Collarspace Discussion Forums


Home  Login  Search 

Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 years in prison


View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest
 
All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 years in prison Page: [1] 2 3   next >   >>
Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 years ... - 1/4/2008 7:12:19 AM   
cyberdude611


Posts: 2596
Joined: 5/7/2006
Status: offline 		A perfect example of how easily the "best system in the world" can make a horrible mistake.

In 1981, a rape victim identified a Texas man, Charles Chatman, in a photo-lineup as the man who raped her. The jury believed the woman, convicted Chatman, and he recieved a life sentence. 26 years later, DNA evidence was performed on a swab of semen taken from the victim at the time. It's 100% certain, the semen does not belong to Chatman.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,319785,00.html
Profile   Post #: 1
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 7:14:20 AM   
Alumbrado


Posts: 5560
Status: offline 		And they have had DNA testing for longer than that.  I'd be royally pissed.

(in reply to cyberdude611)
Profile   Post #: 2
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 7:18:22 AM   
popeye1250


Posts: 18104
Joined: 1/27/2006
From: New Hampshire
Status: offline 		He should receive $26 million dollars tax free.

_____________________________

"But Your Honor, this is not a Jury of my Peers, these people are all decent, honest, law-abiding citizens!"

(in reply to cyberdude611)
Profile   Post #: 3
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 7:49:02 AM   
sub4hire


Posts: 6775
Joined: 1/1/2004
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Alumbrado

And they have had DNA testing for longer than that.  I'd be royally pissed.


How long have they had DNA testing for?  How long does it take to do DNA testing nowadays?  It has to be quicker than it was in the past.

(in reply to Alumbrado)
Profile   Post #: 4
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 8:14:56 AM   
slaveboyforyou


Posts: 3607
Joined: 1/6/2005
From: Arkansas, U.S.A.
Status: offline 		They have not had DNA testing since 1981.

(in reply to sub4hire)
Profile   Post #: 5
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 8:26:39 AM   
Alumbrado


Posts: 5560
Status: offline 		Errrrmmm... maybe I'm reading you wrong.. they have been able to test semen for DNA matches since the mid 80s... and older methods before that... there was no reason to wait this long to clear this person.

(in reply to slaveboyforyou)
Profile   Post #: 6
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 8:36:17 AM   
slaveboyforyou


Posts: 3607
Joined: 1/6/2005
From: Arkansas, U.S.A.
Status: offline 		I should have explained that better.  They didn't have the technology in 1981 to accurately exclude a suspect from such a small sample.  I think the best they could do was identify a blood type.

(in reply to Alumbrado)
Profile   Post #: 7
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 8:54:24 AM   
Aneirin


Posts: 6121
Joined: 3/18/2006
From: Tamaris
Status: offline 		Very sad about the person's freedom being wasted for all those years, and I would like to see them favourably compensated for the inadequacy of the judicial system, but in a way it is a good thing.

A good thing in that they have finally been seen to be innocent of a crime and so released.This to me is a good reason why a death penalty should not be a punishment in cases where there may be a possibility that an accused is innocent i.e. no one saw the deed done.

Just think, how many people have received the death penalty,(in this present age), and so been executed when in reality, they might actually be innocent of the crime they have been convicted of.The conviction being secured on poor police work which just happens to fit.

_____________________________

Everything we are is the result of what we have thought, the mind is everything, what we think, we become - Guatama Buddha

Conservatism is distrust of people tempered by fear - William Gladstone

(in reply to slaveboyforyou)
Profile   Post #: 8
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 8:57:16 AM   
kdsub


Posts: 12180
Joined: 8/16/2007
Status: offline 		I would like to see a  National DNA database and require samples as part of the birth certificate procedures…drivers license applications…. passports…. social security applications…tax refunds…incarceration and or convictions of any crime…. holding of public offices…public service jobs like fire and police and post office and utilities…Any alien entering the country for any reason.


Butch

< Message edited by kdsub -- 1/4/2008 8:58:08 AM >

(in reply to Alumbrado)
Profile   Post #: 9
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 9:05:52 AM   
Aneirin


Posts: 6121
Joined: 3/18/2006
From: Tamaris
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsub

I would like to see a  National DNA database and require samples as part of the birth certificate procedures…drivers license applications…. passports…. social security applications…tax refunds…incarceration and or convictions of any crime…. holding of public offices…public service jobs like fire and police and post office and utilities…Any alien entering the country for any reason.


Butch


I can see in theory, that might be a good idea but for a few points against.Here in Britain we do not trust our authorities and even less so now since they have been tardy with our personal information, private dna information, who says the same will not happen, and would that information be free of corruption?

A crime could be comitted by a person of influence and someone's dna could be made to fit that crime.The thought of this is horrendous, people totally innocent being charged and who would believe otherwise, as dna is so right and conclusive as we are led to believe.


_____________________________

Everything we are is the result of what we have thought, the mind is everything, what we think, we become - Guatama Buddha

Conservatism is distrust of people tempered by fear - William Gladstone

(in reply to kdsub)
Profile   Post #: 10
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 9:07:32 AM   
cyberdude611


Posts: 2596
Joined: 5/7/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: Alumbrado

Errrrmmm... maybe I'm reading you wrong.. they have been able to test semen for DNA matches since the mid 80s... and older methods before that... there was no reason to wait this long to clear this person.


Apparently the sample was too small to test until recently. In fact, this one test consumed the entire sample.

