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DNA Frees Two, Wrongfully Convicted in Mississippi

By Jeralyn, Section Innocence Cases
Posted on Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 11:36:10 AM EST
Tags: DNA testing, wrongful convictions (all tags)
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Two men in Mississippi, wrongfully convicted of murdering a child, have been released from prison after a decade, thanks to the work of the Innocence Project and local lawyers.

The cause of these wrongful convictions: fraudulent evidence. Peter Neufeld, co-director of the Innocence Project says:

"You have a local forensic dentist who fabricated evidence in both these cases to get two innocent men convicted."

Here's more from the Innocence Project on the clearing and release of Kennedy Brewer and Levon Brooks.

In both cases, the real perpetrator has now been apprehended.

Update: Radley Balko at Reason has an update on Mississippi's woeful forensics system.

< Bye, Bye Chuck Rosenthal, Houston D.A. | Fed. Judge Overturns Wyoming Death Sentence - New Trial Ordered >

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    DNA Frees Two, Wrongfully Convicted in Mississippi | 6 comments (6 topical)

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    Wow. (none / 0) (#1)
    by TomStewart on Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 12:07:17 PM EST
    The shear incompetence and arrogance displayed in these cases is amazing. The prosecutor, police, forensic dentist and autopsy surgeon all deserve jail sentences. And huge fines.

    Good lord, you wonder sometimes which version of the constitution (and common decency) they're operating under.

    Am I crazy? (none / 0) (#2)
    by white n az on Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 12:17:14 PM EST
    I still find it hard to forgive Barry Schenk and Peter Neufeld - regardless of their good works since...

    their good works were before and after and during (none / 0) (#5)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 05:00:39 PM EST
    and they have nothing to apologize for. They are heroes. Don't judge lawyers by the clients they represent. Everyone, no matter how heinous a crime they may have committed, is entitled to the best defense and representation possible. If you don't agree, you are clearly on the wrong site.

    Parent
    if lawyers only represented "nice" (none / 0) (#6)
    by cpinva on Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 11:34:50 PM EST
    clients, 75% (just a guess) of people arrested would have none. i deal with attorneys all the time, both my own and the other side's. it's professional, not personal.

    frankly, i'd feel much better if everyone had competent, zealous representation, forcing the state to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt. that way, the odds of innocent parties being convicted would, i think, be vastly reduced.

    i'm curious, do you think doctors should decide who to help, based on their character?

    Parent

    it's mississippi, (none / 0) (#3)
    by cpinva on Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 03:41:23 PM EST
    none of these people will suffer in the slightest.

    Right themes... (none / 0) (#4)
    by SandyK on Sat Feb 16, 2008 at 04:41:55 PM EST
    not overturning drug dealer convictions, or offering them lighter sentences. Doesn't appeal even to law abiding Democrats.

    Innocence Project does a great job. It frees the wrongly convicted. No matter the political stripe, innocent folks convicted for crimes they didn't do is wrong.

    No one (in their right mind) wants to wrongly convict someone. For those who want to repeal the death penalty, it's these such cases that will make folks rethink this punishment. Even in FL they paused them when doubts about innocence comes up, but the innocence has to be proven with solid evidence not just emotional pleas. When the State is the perp, even more so.

    DNA Frees Two, Wrongfully Convicted in Mississippi | 6 comments (6 topical)

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