DNA Evidence May Lead to Exoneration in Former Capital Case

Results from DNA test­ing may soon lead to the exon­er­a­tion of Larry Peterson in New Jersey. He would become the first per­son in the state to be cleared of a homi­cide through DNA evi­dence. Peterson was con­vict­ed of a rape and mur­der that occurred in 1987. For the past 10 years, Peterson tried to have DNA evi­dence from his case test­ed. At his orig­i­nal tri­al in which he faced the pos­si­bil­i­ty of a death sen­tence, the pros­e­cu­tion main­tained that hairs from the crime scene belonged to Peterson. He was con­vict­ed and giv­en a life sen­tence. DNA test­ing has now shown that the hairs belonged to the vic­tim, and that semen from the crime scene belong to anoth­er male. Peterson’s lawyers from the Innocence Project have filed a motion to have his conviction overturned. 

(N.Y. Times, April 28, 2005). See Innocence.