Tuesday, February 6, 2007
from the Kennebec Journal
Officials seek OK to use surplus to finish road work
Many seek to vote before Election Day
Drivers do have choices
COUNTY TAX STILL UNPAID
Probe continues in fatal hit-and-run
Allen claims gain vs. Collins
MLB: 2 former Sea Dogs excel in clutch
HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER NOTES: Cony builds on loss
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
DRIVING TO SAVE: Extra effort might get you more miles
CANAAN: Fire destroys family lumber business
FAIRFIELD GUN FETCHES$800,000
TROY Driver faces manslaughter, OUI charges
WATERVILLE Planners OK plan for Gilman Street apartments
WATERVILLE MOTORCYCLIST HURT IN CRASH
RED SOX: Portland connection
HIGH SCHOOL FIELD HOCKEY: Messalonskee ends Skowhegan streak
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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