A Texas Trial with a Twist
[Guest post by DRJ]
In these days of instant news and media trials, you rarely see a high-profile criminal case that includes two previously undisclosed bombshells on the opening day of trial.
From the Houston Chronicle:
“Murder trials rarely open with a surprise. But after 24 years of suggesting the abduction-slayings of five people taken from Kilgore’s Kentucky Fried Chicken was the work of one man, then two, a startling revelation surfaced during the trial, which began Monday:
A third, unidentified killer, now dead or out of law enforcement’s reach, was not only involved in the slayings, but sexually assaulted one of the victims.
“It was the most closely guarded, well-kept secret,” assistant state attorney Lisa Tanner told jurors on the first day of Romeo Pinkerton’s capital murder trial.”
The linked article tells a riveting and dramatic story if you have the time to read it.
— DRJ
Another innocent man on his way to being TEXACUTED!!! [I just like to say the word TEXACUTED!!!]
dave (6295e8) — 10/16/2007 @ 1:33 pmdave, I assume that was irony. But if the story is anywhere near accurate, I admit that the State’s case is very thin.
nk (6e4f93) — 10/16/2007 @ 6:14 pmAnd I am interested in that black gene, too.
nk (6e4f93) — 10/16/2007 @ 6:19 pmI agree it’s interesting, NK. Here’s a case in which the police used DNA to identify race.
DRJ (67ced6) — 10/16/2007 @ 6:46 pmNK,
Here’s another article. Isn’t this fascinating?
DRJ (67ced6) — 10/16/2007 @ 6:54 pmI think it’s so interesting I’m going to do a post on it.
DRJ (67ced6) — 10/16/2007 @ 7:01 pmThanks, DRJ. But as even Dr. Frudakis says: “This is analyzing data derived from a crime scene. It’s a way for police to narrow down their suspect lists. It isn’t used as evidence in trials.”
nk (6e4f93) — 10/16/2007 @ 10:11 pmAgreed but I don’t see (yet) how the Kilgore KFC trial involves race-based DNA as anything more than an investigatory technique. The DNA samples for the 2 defendants are apparently based on CODIS matches. Only the 3rd DNA sample is a race-based match but it’s for a person they can’t identify and aren’t trying. Of course, the prosecutor admits this case was an investigation meltdown and that should/will make it a hard case to win even with DNA evidence.
DRJ (67ced6) — 10/16/2007 @ 10:29 pmI think it’s sad that the blacks and liberals in the second article can only see it as eugenics and a way to hurt blacks….are they so afraid of differences that they will avoid science that can help solve crimes? Apparently so…we live in a crazy mixed up world….
Stacy In Tucson (b99466) — 10/16/2007 @ 10:38 pmI don’t trust this article you linked to, DRJ.
For example, blood at the restaurant was identified at one time as likely belonging to Landers. But other than the bullet holes in his back and a burn on his arm from a bullet, there was not a mark on him.</i>
nk (6e4f93) — 10/16/2007 @ 11:05 pmWhy does that trouble you, nk? The point being that Landers was shot at the oilfield, so blood at the restaraunt shouldn’t have been carelessly attributed to him. The fact that one of the men had a fingernail on his clothing sounds like a struggle, hence the possibility that the perps also bled.
rhodeymark (1aaf2a) — 10/17/2007 @ 4:28 amThe Lardneresque phrasing tickles my funnybone more than bothers me, rhodeymark. I should have put a smiley after it.
I distrust the story to the extent that the reporter is aiming for drama and not necessarily reporting all the facts.
nk (6e4f93) — 10/17/2007 @ 5:51 amOf course. Everybody knows that with a name like Romeo Pinkerton he’s got to be guilty.
dave (6295e8) — 10/17/2007 @ 6:19 amThe Tyler Morning Telegraph has extensive coverage in this case. Today’s edition reported that Romeo Pinkerton plead guilty to all 5 murders. As a result, he will avoid the death penalty, serve a life sentence and, presumably, testify against his alleged co-conspirators.
DRJ (5c60fb) — 10/29/2007 @ 11:07 pm