Tuesday, February 6, 2007
from the Kennebec Journal
Rep. Pingree hears varied proposals for health-care solutions
HALLOWELL Fire that cut communications labeled arson
MONMOUTH Police defended after slim budget rejection
State's schools chief to parley
Wasser will lead newsrooms at KJ, Sentinel and in Portland
BRIEFS
Hockey still in picture for Harrington
Portland boxer to face legend's son
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
$1.3 MILLION FOR HEALTHREACH
Families Matter grows to meet special needs
Chellie Pingree listens to ideas on health care reform
FARMINGTON Rain alters plans for 4th of July
District regroups after budget failure
Vote on county budget hits snag
Burnham driver wins checkered flag at 2 tracks on same day
Maine boxer gets unique opportunity
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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