Tag Archives: junk forensic science

Strange case involving Amanda Knox’s supposed forensic team DNA expert.

Strange case involving Amanda Knox’s supposed defense team DNA expert. Some folks get suspicious when a defense expert goes on the defensive after being VERY public in the press. A reporter tries to find out about how a DNA biologist … Continue reading

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The New York Times Forensic Science discussion seems odd

One person talks about “fixing forensics.” The other asks for forensic experts to be more HONEST about the limitations of what they (for better or worse in some cases) generally call “science.” Talk about attacking a serious subject from both … Continue reading

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BACK to Supreme Court to test new law on forensic ‘science’

A remarkably sad, infuriating  and frustrating ordeal one man in California prison has experienced for 22 years is winding up in intensity. William Richards’ 1997 murder conviction in San Bernardino had been overturned by a habeas corpus hearing in 2010, … Continue reading

Posted in Bad Forensic Science, Bitemarks, criminal justice, Forensic Science, junk forensic science, wrongful convictions | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Executed Todd Willingham faced a stacked deck during his trial: Lying informant and junk forensic fire science

Todd Willingham in 2004 “I lied on the man (Willingham) because I was being forced by John Jackson to do so,” Webb said, according to the Marshall Project. “I succumbed to pressure when I shouldn’t have. In the end, I … Continue reading

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THe NIST Forensic Science Commission Lays an Egg with its Bitemark Study Group. Now its hatching.

OSAC Subcommittee on Ondontology (sic) The original source of this NIST  information is here.  Other than originally mis-spelling ODONTOLOGY, this NIST subcommittee (OSAC) on Forensic Dentistry should do well dealing with dental identification of unknown human remains, but in the … Continue reading

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New Junk Forensic Science comes your way from Alabama

Nothing says ‘forensic science’ better that the state of Alabama. Its evidentiary statutes and case law (stare decisis) contains convictions later overturned by DNA. And, its District Attorneys (Hi there, Steve Marshall, from Marshall County, ALA) allow forensic experts to testify like … Continue reading

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AAFS 2015 Expect live streaming on @csidds on Science and Law

I will be live reporting from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Orlando annual meeting this week. Expect some interesting commentary about Forensic Reform and wrongful convictions associated with members of the AAFS. Follow me on my Twitter account @csidds. … Continue reading

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Last ditch efforts to stay another execution in Texas. Plus a new series from the Washington Post on resistance to forensic reform.

A last minute effort to stay Rodney Reed’s execution in TX is based on new expert review of erroneous Time of Death opinion at the conviction trial. The litigation is led by the Innocence Project. There is a petition to the … Continue reading

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Advances in Forensic Fire Science leads to man’s release after 36 years in prison

The article at the end quotes the defense attorney saying “the criminal justice system works.” Thats one side of the coin, and it may be a bit of a stretch, but is not the entire story. It has taken forensic … Continue reading

Posted in Bitemarks, exoneration, forensic science misconduct, junk forensic science | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Quality of Forensic Training and Education can be Sketchy

  Short article on using ISO standards to pick quality continuing education for crime lab personnel. Sometimes what is available may  be no more than “I do it this way” approach. This is apparent in the less than science-based  presentations seen in … Continue reading

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