Tuesday, February 6, 2007
from the Kennebec Journal
Snow tinges landscape -- right off schedule
Panel spurns vaccination-choice bill
H1N1 thriving; absence high in 25 schools State officials get reports of more than 300 cases
BELGRADE: Reval possible
GARDINER: Citizen panel formed to consider crematorium
AUGUSTA: City backs composites grant
Tigers, Ramblers face tough tasks in semis
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOTES Colby set to finish
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
Shooting victim memorialized
Flu affects school absentee rates throughout state
Finances, decrease in users forcing Inside Out Playground to close doors
School funding undetermined
Fall snowfall to give way to warmer weekend
SOMERSET COUNTY: Thefts lead to more charges
COLLEGE FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: Colby prepares to 'finish' in final home game of season
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Messalonskee to face Bangor, Lawrence hosts Brunswick
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
Forensic DNA has proven to be a valuable tool for identifying perpetrators in cold cases, cases that would have otherwise remained unsolved. However, the Maine Attorney General's Office must also recognize DNA technology's tremendous value in freeing those wrongfully convicted.
Dennis Dechaine continues to serve a life sentence for a murder conviction even though DNA testing performed in 2004 found a male DNA profile under the victim's fingernails that does not match Dechaine's DNA. The Attorney General's Office has not ordered a re-trial for Dechaine in spite of this incredibly powerful new evidence, evidence that was not available to the jury for Dechaine's trial in 1989. They are not actively pursuing who that "unknown male" DNA belongs to. Shouldn't the same level of importance be placed on all DNA evidence even when it may show a mistake has been made by the Attorney General's Office? Why would the state of Maine want to keep the wrong man in prison?
Nancy Farrin
Pittston
Reader comments
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The first type of investigation is where evidence is collected by law enforcement people for the purposes of establishing and proving guilt of an accused person.
The second type of investigation is where either no exculpatory evidence is collected at all or any evidence that tends to prove an accused person is innocent of the charges is either suppressed or ignored completely by law enforcement.
The third type is reserved for the prosecution of fellow law enforcement people and/or their buddies. In this type of investigation its not uncommon to see special considerations made in favor of those whom supposedly are not to be given any special treatment, but they are.
I'll give you two guesses which of these three types of investigations works for the AG's office, especially as they pertain to the Dennis Dechaine case. report abuse
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