- Austin Statesman: Woman asks court to overturn conviction based on scent evidence
- Texas Tribune: Woman challenges murder conviction, scent lineup
In the years since [Megan Winfrey's conviction], a number of scientists and dog experts have denounced Pikett's methods as unethical, unprofessional and biased in favor of law enforcement.Absurdly, prosecutors told jurors at trial that the dog-scent lineup was "as good as DNA." Winfrey's attorney, Shirley Baccus-Lobel, told the CCA that "The problem with bad science masquerading as science is it results in attaching a significance to unremarkable events." San Jacinto County prosecutors told the court that although the case was circumstantial and "parts of it are weak," they should uphold the conviction anyway. (I know, you're shocked.)
At least one member of the Court of Criminal Appeals agreed. "Personally, I think the dog-scent stuff, particularly as done by Pikett, is junk science and should never have come into court," Judge Cheryl Johnson said.
See also earlier coverage from the Tribune, and these prior, related Grits posts:
- Woman still jailed on dog-scent evidence granted high court hearing
- Appellate court upholds exclusion of dog-scent lineup evidence
- Time to ban junk science from the courtroom
- Dog scent lineups discredited at Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
- Texas needs process to vet cases based on forensic hokum
- Deputy famous for dog-scent lineups to retire
- More detail on scent-lineup case headed to Texas CCA
- Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will hear arguments on dog scent evidence
- More litigation, disapprobation for dog-scent lineups
- 'Scent lineup' evidence may be used in Anthony Graves capital case
- CNN profiles cop wrongly accused by dog scent lineup
- A 'scent lineup'? Rover in the witness box
- DNA exoneration indicts Rover in the witness box
- 'Scent lineups stink to critics'
- 3 false convictions relied on dog-based scent lineups in Florida
- Scent lineups by dogs don't pass the smell test
- Texas Innocence Project vetting dog scent lineup cases
- Evidence mounts against dog handler, scent lineups
- Texas Innocence Project report discredits dog 'scent lineups'
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3 comments:
It seems to me this prosecutor committed an ethical violation by presenting a completely frivolous argument to the court.
We defended a triple homicide a couple of years ago in which Pikett made a glorious appearance with his magic dogs. The murders had occurred nearly 17 years before and all the physical evidence had been stored in trash bags in converted closet in the PD's office for at least 10 years. After Lisa Tanner from the AG's office got appointed as the DA's hired gun, she pulled this bullshit on us. I'd just read an article about Pikett and the real concerns his schtick was causing in criminal defense and judicial circles. Of course, when we got Pikett's report--it was a match! Then we got the video. I don't know how any intelligent, educated human can watch him as he does his 'work' and not call bullshit every time. He had Lisa Tanner snake-charmed into believing that cartoonish shit about his dogs. We might as well have witch doctors using chicken bones to solve crime--I'd have more faith in that than in Pikett--who I am convinced knows that he's full pf shit. We also hired the guy from Holland or Netherlands that is THE EXPERT on dog-scent forensics (when he figured out it was another Pikett case--he volunteered to fly to Texas and testify at his own expense). (I was so disappointed when our client took a plea--I could not wait to finally shove the 'real' science of dog-scent investigation up Pikett's ass--he had never had to face our expert in court before. It's time for the CCA to finally bury that dead and discredited 'method' of investigation. Send those dogs home.
4/24/2012 06:50:00 PM
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