Winter 2010 - The Innocence Project

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10 THE INNOCENCE PROJECT IN PRINT be accepted in courts and that other arson convictions in the state will be reviewed. When the commission accepted the case, advocates and scientists nationwide hoped that it would lead to stronger forensic standards and practices as well as more accountability in cases where outdated forensic evidence is used. They are still waiting. A HASTY COVER-UP “MY AGENDA IS THAT THE GOVERNOR SHOULD KEEP HIS HANDS OFF SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATIONS.” – Craig Beyler as quoted in the Dallas Morning News, October 16, 2009. Craig Beyler, prominent fire scientist and chairman of the International Association of Fire Safety Science, was hired by the commission to conduct the Willingham and Willis investigation. Beyler released his report in August 2009 and was scheduled to present it to the commission in early October. Echoing the findings of the other arson experts, he wrote that the fire marshal who investigated the case “seems to be wholly without any realistic understanding of fires” and that the determination of arson lacked “rational reasoning.” Two days before the scheduled presentation, Gov. Perry hastily replaced three members of the commission, including the chair. The new chair, Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley, an ally of the governor’s, immediately cancelled the meeting and Dr. Beyler’s presentation. Since then, Bradley has steered the commission dangerously off-course, conducting meetings behind closed doors and making inflammatory statements about Willingham. In a statement that belied the commissioner’s objectivity, Bradley told the Associated Press: “Willingham is a guilty monster.” Bradley created a four-member subcommittee, the “Willingham Investigation Panel,” to review the case. After months of delays, the commission finally met last summer to discuss the Investigation Panel’s recommendations for the case. Innocence Project Co- Director Barry Scheck and Policy Director Stephen Saloom attended the meeting with members of the Willingham family. TIME FOR THE TRUTH: A TIMELINE OF THE DECEMBER 23, 1991 OCTOBER 1992 FEBRUARY 13, 2004 FEBRUARY 17, 2004 MAY 2005 MAY 2006 OCTOBER 2006 AUGUST 2008 A HOUSE FIRE IN CAMERON TODD DR. GERALD HURST WILLINGHAM IS TEXAS STATE LEGISLATURE THE INNOCENCE THE COMMISSION HOLDS THE COMMISSION CORSICANA, TEXAS, WILLINGHAM IS ISSUES A REPORT TO EXECUTED. PASSES A BILL CREATING PROJECT SENDS THE ITS FIRST MEETING. ANNOUNCES THAT IT RESULTS IN THE DEATH SENTENCED TO DEATH GOV. RICK PERRY AND THE TEXAS FORENSIC COMMISSION A HAS ACCEPTED THE OF AMBER, KARMON FOR THE ARSON THE TEXAS BOARD SCIENCE COMMISSION, FORMAL REQUEST TO INNOCENCE PROJECT’S AND KAMERON MURDER OF HIS THREE OF PARDONS AND AND GOV. PERRY INVESTIGATE THE CASES COMPLAINT AND WILLINGHAM. YOUNG CHILDREN. PAROLES CITING FAULTY SIGNS IT INTO LAW. OF CAMERON TODD WILL LAUNCH AN FORENSIC ANALYSIS WILLINGHAM AND INVESTIGATION INTO IN THE CASE. ERNEST WILLIS. THE WILLINGHAM CASE. 1995 TO 2004 • BRUCE D. GOODMAN 1986 TO 2004 • DONALD W. GOOD 1984 TO 2004 • DARRYL HUNT 1985 TO 2004 • BRANDON MOON 1988 TO 2005 • DONTE BOOKER 1987 TO 2005 • DENNIS BROWN 1985 TO 2005 • PETER ROSE 1996 TO 2005 • MICHAEL A. WILLIAMS 1981 TO 2005 • HAROLD BUNTIN 1986 TO 2005 • ANTHONY WOODS 1984 TO 2005 • THOMAS DOSWELL 1986 TO 2005 • LUIS DIAZ 1980 TO 2005 • GEORGE RODRIGUEZ 1987 TO 2005 • ROBERT CLARK 1982 TO 2005 • PHILLIP L. THURMAN 1985 TO 2005 • WILLIE DAVIDSON 1981 TO 2005 • CLARENCE ELKINS 1999 TO 2005 • JOHN KOGUT 1986 TO 2005 • ENTRE N. KARAGE
