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Category Archives: Bad Forensic Science
Forensics: Subjective and Contradictory opinions. Interpreting Blood Stain Patterns: Science or Speculation?
In the TV-show Dexter, the titular character leads a double life as both a forensic scientist and a serial killer. Dexter’s unique forensic… — Read on http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx
Forensics: False guilty pleas and marginalized defendants. New wrongful convictions database spurs hope of reforms, change in Canada
As the database launches there are 83 cases in it where a conviction was overturned, with only 16 of them involved Indigenous people. — Read on globalnews.ca/news/9499324/wrongful-convictions-database-reforms-change-canada/
Forensics: “Cargo Cult”experts. We Need To Get Junk Science Out of Courtrooms
Forensic pseudoscience introduced into the courtroom has been used to convict and render death on people based on the thinnest of evidence. — Read on http://www.currentaffairs.org/2023/01/we-need-to-get-junk-science-out-of-courtrooms
Forensics: Another tabloid sensation. Uranium found at Heathrow Airport
Last week there was a flurry of stories about the discovery of uranium in a shipment of scrap metal. In a highly speculative story British tabloid, The Sun mentioned that the uranium could be used to make a “dirty bomb.” … Continue reading
Forensics: Biases and Tunnel Vision. Unlucky numbers: Fighting murder convictions that rest on shoddy stats | Science
Unlucky numbers: Fighting murder convictions that rest on shoddy stats | Science | AAAS — Read on http://www.science.org/content/article/unlucky-numbers-fighting-murder-convictions-rest-shoddy-stats
Forensics: Inept Austin crime lab results in Supreme Court Reverses Texas Court Decision Based on Prosecutor’s Admission About Flawed Forensic Evidence
Supreme Court has reversed the denial of relief to a Texas death-row prisoner whose request for new trial is supported by local prosecutors. The Travis… — Read on deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/supreme-court-reverses-texas-court-decision-based-on-prosecutors-admission-about-flawed-forensic-evidence
Forensics: Botched DNA from crime lab. Areli Escobar’s execution to be reconsidered after Supreme Court order
Areli Escobar was sentenced to death in 2011 for an Austin murder, but even prosecutors now agree his conviction relied heavily on faulty DNA testing by the discredited Travis County crime lab. — Read on http://www.texastribune.org/2023/01/09/areli-escobar-texas-execution-death-row-supreme-court/
Forencis: Obstructionist AG’s stand in wrongful death convictions comes under fire
Bad faith shows its egregious face once again. AGs across the US have argued bitemarks are still valid in these exon cases. St. Louis Judge David Mason was exasperated — again. — Read on http://www.newstribune.com/news/2022/dec/23/ags-stand-in-wrongful-death-convictions-comes/
Forensics: A total mess. Queensland DNA lab to be ‘rebuilt from ground up’ after damning report, government says
Samples to be retested and double jeopardy laws potentially reformed so serious crimes can be re-prosecuted after 123 recommendations accepted — Read on http://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/dec/15/queensland-dna-lab-to-be-rebuilt-from-ground-up-after-damning-report-government-says