Remember how the release of the RAW DNA files was the turning point

[pnwmom]

in the Duke lacrosse case?

This was when the defense finally learned that there was DNA from several men in the body and underwear of the accuser, but none of it matched any of the 47 Lacrosse team members.

Guess what has NEVER been turned over to the defense teams of Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito ? Guess what the police are continuing to withhold, even from the neutral, independent experts appointed by the Court to examine DNA evidence during the appeal trial? The raw DNA data files.

The appeals judge ordered the police lab to turn over this data months ago. What is the lab’s response? That they NEVER release such files and see no reason to do so.

Why are they stonewalling? What are they hiding? What sort of justice allows two people to be imprisoned for 25 years without such a basic right as to examine the DNA evidence used against them?

Another appeals hearing is scheduled for Saturday. Amanda and Raffaele have already been in prison for 3.5 years, without the police having to produce the actual evidence (as opposed to a summary report) that was used to convict them. Will sanity -- and justice -- finally prevail? Or will there be yet another delay?


(This is just one of the blatantly unjust parts of this case, however. Another is that the police were never required to produce an actual transcript - much less an audio or video-taped record - of the defendant's interrogations: even though every room in the building was equipped with audio-visual equipment.) And she wasn't provided with an interpreter for most of this time, or allowed to have an attorney until after they got her to sign a "confession" written by police in Italian. And though the confession was tossed out by the judge for the criminal trial, it was allowed in the civil trial: and the same jury heard both cases at the same time!)

[patricia92243]

1. When we get frustrated with out system, just look at others and be glad that ours is as good as it

is. We should still strive for ours to be even better.