Killing Innocents

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how capital punishment is a highly controversial topic in this day and age. Many murder trials have successfully proven, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the suspects are guilty, and authorities have subsequently put them to death. Certain factors, such as DNA verification, proper evidence handling, and expert testimony, have aided in and led to convictions in such trials and put many a murderer behind bars. In particular, it looks at what happens when one or more of these factors are not properly executed, and an innocent person stands trial. It explores how problems with evidence handling in cases where capital punishment is an option can, and has, resulted in the conviction and unnecessary deaths of many innocent people.

From the Paper:

"DNA evidence can be a make-or-break factor in a capital punishment case. DNA can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that a person was at the scene of a crime. It can also help to identify victims and sometimes the victim's killer. A piece of hair, sample of blood, or skin under a victim's fingernails can be an incontestable factor leading to a conviction in a murder case. The unfortunate truth, however, is that this DNA evidence can be the single determining factor that puts innocent people in jail. In 1989, a medical examiner by the name of Fred Zain gave testimony in the murder and rape case of Jack Davis. Zain gave testimony that blood found under the victim's body belonged to Davis. Jack Davis was subsequently sentenced to jail time. In an earlier conversation recorded on tape, Zain reportedly told interviewers that the blood sample analyzed belonged to the victim and not Jack Davis."

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