(in reply to Alumbrado)
Profile   Post #: 11
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 9:10:33 AM   
Alumbrado


Posts: 5560
Status: offline 		Ahh... that explains the delay... I'd still be veewwwwy unhappy.

(in reply to cyberdude611)
Profile   Post #: 12
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 9:13:03 AM   
deadbluebird


Posts: 265
Joined: 1/14/2007
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: popeye1250

He should receive $26 million dollars tax free.


i very much agree! at least enough to live the rest of his years worry free, and maybe even a bit for any children he has ( if he has any) for missing out on all that time with their father.

(in reply to popeye1250)
Profile   Post #: 13
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 9:22:39 AM   
slaveboyforyou


Posts: 3607
Joined: 1/6/2005
From: Arkansas, U.S.A.
Status: offline
quote:

I would like to see a  National DNA database and require samples as part of the birth certificate procedures…drivers license applications…. passports…. social security applications…tax refunds…incarceration and or convictions of any crime…. holding of public offices…public service jobs like fire and police and post office and utilities…Any alien entering the country for any reason.


I'll be damned if I would voluntarily give a DNA sample to the government.  I really don't understand theis wilingness to give away information to the authorities.  They already collect DNA from convicted felons in most states.  I have no problem with that.  But I have committed no crimes, and I would refuse to give away personal information like that to get a driver's license, a job, or anything else.  Why don't you just allow them to put cameras in your house while you're at it?

(in reply to kdsub)
Profile   Post #: 14
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 9:27:50 AM   
Lordandmaster


Posts: 10943
Joined: 6/22/2004
Status: offline 		Bullshit.  They should have just executed the fucker when they had the chance, and then they never would have had to deal with this crap.  Exculpatory DNA evidence my ass.

(in reply to cyberdude611)
Profile   Post #: 15
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 9:40:06 AM   
xAdamx


Posts: 92
Joined: 4/8/2007
Status: offline 		I am quite surprised that you don't. here in the United Kingdom we have the database...as an Inspector of railways, l have been spat on for daring to ask some scumbag to take his dirty shoes/feet of the seats. I wiped the spit of my face with a swab, sent it of to the police crime lab, up comes his data found at other scenes of crime.

The take swab tests as a matter of course over here in Europe.

_____________________________

Does exactly what it says on the can

(in reply to kdsub)
Profile   Post #: 16
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 10:13:33 AM   
faerytattoodgirl


Posts: 5824
Status: offline 		Life for rape??? but murderers get even as low as 1-5 years and some never see a day in prison??? makes no sense!!!!!

(in reply to cyberdude611)
Profile   Post #: 17
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 10:28:38 AM   
domiguy


Posts: 12952
Joined: 5/2/2006
Status: offline 		I believe that he blamed his incarceration on the fact that he was black....I couldn't find out if the woman who was raped was white.

Eyewitness identification is heavily flawed. It becomes even more unreliable when someone is trying to identify an individual that does not share their own ethnicity.

To square things it would be nice to lock the raped bitch up for a few decades as well as the police and the prosecutors in this case.

the statue of "Blind Justice" is blindfolded so that the public cannot see the blackened eyes of the scale toting bitch....This is but just another national disgrace.

_____________________________



(in reply to faerytattoodgirl)
Profile   Post #: 18
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 10:35:05 AM   
meatcleaver


Posts: 9030
Joined: 3/13/2006
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: cyberdude611

A perfect example of how easily the "best system in the world" can make a horrible mistake.



The US has clearly not got the best system in the world. The US system has the same flaw as the British system, it is an adversarial system in which innocence or guilt is found by winning an argument in court rather than an inquisitorial system like much of continental Europe where magistrates endeavour to discover the truth. The truth is rarely discovered in an adversarial system as it is not the main reason for a trial taking place, finding someone innocent or guilty  is the point and  dissembling, being economical with the truth and introducing red herrings is the norm. In such a system you would expect to find numerous miscarriages of justice and invariably do.

< Message edited by meatcleaver -- 1/4/2008 10:36:54 AM >

_____________________________

There are fascists who consider themselves humanitarians, like cannibals on a health kick, eating only vegetarians.

(in reply to cyberdude611)
Profile   Post #: 19
RE: Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 ye... - 1/4/2008 10:36:01 AM   
Aneirin


Posts: 6121
Joined: 3/18/2006
From: Tamaris
Status: offline 		No, it does not make any sense at all.Here one sees penalties of less than five years for crimes against people, but much longer for crimes against property.And there are people in prisons for not paying for their tv licence but thugs, rapists etc are being let off with community service.

No, it makes no sense at all.

Perhaps it is true, the saying that the law is in fact an ass or an arse if you prefer.

quote:

ORIGINAL: faerytattoodgirl

Life for rape??? but murderers get even as low as 1-5 years and some never see a day in prison??? makes no sense!!!!!



_____________________________

Everything we are is the result of what we have thought, the mind is everything, what we think, we become - Guatama Buddha

Conservatism is distrust of people tempered by fear - William Gladstone

(in reply to faerytattoodgirl)
Profile   Post #: 20
Page:   [1] 2 3   next >   >>
All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Wrongully convicted man cleared of rape after 26 years in prison Page: [1] 2 3   next >   >>
Jump to:





New Messages No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages Locked w/o New Messages
 Post New Thread
 Reply to Message
 Post New Poll
 Submit Vote
 Delete My Own Post
 Delete My Own Thread
 Rate Posts




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy

0.076