GEN - Man Free after 15 years in jail

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This has been big news around here. Seems that there is a chemist for the county that didn't know what the heck she was doing. She did all sorts of DNA testing for the county, and helped to convict numerous people.

A man was released from jail yesterday after serving 15 years for rape. He said all along that he didn't do it, yet this chemist said that he did. It appears, that due to some investigation into this chemist, that the hair strand was sent to California for 'proper' DNA testing. At least this wrong has been made right!

Oh, local talk is that he will sue, but first he has to determine the amount he'll ask for. I, honestly, for one hope he gets all he asks for. And, seems like he was turned down for parole twice because he refused to get counceled for sexual crimes.

fair use...

Link

Pierce Freed By DNA Tests After 15 Years

DNA Tests Exonerate Inmate

LEXINGTON, Okla., 5:59 p.m. CDT May 7, 2001 -- A man who spent 15-years in prison for a sexual assault that a recent DNA test proves he didn't commit was released from prison Monday afternoon.

Pierce Freed By DNA Tests After 15 Years Pierce: "The Citizens Of Oklahoma County Have Been Duped" Edmondson Won't Ask For Execution Dates Will Probe Lead To Re-Trial? Attorneys for Jeffrey Todd Pierce met Monday afternoon with Oklahoma County prosecutors, who cleared him of charges in a 1985 sexual assault after receiving a written report on DNA evidence.

Mark Myers reported that Pierce's bitterness overtook his joy Monday.

"Citizens ... Have Been Duped" "The citizens of Oklahoma City have been duped," he said. "Juries have been lied to."

The FBI and state officials are investigating allegations that police chemist Joyce Gilchrist misled juries or produced false results. Gilchrist analyzed hair taken from the scene of the crime, and testified against Pierce.

Pierce's attorneys said that they received word of the report weeks ago and expected Pierce to be cleared. Pierce said that he plans to sue over his incarceration.

Gilchrist was involved in thousands of cases, including some that sent people to death row.

Pierce said that he knows other people in prison who were wrongly convicted.

"I hope (the media) won't forget about all them," he said.

He also pointed out that the only apology he has heard from Oklahoma City police chief M.T. Berry is to Gilchrist, because confidential memos about her work became public.

-- Anonymous, May 08, 2001


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