinner is guilty, the state argues – a position it maintained during this week's hearing. Skinner's defense has countered that there is nothing definitive to link Skinner to the crime – and the absence of evidence in key places is telling, argues defense attorney Rob Owen with the Bluhm Legal Clinic at Northwestern University School of Law. Skinner's DNA is alone on a stain near where Randy Busby was stabbed; had Skinner stabbed the 20-year-old, as the state alleges, the DNA found on his comforter should have revealed a mixture of DNA evidence. The same logic applies to DNA found on doorknobs and other areas where only Skinner's DNA was recovered, his lawyers argue. Additionally, DNA testing has revealed the profile of an unknown person mixed with Busby's on a bloody dish towel hidden in a plastic bag at the crime scene. Also significant to the defense are several hairs found clutched in Busby's hand. Those hairs do not match Skinner. DNA testing on the hairs revealed the profile of an unknown person with a maternal relationship to Busby, but a visual analysis of the hairs found them to be dissimilar to hair from Busby or her two sons. Skinner's defense team believes the hair belongs to Busby's uncle, Robert Donnell, who they say is likely the real murderer. Donnell was seen "stalking" Busby at a party the night she was murdered and he left the party shortly after she did. He has since died..........At this juncture, the question before the court is not whether Skinner is in fact innocent, but whether it is reasonably likely he would have been acquitted if the DNA testing had been completed and the results provided to his jury."
The entire story can be found at:
GIST: "Since the first round of testing was completed in late 2012, the state has insisted that the results bolster its case against Skinner. His DNA was found on a knife the state believes was used in the crime, as well as on doorknobs, walls, a comforter, and a tennis shoe. The results "confirm" that Skinner is guilty, the state argues – a position it maintained during this week's hearing. Skinner's defense has countered that there is nothing definitive to link Skinner to the crime – and the absence of evidence in key places is telling, argues defense attorney Rob Owen with the Bluhm Legal Clinic at Northwestern University School of Law. Skinner's DNA is alone on a stain near where Randy Busby was stabbed; had Skinner stabbed the 20-year-old, as the state alleges, the DNA found on his comforter should have revealed a mixture of DNA evidence. The same logic applies to DNA found on doorknobs and other areas where only Skinner's DNA was recovered, his lawyers argue. Additionally, DNA testing has revealed the profile of an unknown person mixed with Busby's on a bloody dish towel hidden in a plastic bag at the crime scene. Also significant to the defense are several hairs found clutched in Busby's hand. Those hairs do not match Skinner. DNA testing on the hairs revealed the profile of an unknown person with a maternal relationship to Busby, but a visual analysis of the hairs found them to be dissimilar to hair from Busby or her two sons. Skinner's defense team believes the hair belongs to Busby's uncle, Robert Donnell, who they say is likely the real murderer. Donnell was seen "stalking" Busby at a party the night she was murdered and he left the party shortly after she did. He has since died..........At this juncture, the question before the court is not whether Skinner is in fact innocent, but whether it is reasonably likely he would have been acquitted if the DNA testing had been completed and the results provided to his jury."
The entire story can be found at:
http://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2014-02-06/does-dna-testing-prove-skinners-guilt/
PUBLISHER'S NOTE:
Dear Reader. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog. We are following 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/
Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:
http://smithforensic.blogspot.ca/2013/12/the-charles-smith-award-presented-to_28.html
I look forward to hearing from readers at:
hlevy15@gmail.co
