tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post8821867974498683410..comments2024-02-24T05:19:10.949-05:00Comments on Durham-in-Wonderland: The DNA Security Filekcjohnson9http://www.blogger.com/profile/09625813296986996867noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-59645814325532835892011-03-17T17:49:53.924-04:002011-03-17T17:49:53.924-04:00KC,
In your December 2006 post on DNA, you noted,...KC,<br /><br />In your <a href="http://durhamwonderland.blogspot.com/2006/12/few-more-dna-items.html" rel="nofollow">December 2006</a> post on DNA, you noted, “5.) The SBI notes had an intriguing line: ‘want to prove fingernail's are (v) and prove (v) was in the bathroom.’ Not exactly an unbiased scientific source." The problem of investigators telling the forensic scientists too much information is not limited to Mr. Nifong’s shenanigans in this one case. And not just DNA evidence can be compromised by the forensic scientist not being blind, as Roger Koppl discussed in CSI For Real. Let me quote from an article by <a href="http://www.bioforensics.com/articles/champion1/champion1.html" rel="nofollow">William Thompson</a> and colleagues:<br /><br />Part of the problem is that forensic scientists refuse to take appropriate steps to "blind" themselves to the government's expected (or desired) outcome when interpreting test results. We often see indications, in the laboratory notes themselves, that the analysts are familiar with facts of their cases, including information that has nothing to do with genetic testing, and that they are acutely aware of which results will help or hurt the prosecution team. A DNA analyst in one case wrote: "Suspect-known crip gang member — keeps 'skating' on charges-never serves time. This robbery he gets hit in head with bar stool — left blood trail. [Detective] Miller wants to connect this guy to scene w/DNA …" In another case, where the defense lawyer had suggested that another individual besides the defendant had been involved in the crime, and might have left DNA, the DNA laboratory notes include the notation: "Death penalty case. Need to eliminate [other individual] as a possible suspect."Chris Halkideshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14933976220776524122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-69893846863029442542011-03-15T11:05:18.472-04:002011-03-15T11:05:18.472-04:00DNA security is private, and the state's crime...DNA security is private, and the state's crime lab is obviously public. Both have had problems. Which is more prone to sloppiness or falsification, public or private forensics labs? Speaking only for myself, I would like to see forensics labs split away from law enforcement and made separate entities (as I believe Roger Koppl has suggested), but I am not convinced this would solve all problems.Chris Halkideshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14933976220776524122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-41277451036708105132011-03-14T23:10:14.121-04:002011-03-14T23:10:14.121-04:00I think it is a hoot that Liefong read DIW after c...I think it is a hoot that Liefong read DIW after claiming he never read the blogs. What a fool, an utter imbecile.<br /><br />Glad you got under their skin, K.C.William L. Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01802990642236807359noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-22032174186002587482011-03-14T11:28:06.537-04:002011-03-14T11:28:06.537-04:00It's five years today since the event. That...It's five years today since the event. That's five years that some people have had to live with the constant knowledge that they acceded to, or were complicit in, lies which might have sent innocent persons to prison for thirty years for a crime which they knew never happened.<br /><br />Maybe they want to relieve themselves of that burden by admitting the truth.<br /><br />It would be a relief--to them, as much as to anyone.Quasimodohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06760987825874301133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-17690301662250713242011-03-12T23:18:45.000-05:002011-03-12T23:18:45.000-05:00We are now five years from the incident,
and the ...We are now five years from the incident, <br />and the perpetrators have managed in all that time to avoid having to testify about their actions.<br /><br />(This is a 'justice' system?)<br /><br />Justice delayed is justice denied...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-42060646138253171032011-03-12T17:29:47.914-05:002011-03-12T17:29:47.914-05:00If you look up "Fly by night" in the dic...If you look up "Fly by night" in the dictionary, I suspect there may be a photo of Meehan and/or Nifong.skwillihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17216150339054413310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32542246.post-79455290866603410352011-03-11T21:13:25.517-05:002011-03-11T21:13:25.517-05:00How much I will enjoy (although it is probably a f...How much I will enjoy (although it is probably a fantasy, considering our moribund federal court system)<br />reading a deposition from Brodhead or Seel...Quasimodohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06760987825874301133noreply@blogger.com