Dallas Morning News: Fire investigator accuses Rick Perry of ‘unethical’ behavior

[Heidi]

12:13 AM CDT on Thursday, October 15, 2009

AUSTIN — The nationally noted fire expert whose investigation of arson evidence called into question a 2004 Texas execution blasted Gov. Rick Perry late Wednesday, accusing the governor of “unethical” behavior in the case.

Baltimore-based Craig Beyler, hired by the Texas Forensic Science Commission to examine the case, said in an e-mail that the governor should not have upended the commission, which was to have heard his report just days after Perry replaced several members. He said the governor had a conflict of interest because he approved the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham of Corsicana.

“His failure to recuse himself is both unethical and injurious to the cause of justice,” Beyler wrote in a note intended for the Forensic Science Commission and forwarded to several reporters with his permission.

Beyler’s report found that no credible evidence existed to show Willingham intentionally set the blaze that killed his three children in a 1991 house fire. When Perry moved to replace several commission members, including the chairman, the hearing was postponed indefinitely. The new chairman has not rescheduled it.

Beyler, who is technically a contractor to a state commission, called on the new appointees to step down and seek the reinstatement of the people they replaced. He could not be reached to elaborate.

Read more

Some recent, related DU threads:
Texas Governor: Executed Inmate was 'a monster'
Tx Gov. Rick Perry continues to try and cover up his execution of an innocent man.
Former Panel Chair Says Perry's Office Pressured Him On Death Penalty Probe

[TexasObserver]

1. This counter offensive by Perry is shocking.

This story has been developing in Texas for months. There is a growing consensus that we killed an innocent man. Yes, he was the kind of guy one would think might do this. He looked guilty and seemed guilty, but the forensics was always dubious.

Texas basically allows all manner of misconduct, malfeasance or injustice in order to uphold a conviction, particularly an execution. It's like a holy mission to these folks, this quest to execute.

Suddenly a few weeks ago, Perry started using his power to replace panel members who were working on this matter. He's changed the composition of the panel and has derailed what they were working on.

Now he's started his attack campaign, to justify what he did. He's decided this is his position - to attack, to stop any reports, etc.

What we need now is for the US Justice Department and FBI to investigate for official oppression charges Texas officials involved in this miscarriage of justice, from Governor Good Hair down.

[Heidi]

2. Can people really even "look" guilty?

The notion of people "looking guilty" strikes me as appealing to the kind of bigotry most thinking people reject. I will concede, though, that Perry and his minions are guided more by emotion than logic--not "thinking" people by any stretch of the imagination.

Mercy. :yoiks:

[struggle4progress]

3. "He looks guilty to me" is Texanese for "Well, I reckon somebody sure oughta hang for this,

and frankly I don't want to waste too much more time on it, and there's a guy there who doesn't have too much money or too many friends, so why don't we just get this over with so we can all go home for dinner?"

[TexasObserver]

9. Yes. Some defendants have mannerisms that turn jurors off.

They are brusk. They don't make eye contact. When they do, they don't look like they're friendly.

There were some facts on the guy that prove he's not a nice man. He was probably a real bastard. That's exactly the guy one expects to get found guilty wrongly. It's not some guy who is squeaky clean that catches that.

Of course, I was using "looked guilty" pejoratively, as in "he appeared to be guilty based upon his behaviors and a variety of facts."

[Heidi]

12. I know what you meant.

I wish more people understood that simply because someone has an unsavory past, or has even been convicted of prior bad acts, doesn't mean that person is guilty of the crime being prosecuted. I just don't believe in charging someone with a crime pulled out of cops'/prosecutors' butts just because they happen to suspect that person might be guilty of "something."

[TexasObserver]

17. This case was about local yokels jumping to unwarranted conclusions.

It's about bad police work and weak police experts.

This man died because some ignorant rube thought he saw evidence of the use of an accelerant. From there on, it was a lynch mob mentality. Imagine if the story hit the news here. There would be people building gallows and screaming "I don't favor the death penalty, but this guy killed his kids!!"

[Heidi]

13. P.S.

_I_ probably have mannerisms that turn jurors off. Red hair? Got it, and with all of the recent media coverage about redheads being descended from Neanderthals, whatever it is, I probably did it. Educated/accomplished ("for a woman")? Got it, and therefore must think I'm above the law. I could go on and on. I could never surive a Texas jury trial unscathed.

[TexasObserver]

19. You do know the term they use in rural Texas, don't you?

As in "they treated her like a red headed step child!"

It refers to someone getting treated poorly. I suppose there was a time when a red headed step child found life tougher. I wonder if anyone has actually tested that saying. That and "beaten like a rented mule."

[Heidi]

21. Yeah. That's an Oklahoma phrase, too.

Not only was I redheaded, but adopted, too. Good thing my family was upper middle class, local cops went to church with my folks, and my dad worked for the federal government, or I might well be typing this to you from Carswell. I truly believe that wrongful convictions can happen to anyone who doesn't have the means/connections to defend him/herself.

[blogslut]

18. He's pulling a Nixon

The Saturday Night Massacre. The stubborn defiance...

What's next? Damning tapes?

[TexasObserver]

20. I agree. And we need feds investigating this.

When there is sound evidence that a man was executed for an accidental fire that took his family, it calls into question the entire criminal justice system in Texas, which is the worst criminal justice system in America.

Our criminal justice system, the way we affirm convictions and ignore horrific error, the way we execute people - this is the true shame of Texas.

We're a great state in many respects, but this criminal justice system is an embarrasment to a civilized society.

[roguevalley]

23. the feds could investigate to see if his civil rights were violated.

[jeffbr]

4. Rick "39 percent" Perry is the worst scumbag ever elected to public office in Texas

by 39% of voters

[Aragorn]

5. All of the above

but in response, Perry has repeatedly done this, in many other areas. Most of that is know too. We Texans will get what we deserve come election day this time around. We didn't deserve this. But too many of us are passive about it.

[bamacrat]

6. This is obstruction of justice and last i heard that was illegal.

Impeach his unAmerican ass.

[arthritisR_US]

8. excellent point! n/t

[arthritisR_US]

7. Rick Perry is as blood thirsty as GW. Makes me physically sick to think

that an innocent man may have been put to death. The mere fact that the origins of the fire were in question should have been enough to stay the execution until ALL investigations had been completed. This is absolutely shameful!

[iceman66]

10. Sarah Palin just annouced she will be campaigning for him

Birds of a feather . . .

[Heidi]

14. I think there's a lot we progressives/liberals can do to make her regret her decision

to campaign for this quarter-wit. How unfortunate that Little Miss Pro Life sides with the executioner when there's ample evidence to support assertions that Perry is allowing innocent people to be sent to their deaths.

[HughMoran]

11. This is extremely damning

This man has (as far as I know) no other stake in this other than to see that truth and justice are sacrosanct. Perry may have to be executed for his part in the murder if indeed the man was not guilty (or even if it cannot be proven that he did the arson.)

[Heidi]

15. Losing public favor would be more hurtful to Perry than a death sentence. (nt)

[blogslut]

16. And in the Dallas Morning News!

Things sure are changing.

Watch out, Goodhair. There's a train coming.

[marmar]

22. Rick Perry ought to be up on charges........

M**herF**ker.