Neither of the actual offenders can be prosecuted because the statute of limitations has expired. That fact prompted this tacky statement:
"It is a gross understatement to say that we are displeased with the fact that we cannot seek justice for the victims in this case because of the laws back in 1992," Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins said in a statement.
Of course, if that office hadn't prosecuted the wrong person, it may have had a chance to "seek justice" while there was still time to do so. At least the office is now on Waller's side. Not so a few years ago, when the District Attorney's office was unwilling to admit its mistake:
[Waller] had requested a post-conviction DNA testing in 2001 but was denied by a judge, Ware said. "It was an appropriate case for testing in 2001," Ware said. "Had he been tested back then, then the actual perpetrator could have been identified and could have been prevented from paroling out."
The former Dallas County DA, Bill Hill, opposed the new testing and convinced several judges that it wasn't necessary in light of the overwhelming evidence against Waller. One of his underlings even testified that she would prosecute Waller again, even if the DNA evidence pointed to someone else, because the evidence was so strong. She's apparently keeping her righteousness to herself now that the real offenders have confessed.
Hill couldn't have cared less about the truth. He just didn't want his office's convictions disturbed.
Mr. Waller is at least the fourth man cleared by DNA after Mr. Hill denied them testing.
Dallas County has a stunning record for convicting the innocent.
Mr. Waller is the 18th man exonerated by DNA in Dallas County. The county has more DNA exonerations than any other in the country since 2001 when the state legislature allowed post-conviction DNA testing.
Waller's case is scheduled for a hearing in early July, when he will presumably be released.