TRAGEDY IN TEXAS 11 In an apparent attempt to sweep the case under the rug, Bradley issued a draft report clearing fire investigators of any negligence or misconduct. However, the commission voted to reject the draft and continue its investigation. At issue are the more than 600 people incarcerated in Texas whose arson convictions may have been based on invalid science. The commission plans to renew discussion of the Willingham case on January 7, when it will finally hear from Beyler. The Innocence Project will attend. As with all other recent Texas Forensic Science Commission meetings on the Willingham case, the January meeting will be simulcast and available for viewing live on the Innocence Project website, www.innocenceproject.org. WILLINGHAM’S LEGACY Once again, the commission has the opportunity to live up to its legislative intent and become a model for other independent science-based entities – both at the state and national level. One of the Innocence Project’s chief objectives is to facilitate the creation of a federal forensic science entity. A federal entity, as recommended by the National Academy of Sciences, could help ensure that forensic science practitioners (including fire investigators) are guided by science in their investigations, have the training and the resources they need, and that forensic standards are raised. Working together, state and federal agencies can bring scientific integrity to the forensic sciences. Opponents of the Willingham investigation reduce the case to a pro and anti-death penalty argument. But Willingham’s legacy has just as many implications for non-capital cases. For the more than 5,000 men and women currently incarcerated for arson crimes nationwide, there is still time to learn from this mistake. Through over 250 DNA exonerations, the Innocence Project has demonstrated that proving one person’s innocence can lead to changes in the system that affect hundreds of lives. For Willingham, who seems to have been wrongfully executed in addition to being wrongfully convicted, the change that comes from his exoneration must be especially profound. ▲ CAMERON TODD WILLINGHAM INVESTIGATION. DECEMBER 2008 AUGUST 2009 SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 APRIL 2010 JULY 2010 SEPTEMBER 2010 JANUARY 7, 2011 FIRE EXPERT CRAIG BEYLER COMPLETES HIS GOV. PERRY ABRUPTLY AFTER PUBLIC OUTCRY, AS CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMISSION MEMBERS BEYLER AND OTHERS BEYLER IS HIRED TO REPORT, FINDING THAT REMOVES THREE THE COMMISSION INVESTIGATION PANEL VETO THE DRAFT REPORT SET TO DISCUSS INVESTIGATE. INVESTIGATORS IN THE MEMBERS OF THE ANNOUNCES THAT THE REVIEWING THE AND VOTE TO CONTINUE THE WILLINGHAM CASE WILLINGHAM CASE HAD COMMISSION AND WILLINGHAM CASE IS WILLINGHAM CASE, THE INVESTIGATION INTO AT A COMMISSION “NO SCIENTIFIC BASIS” APPOINTS JOHN BACK ON THE AGENDA. BRADLEY ISSUES A DRAFT NEGLIGENCE OR MEETING. FOR CONCLUDING THAT BRADLEY AS THE NEW REPORT, CLEARING FIRE MISCONDUCT OF THE THE FIRE WAS CHAIR. BRADLEY INVESTIGATORS OF ANY FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE. INTENTIONALLY SET. IMMEDIATELY SHUTS NEGLIGENCE OR DOWN THE UPCOMING MISCONDUCT. WILLINGHAM MEETING. 1997 TO 2005 • KEITH E. TURNER 1983 TO 2005 • DENNIS HALSTEAD 1987 TO 2005 • JOHN RESTIVO 1987 TO 2005 • ALAN CROTZER 1981 TO 2006 • ARTHUR MUMPHREY 1986 TO 2006 • DREW WHITLEY 1989 TO 2006 • DOUGLAS WARNEY 1997 TO 2006 • ORLANDO BOQUETE 1983 TO 2006 • WILLIE JACKSON 1989 TO 2006 • LARRY PETERSON 1989 TO 2006 • ALAN NEWTON 1985 TO 2006 • JAMES TILLMAN 1989 TO 2006 • JOHNNY BRISCOE 1983 TO 2006 • SCOTT FAPPIANO 1985 TO 2006 • ALLEN COCO 1997 TO 2006 • JAMES OCHOA 2005 TO 2006 • JEFFREY DESKOVIC 1990 TO 2006 • MARLON PENDLETON 1996 TO 2006 • BILLY J. SMITH 1987
Page 1 and 2: Miguel Roman 4/02/09 Victor Burnett
Page 3 and 4: FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 3 A FAM
Page 5 and 6: SPEAKING FROM THE HEART 5 shoot up:
Page 7 and 8: 7 TRAGEDY IN TEXAS For Cameron Todd
Page 9: TRAGEDY IN TEXAS 9 based on nearly
Page 13 and 14: IN THEIR OWN WORDS 13 HS: Absolutel
Page 15 and 16: EXONERATION NATION 15 raping two wo
Page 17 and 18: IP NEWS 17 through DNA testing. The
Page 19 and 20: The Innocence Project was founded i

Winter 2010 - The Innocence Project

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