OT: Richard LaPointe

[joober jones]

Has anyone else been following the Richard LaPointe case? After 26 years he's finally been released after being imprisoned on what was almost definitely a false and coerced confession. The latest update I've received is that he's not going to be required to submit a new DNA sample but one collected years ago will be used. The argument at this point is if it'll be tested at the state lab where there's believed to be some bias (toward his guilt) or a different lab of the defense's choice. Thoughts? Opinions?

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

General thought is that this happens with sufficient frequency - the New Yorker last month had a feature on people readjusting (or trying) to life after being released from long periods of wrongful incarceration - that it mystifies me that capital punishment still exists in this country.