Texas again: DNA test proves prisoner's innocence

A TEXAS man sentenced to life in prison has been released after 23 years behind bars after DNA tests proved his innocence, the man's lawyer said today. A judge in Texas released Ernest Sonnier on bond on Friday, said lawyer Alba Morales, who works for the Innocence Project advocacy group.

Sonnier, 46, was convicted for a Christmas Eve 1985 rape that tests show he did not commit. "This is a complicated case, but the bottom line is simple: Ernest Sonnier is innocent, and his long nightmare is coming to an end," Mr Morales said. "We have conducted nine rounds of DNA testing on multiple pieces of evidence for the last 18 months. Not a shred of evidence ties Ernest to this crime, but DNA testing has identified the two apparent perpetrators," Mr Morales said.

Sonnier's mother Altha Davis said she always knew her son was innocent because they were together when the crime was allegedly committed. "It's been long for me, so long," Ms Davis said. "I'm happy and so sad at the same time."

According to the Innocence Project, Texas is the US state with the highest number of prisoners found to be innocent following DNA testing. Of the 241 inmates that were found innocent thanks to DNA testing since 1989, 38 are in Texas, the group said.

Original report here

Some background

Sonnier’s case is the latest in a string of wrongful convictions caused in part by faulty forensic testing at the Houston Police Department Crime Lab. Although blood-type testing on important crime scene evidence conducted before trial didn’t match Sonnier’s type – and even suggested that he may be innocent – an analysts testified at his trial that he could still be the perpetrator, based on a conclusion not supported by the analyst’s own report.

Houston has been an epicenter of forensic problems – but faulty forensic testing is a national problem and must be addressed in order to prevent more wrongful convictions. Earlier this year, the National Academies of Sciences called for the creation of a National Institute of Forensic Science to provide research, support and oversight in forensic disciplines to prevent wrongful convictions and help law enforcement identify the perpetrators of crime.

Original report here



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