AG Says DNA Tests Implicate Hank Skinner in '93 Murders
DNA testing that death row inmate Hank Skinner sought for more than a decade further implicates him in the New Year’s Eve 1993 triple murder for which he was sentenced to die, according to an advisory that the Texas attorney general’s office filed Wednesday in Gray County state district court.
But a lawyer for Skinner, who was convicted in 1995 of the murders of his live-in girlfriend, Twila Busby, and her two adult sons in Pampa, said the DNA testing is incomplete and indicates that another person may have been at the scene of the crimes.
“We find ...
Comments (4)
Abraham Bonowitz
This is key: “We find it troubling that the Attorney General’s Office has seen fit to release partial results of the DNA testing and submit its ‘advisory’ to the court while the DNA testing is still in progress,” said Rob Owen, co-director of the University of Texas at Austin’s Capital Punishment Clinic, in an emailed statement.
Clearly the justice system has made mistakes in the past. The 300th person was just exonerated by DNA testing weeks ago. It would be refreshing if our state officials stopped spending taxpayer dollars to fight DNA testing. Test DNA whenever possible!
Dudley Sharp
I find it not surprising that Rob Owen is full of bull..
Rob knows that any additional DNA testing results will not exclude Skinner as the murderer, while the additonal evience, now, futher supports Skinner's guilt.
I thought Twila's mom said the coat was Twila's. Didn't she? Does it matter? Nope, not with all the evidence against Skinner.
Skinner refused additional DNA testing, pre trial, because he feared he would be even more implicated with more testing - the only reason for such a refusal.
There are two confessions from Skinner.
Skinner offered to plead guilty to one of the three murders, in exchange for a reduced sentence. The prosecution refused.
Skinner's own blood splatter expert testified that the blood evidence did not support Skinner's only alibi, that he was too intoxicated to have taken part in the murders.
No one, knowledgeable of this case, believes additional DNA testing can possibly prove Skinner innocent. He's a guilty triple murderer.
Consider:
Skinner declined additional DNA testing, pre trial, knowing it would clear him, because he preferred a death sentence, instead.
It's the only "logic" whereby additional DNA testing could save Skinner, now.
Texas had been fighting the additional DNA testing to avoid the horrible precedent.
Any criminal could game the system, in the same manner, by not insisting on any such testing, pre trial, knowing that if convicted, they could take a second bite at the apple later, after the conviction, even thought they know it will not help them, but is only a method of causing more headaches for the state and, in some cases, causing additional delays in an execution, just as with Skinner.
My belief is the AG only agreed to the testing, now, to avoid that unfortunate court precedent
Danielle Stock
If DNA can confirm one way or the other a person's guilt, would it be not prudent to persue all avenues before putting a person to death?
I cannot understand how, in crimes as horrific as this, the main exihibits, such as the wind cheater, was misplaced. Where has the chain of custody been broken? Who broke it?
Rob Owen, test your theory, it maybe correct.
Denis k
Amazing how good ole Hank always blames everyone else for his own destroying garbage behavior. Cops set him up , District attorneys set him up and lied , witnesses lied, his own lawyers didn't like him and set him up, even the prison guards ( the pigs as good ole Hank refers to honest people who simply do their jobs ) set him up last year by sticking that prohibited cell phone up his butt.
In conclusion Hank has only fooled the fools such as his pretty bride and i am actually happy to see that even antis as the writer of this story ( Brandi Grissom ) now puts in the article how Hank refused to get the DNA testing done when it was offered to him .. Perhaps this is a sign tyta times up Hank !! Your Bullshit doesn't ride with most anymore !! Lets hope this is the case as you have pulled the justice strings a bit to long for my liking and it is now time to pay your dues !!