New DNA Standards Could Lead To Thousands Of Texas Retrials
Follow CBSDFW.COM: Facebook | Twitter
NORTH TEXAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Thousands of old Texas cases could go to trial a second time now that crime labs nationwide have changed the way they analyze DNA evidence.
The new standards mean, in cases where there are multiple DNA samples the odds of pinpointing one person is not the slam-dunk it used to be.
The Texas Forensic Science Commission met last week and announced a review to see how many cases are affected by the new standards and how many defendants should get a new trial.
Dr. Vincent Di Maio, the chief presiding officer at the Texas Forensic Science Commission, said the odds of identifying one person at trial vary greatly. "It can go from 1 to a million, to 1 to 50."
The Commission is going over cases from the last decade or so, and is trying to determine how many juries may have received inaccurate information.
Di Maio said there is no 'rule of thumb' for the review. "We're the model. A number of states and labs are doing it – they're waiting to see what we're finding out."
The new standards will not effect single assault rape cases, only cases in which there are multiple potential defendants.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
