Category Archives: DNA

Editorial: Legislature, pass bill expanding access to DNA evidence testing

Posted: Published on February 17th, 2015

Texas has a band of brothers the likes of which no other state can claim. Theyre the dozens of innocent men who spent years often decades behind bars for the crimes of others before DNA tests set them free. Some of them gather to offer moral support when a new innocent brother secures his hard-won freedom. They gather when they have the chance to rebalance the scales so justice is not denied thoughtlessly. When they gather, the moment deserves our attention. So it was last week, at a bill introduction in Austin attended by Billy Smith of Dallas, who spent 20 years in prison for a rape committed by another man, and Michael Morton, who spent 25 years in prison for the murder of his wife, before DNA tests freed him and led to the real killer. The two are testament to the importance of legislation authored by Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, to improve post-conviction access to DNA testing. As Morton framed it, innocent but convicted men now face a catch-22: The law says they may have material tested for DNA if it contains biological evidence, but they might be unable to prove that biological evidence exists without todays modern … Continue reading →

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Touch DNA: How NIA used it to crack cases?

Posted: Published on February 17th, 2015

Touch DNA is a forensic method to analyse the DNA left at the crime scene. If one looks at the manner in which the National Investigating Agency has gone about solving several cases, it becomes clear that they are exploring every possible method and are constantly upgrading their investigating techniques to beat the terrorists at their own game. Most of the recent cases that were handled by the NIA relied on the Touch DNA methodology and it has proven to be a major success for the agency. Be it the Patna and Bodhgaya blasts case or even the recent Liaqat Shah incident, the success rate was 100 per cent thanks to the out of the box thinking and the right use of forensics and technology. What is touch DNA? Police officials especially in Bengaluru very often complain that they have no evidence to go ahead in a case. Take for example the Church Street blasts case which is turning out to be one of the world's greatest mysteries. Touch DNA if relied upon does have a great success rate in solving a crime. It is a forensic method of analyzing the DNA left at the scene of the crime. The … Continue reading →

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