Posted by Dave on 01/12/06 at 05:17:38 pm
Categories: Capital Punishment

A few days ago I talked about the case of Roger Coleman, the Virginian who has previously been executed. Governor Warner made a bold move by ordering a testing of the DNA when it appeared that Coleman may have been innocent. Today the news has come out that the DNA testing confirms the guilt of Roger Keith Coleman of Virginia. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it) Coleman's DNA was found, proving his involvement in the crime.

While I wish the man was innocent, it was still a victory that the testing was done. I hope that this sets a precedent. And regardless of Coleman's innocence, we still know that innocent people have died.

Here is the statement from Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty:

We are thankful to Gov. Warner for his continuing efforts to advance the cause of justice through the application of the latest scientific advances in DNA technology. His order to test the existent DNA in the case of a man who was executed in 1992, has set a precedent. Had he not done so, no resolution of the persistent question of Mr. Coleman’s guilt or innocence could have been achieved. In cases where issues of possible innocence are unresolved that future scientific developments could lead to resolution it is vital that the evidence be preserved. Virginia’s precedent of the posthumous testing of existent DNA evidence underscores the necessity of the retention of such biological exhibits so that further developments in the testing of DNA evidence can be used to clear up questions of possible innocence of executed individuals. It is now incumbent upon the Commonwealth to enact statutes that require the post-execution preservation of such testable evidence.

"In the vast majority of cases in which DNA is not available or part of the case it is especially critical that the original trial be as fair, complete, and vigorous as possible. In this case we finally can close a chapter with certainty, but in so many cases in which DNA testing is unavailable that certainty can never be attained. And, in too many cases, lingering doubt about the guilt of the executed remains.

And a statement from the Innocence Project if you are interested.

3 comments | Permalink