Comments on: Another Exoneration in Dallas http://www.theagitator.com/2008/05/01/another-exoneration-in-dallas/ It rankles me when somebody tries to tell somebody what to do. Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:52:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Frank http://www.theagitator.com/2008/05/01/another-exoneration-in-dallas/#comment-94452 Frank Thu, 01 May 2008 22:36:42 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/05/01/another-exoneration-in-dallas/#comment-94452 So when should we expect the prosecution of the former DA involved, the police, the crime lab that said there wasn't enough DNA to test and the members of the judicial systems who declared this innocent man a 'pest' and 'an abuser of the legal process'? Not holding my breath, but it seems to me there are plenty of folks in Texas court system that need a trip behind the woodshed for the ass-whipping Daddy never gave them. So when should we expect the prosecution of the former DA involved, the police, the crime lab that said there wasn’t enough DNA to test and the members of the judicial systems who declared this innocent man a ‘pest’ and ‘an abuser of the legal process’?

Not holding my breath, but it seems to me there are plenty of folks in Texas court system that need a trip behind the woodshed for the ass-whipping Daddy never gave them.

]]> By: Whim http://www.theagitator.com/2008/05/01/another-exoneration-in-dallas/#comment-93792 Whim Thu, 01 May 2008 15:29:46 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/05/01/another-exoneration-in-dallas/#comment-93792 There is no DNA exonerations for convictions based on eye-witness mistaken identity. Those who fall prey to mis-identification will not ever be freed. Police and psychologists/sociologists know that incidents of mistaken identify escalate when a witness of one race is trying to ID a perpetrator of another race. Living in the harsh neighborhood that they do, the Russians have an apt proverb concerning eye-witnesses: "He lies like an eye-witness". There is no DNA exonerations for convictions based on eye-witness mistaken identity.

Those who fall prey to mis-identification will not ever be freed. Police and psychologists/sociologists know that incidents of mistaken identify escalate when a witness of one race is trying to ID a perpetrator of another race.

Living in the harsh neighborhood that they do, the Russians have an apt proverb concerning eye-witnesses:

“He lies like an eye-witness”.

]]> By: Nick T http://www.theagitator.com/2008/05/01/another-exoneration-in-dallas/#comment-93748 Nick T Thu, 01 May 2008 15:03:35 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/05/01/another-exoneration-in-dallas/#comment-93748 Everyone should remember too how rare DNA evidence is in any criminal matter. For these 18 great/sad stories there are probably 10x that many people who are innocent and will never ever be exonerated because their cases don't involve any DNA. Everyone should remember too how rare DNA evidence is in any criminal matter. For these 18 great/sad stories there are probably 10x that many people who are innocent and will never ever be exonerated because their cases don’t involve any DNA.

]]> By: pam http://www.theagitator.com/2008/05/01/another-exoneration-in-dallas/#comment-93624 pam Thu, 01 May 2008 13:50:59 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/05/01/another-exoneration-in-dallas/#comment-93624 can someone pass that on down to Mississippi? can someone pass that on down to Mississippi?

]]> By: pam http://www.theagitator.com/2008/05/01/another-exoneration-in-dallas/#comment-93620 pam Thu, 01 May 2008 13:50:09 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/05/01/another-exoneration-in-dallas/#comment-93620 that's the best interview I've read in a long time. It was straight. that’s the best interview I’ve read in a long time. It was straight.

]]> By: Packratt http://www.theagitator.com/2008/05/01/another-exoneration-in-dallas/#comment-93078 Packratt Thu, 01 May 2008 06:43:22 +0000 http://www.theagitator.com/2008/05/01/another-exoneration-in-dallas/#comment-93078 It really gives me hope to see that there is a prosecutor out there who gets it... and that there were people who understood the idea of justice enough to elect him. The prosecutor's job, in fact, the entire justice system's job is to seek justice, not convictions. ...and he's right, wrongful convictions are a problem everywhere, not just Dallas county. Now it's just a matter to get people to care enough about the issue to change the way we seek justice so that it isn't so unjust. So many people just don't seem to care, don't seem to understand just how easy it is for the same thing to happen to them. What would you do if you were wrongfully accused and punished for something you never did? To have that portion of your life and dignity wrongfully stolen from you by the state? I wish more people could understand that feeling... so that fewer people were forced to suffer it. Thanks for sharing stories like this that give us some hope... It really gives me hope to see that there is a prosecutor out there who gets it… and that there were people who understood the idea of justice enough to elect him. The prosecutor’s job, in fact, the entire justice system’s job is to seek justice, not convictions.

…and he’s right, wrongful convictions are a problem everywhere, not just Dallas county. Now it’s just a matter to get people to care enough about the issue to change the way we seek justice so that it isn’t so unjust.

So many people just don’t seem to care, don’t seem to understand just how easy it is for the same thing to happen to them. What would you do if you were wrongfully accused and punished for something you never did? To have that portion of your life and dignity wrongfully stolen from you by the state? I wish more people could understand that feeling… so that fewer people were forced to suffer it.

Thanks for sharing stories like this that give us some hope…

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