“Junk” science at its worst
Earlier today I wrote about the NAS report on the state of forensic sciences in labs across the country. One of the findings of the report was that some “areas” of forensic science are unreliable because of the lack of standards, research and scrutiny. One of those areas was the study and comparison of bite-marks.
From Radley Balko at Reason comes the worst possible story of the misuse of this “junk” science. It chronicles the lengths to which two purveryors of this science would go in order to secure convictions. The descriptions and videos are not for the faint of heart.
| Print article | This entry was posted by Gideon on February 19, 2009 at 8:07 pm, and is filed under asides. Follow any responses to this post through RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site. |


about 2 years ago
My god is there no limit to the depth of depravity of these ‘experts’?
about 2 years ago
Apparently, one of them is still testifying in Mississippi.
about 2 years ago
It may seem a bit un-defense-lawyerly of me, but I would really like to see West charged with attempted murder. What he did was nothing short of a cold-blooded, premeditated attempt to take Jimmie Duncan’s life away by putting him on death row. Hayne, too, for assisting West and for trumping up the rape charge.
These two men are just despicable and thank goodness for Radley Balko informing the public of their horrors.
about 2 years ago
Obviously, people have a right to defend themselves, but the tape is pretty damning.
You just can’t make stuff up. Do it enough, and you’re going to convict an innocent man.
People should forward that link to the news tip email for the Washington Post, NY Times etc.
about 2 years ago
S, I agree. Falsifying evidence in a serious case should be a capital offense.
about 2 years ago
SPO, I think that may be the first time you and I have ever agreed on something. Well, of course, it’s only partial agreement because, as I’m sure you would guess, I can’t agree with you on making it a capital offense.
about 2 years ago
Well, hopefully you agree with me enough to email the link to the news tips for various major newspapers.
about 2 years ago
Seems that there’s more to the story:
http://patterico.com/2009/03/01/did-haley-oliveauxs-abrasion-appear-because-her-skin-had-dried-overnight/