by TChris

Last year, TalkLeft discussed the inability of prosecutors to admit their error in convicting Larry Peterson, despite the mountain of new evidence (including DNA) that proved he wasn't the person who raped and murdered Jacqueline Harrison. Although Peterson was granted a new trial on the strength of the new evidence, the TalkLeft post predicted that prosecutors would drop the case in the face of overwhelming evidence of Peterson's innocence. Happily, that happened on Friday, but as this editorial opines, it took much too long.

After initially opposing Peterson's requests to conduct DNA tests, the prosecutor's office received clear scientific evidence in February 2005 that Peterson was wrongly convicted. Yet [prosecutor Robert] Bernardi effectively prevented Peterson from being released on bail for six more months.

Peterson remained charged, awaiting possible retrial, for 15 months after the DNA results were known. That's a disturbing application of the prosecutor's power. Once he possessed such urgent information, it shouldn't have taken an officer of the criminal justice system so long to conclude this case. Bernardi should have moved as swiftly as if it were his own brother behind bars.

Even more disturbing than the prosecution's refusal to concede its mistake is the role it played in obtaining Peterson's conviction.