Tuesday, February 6, 2007
from the Kennebec Journal
Sport of Kings
New Medicaid billing system inspires doubts among some
Christmas spirit
Guidance counselor: Dismiss complaint based on criticism of same-sex marriage
CHELSEA: 'Practice burn' provides thrill for 9-year-old
Trust eyes orchard purchase
GOLFER OF THE YEAR: Bonenfant rises up Cony ranks
YOUTH SOCCER: Local team gives 'care package' to children in Afghanistan
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
YES ON 1 BACKER REBUTS CLAIM
New system for Medicaid payments worries providers
After petition drive, Clinton police force budget will go a third time before voters
A rock musician makes trip home via Black Taxi
MADISON: After revaluation, abatement requests reviewed
Parks to have facelift
GOLFER OF THE YEAR: Sweet does job for Madison
YOUTH SOCCER: Local team gives 'care package' to children in Afghanistan
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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