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Beyond Willingham - More 'Arson' Cases Called Into Question

By Steve Hall

"Are Texas arsons a case of bad science? Some experts think so," is the title of Christy Hoppe's report in the Dallas Morning News.  It appeared in the Sunday edition, and it's a must-read.Arson investigators in Texas have relied on old wives' tales and junk science to send men to prison, and perhaps even the death chamber, top experts on fire behavior say. Their refrain was magnified last month when Dr. Craig Beyler, a nationally respected fire engineer hired by the state to review evidence in two death row cases, issued a withering report that found no scientific basis to classify either fire as an arson. What's more, he methodically outlined about a dozen instances of improper analysis and mistaken conclusions by investigators, saying they relied on folklore about fire and ignored evidence that contradicted their theories...continue to full post

Full post as published by StandDown Texas Project on September 14, 2009 (boomark / email).