If Governor Perry signs SB 1238 expanding the jurisdiction of the Forensic Science Commission to take up investigations for "educational purposes," IMO these old scent lineup cases deserve a closer review by that body. Nobody knows for sure in how many nor in which cases Fort Bend County Sheriff's Deputy Keith Pikett performed these bogus rituals, nor how often he testified in court. The FSC would be performing a great mitzvah by investigating once and for all just how deep that rabbit hole goes. Maybe it's just a few cases where Pikett provided the primary evidence; maybe it's dozens or hundreds. There's no way to know unless someone systematically investigates, which has never been done.
On the Winfrey case, see also the majority opinion by Judge Cathy Cochran overturning Winfrey's conviction and a dissent by Presiding Judge Sharon Keller, as well as prior Grits posts on the Winfrey case and dog-sniff lineups generally:
- Nuther dog-scent lineup case overturned; how many more are out there?
- Woman still incarcerated based on Keith Pikett dog-scent testimony
- 'As good as DNA'? Court of Criminal Appeals consider dog-scent lineups
- 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:
This may be inaccurate, but there may be one or more convictions out of Lee, Washington and/or Burleson Counties. They are all in the same judicial district.
Reading Keller's dissent, it seems hard facts are not required for this judge to convict. All it takes is the possibility that the defendant might have done the deed and that the various bits of circumstantial evidence could be read different ways. She stands "innocent until proven guilty" on its head. But this is Sharon Keller we're talking about here.
Remember that Sharon Keller is the judge who refused to leave her office open for a few minutes longer so a death penalty petition could be timely delivered. Keller, in my opinion, is no better than any other murderer.
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