Only in Florida - Dead man gets pardon, while up to 60 are still in prison because of false evidence

[ck4829]

In November, outgoing Florida Gov. Charlie Crist initiated pardon proceedings (granted in December) excusing now-deceased singer Jim Morrison of The Doors for his 1969 indecent-exposure conviction in Miami Beach. However, Crist has ignored petitions from still-living, still-incarcerated convicts who almost certainly suffered unfair prosecutions. Orlando Sentinel crusader Scott Maxwell has reported on several dozen people convicted in part by trainer Bill Preston’s dogs, who supposedly tracked crime-scene scents through water and other obstacles, sometimes months later and despite much site contamination, directly to the defendant on trial. Judge after judge permitted Preston’s “expert” testimony until one demanded a live courtroom test, which Preston’s dog utterly failed. In 2009 two convicts were released after DNA tests proved the dog’s sniffs were erroneous, but as many as 60 similar convictions still stand.

http://www.macon.com/2010/12/31/1391574/news-of-the-weird.html

[FreakinDJ]

1. Fuckin Florida

Sorry to any DUers living there

But God Damm it when is the rest of the country going to stop suffering being dragged down by this "Backwoods Bastion of Stupidity"

[no_hypocrisy]

2. I would have guessed Texas on that description.

[kwassa]

3. I wonder how many innocent people have been executed in Texas

the real problem with the death penalty are the false convictions.

[madmax]

5. gmta.. you beat me to it nt

[madmax]

4. Should we include Texas?

They have a track record of disregarding evidence and incompetant counsel.