Man In Prison For 26 Years Cleared By DNA

[Nehkara]

DNA Clears Man In Prison For 26 Years

Story Highlights
- Jurors convicted Charles Chatman in 1981 of raping his neighbor
- Thursday, there is a hearing to present DNA evidence that clears him
- Chatman, who had a life sentence, insisted he was innocent for 26 years
- Chatman's the longest-serving inmate in Texas to be freed by DNA evidence

DALLAS, Texas (AP) -- -- Charles Chatman said throughout his 26 years in prison that he never raped the woman who lived five houses down from him.

Now 47, Chatman is expected to win his freedom Thursday on the basis of new DNA testing that lawyers say proves his innocence and adds to Dallas County's nationally unmatched number of wrongfully convicted inmates.

These kind of things just disturb me. Not only is it sick that this guy has had over 1/4 of his life taken away but the guy who did do it is still out there. Although I do wonder how guilty this woman is going to feel for picking the wrong guy out of a lineup.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Nehkara

These kind of things just disturb me. Not only is it sick that this guy has had over 1/4 of his life taken away but the guy who did do it is still out there. Although I do wonder how guilty this woman is going to feel for picking the wrong guy out of a lineup.

For sure. It is why I get nervous when I see a person tried in the court of public opinion. Even people who follow a case will only ever see the evidence through the lens of the media. Mob mentality seems much more interested in revenge than justice.

[worth]

http://www.visualexpert.com/Resource...essmemory.html

[Hack&Lube]

One thing's for sure, he will sue and get a settlement worth more than he would probably have ever made in his lifetime.

[foofighter15]

thats something that has always made me worry.
But don't that have lie detector tests for that kinda stuff?
I've never understood why when someone is being charged with a crime, why the lie detector test isn't at least part of the hearing sequence 100% of the time

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Hack&Lube

One thing's for sure, he will sue and get a settlement worth more than he would probably have ever made in his lifetime.

So, I guess it worked out in the end.

It would be very interesting to have ourselves, as common man duffers, look at the case as it was presented at the time and see if we might have come to the same verdict.

Cowperson

[CaptainCrunch]

How much is 25 years of loss of freedom, sodomy on a weekly or daily basis, bad food, worse cellmates, and a .25 cent per day job worth in terms of a judgement.

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

How much is 25 years of loss of freedom, sodomy on a weekly or daily basis, bad food, worse cellmates, and a .25 cent per day job worth in terms of a judgement.

Fotze should be able to tell us how much he pays to have that done to him.

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

So, I guess it worked out in the end.

It would be very interesting to have ourselves, as common man duffers, look at the case as it was presented at the time and see if we might have come to the same verdict.

Cowperson

It should be looked at, just to see how this sort of thing happens.

Did the jury just come up with the wrong result?
Was the defense incompetent?
Did the police believe the defendant was guilty and overlook other important evidence (for any number of reasons: manpower limitations, media pressure, political pressure, ego)?

Lots of reasons why this sort of thing can happen, and probably many of these issues happen in every case.

That is why I am generally against the death penalty. There is no release from death.

[LChoy]

Originally Posted by foofighter15

thats something that has always made me worry.
But don't that have lie detector tests for that kinda stuff?
I've never understood why when someone is being charged with a crime, why the lie detector test isn't at least part of the hearing sequence 100% of the time

The lie detector/polygraph isn't completely fool proof either. Because it is really sensitive to uncontrolled physiological responses, it tends to give a lot false positives. Also, it's not like a green light goes on for truth and red for lies. Instead, it's a visual graph of electrical stimuli that is compared to the base responses. Therefore, there is a little bit of subjectivity to it. Right now, photographic evidence and DNA (combination of normal and mitochondrial DNA) are among the gold standard of evidence.

[llama64]

Originally Posted by lchoy

Right now, photographic evidence and DNA (combination of normal and mitochondrial DNA) are among the gold standard of evidence.

And bugs. Don't forget Grisham's bugs.

[LChoy]

Originally Posted by llama64

And bugs. Don't forget Grisham's bugs.

OT, but when I interviewed for the RCMP forensics lab, they asked me to list as many things that can be used for forensic testing. I mentioned bugs, and the interviewer smirked and asked if I watched CSI
However, I ended up going on a tangent about the many things inaccurate with shows like CSI. They really liked that part

[Eastern Girl]

I feel bad for this guy, but I think I feel worse for this woman. Not only was she violently raped, but now she gets to deal with knowing she pointed out the wrong man. Terrible situation all around.

[Bobblehead]

I read an article a while ago mentioning how difficult shows like CSI have made it for real prosecutors. Many people now have an unrealistic expectation of what evidence is available.

I always laugh when a show finally "solves" a case, and the accused admits it and fills in all the holes. Cold Case is the worst for that, even though I like the show.

[Nehkara]

Originally Posted by Eastern Girl

I feel bad for this guy, but I think I feel worse for this woman. Not only was she violently raped, but now she gets to deal with knowing she pointed out the wrong man. Terrible situation all around.

I feel equally bad for both of them. She was raped and pointed out the wrong man... He had to deal with prison (and likely rape) for 26 years.

[4X4]

For some reason I picture an overzealous prosecutor helping her point someone out. But I'm sure she still feels like a bucket of crap.

In HS I worked at a gas station. I can't remember the crime that was committed (it wasn't a robbery) but for some reason I had to look at a picture line up. I picked one guy and the cop asked me if I was sure. I said no, so he said why don't I pick this other guy... Uh, ok. It was that guy. Basically the cop chose for me and I just agreed.

[foofighter15]

Originally Posted by lchoy

The lie detector/polygraph isn't completely fool proof either. Because it is really sensitive to uncontrolled physiological responses, it tends to give a lot false positives. Also, it's not like a green light goes on for truth and red for lies. Instead, it's a visual graph of electrical stimuli that is compared to the base responses. Therefore, there is a little bit of subjectivity to it. Right now, photographic evidence and DNA (combination of normal and mitochondrial DNA) are among the gold standard of evidence.

Oh i understand its not at all like they show it on TV
But I figure if you are in court, and you are innocent, call for it (that will show how confident you are in your innocence) and then take it, and if obviously it will help sway the jury. Remember Jury members are the people in society to stupid to get out of jury duty

[maverickeastwood]

Doubtful he's normal. Being labeled as a rapist in a prison full of a**pounders...

[4X4]

Any bets on how much moolah he asks for? Gets? This has got to be worth a mil for every year behind bars. I wouldn't be surprised if he spent it on a leer jet and flew it into the prosecutor's house.