Dallas man freed by DNA after 15 years in prison

[flashl]

DALLAS (AP) -- A man sent to prison more than 15 years ago has been freed after DNA testing concluded he was innocent.

Patrick Waller walked out of court a free man Thursday. He has been behind bars since late 1992 on convictions for aggravated robbery and aggravated kidnapping stemming from the abduction of a Dallas couple.

But DNA testing conducted late last year proved Waller was innocent.

Prosecutors say the DNA profile matched another man, who is free on parole.

NY Times

[zanne]

1. DNA testing conducted late last year?

And it took them six more months to free him. I sincerely hope this man doesn't say that he's "not bitter". This happens way too often.

[flashl]

2. I strongly suspect anyone who just been released from hell on earth will be relieved

and want to 'appear' grateful to avoid giving anyone cause to send them back.

[stillcool]

4. From what I read..

he hasn't been released yet...
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/062708dnmetdnaexonerate.4387f2e.html

[flashl]

5. From the link: Patrick could have been freed SEVEN YEARS AGO ...

DNA testing could have freed Patrick Leondos Waller seven years ago from a life sentence for armed robbery and kept the real criminal in prison.

But because former Dallas County District Attorney Bill Hill objected, Mr. Waller's efforts to obtain genetic testing were delayed until last fall. That was long enough for the man science has now identified as the perpetrator to elude justice for the crime that also included a rape and kidnapping.

Over the past few years, there have been enough information flowing from Texas to almost bring a person to the conclusion that an external law enforcement agency should be in control of the entire Texas criminal justice system.

Especially, the 'discovery' of 280 boxes of evidence improperly stored in a warehouse that could affect as many as 8,000 cases that spanned a period of twenty-five years.

[stillcool]

6. that is so effed up...

I'm sure at the time of this guys trial and conviction there were loads of people clamoring for his death. I imagine that's why he plead guilty to a couple of the charges. Poor bastard must have wanted to live. Guilty until proven innocent.

[stillcool]

3. another one...

I wonder if anyone is relieved that they didn't fry him...

Delay of DNA tests helped man linked to robbery, rape go free

09:24 AM CDT on Friday, June 27, 2008

By JENNIFER EMILY and STEVE McGONIGLE / The Dallas Morning News
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

DNA testing could have freed Patrick Leondos Waller seven years ago from a life sentence for armed robbery and kept the real criminal in prison.

But because former Dallas County District Attorney Bill Hill objected, Mr. Waller's efforts to obtain genetic testing were delayed until last fall. That was long enough for the man science has now identified as the perpetrator to elude justice for the crime that also included a rape and kidnapping.

DNA tests have now cleared Mr. Waller. The district attorney's office said two men who recently confessed to the 1992 crime cannot be prosecuted because the statute of limitations has expired. One of the men, whom DNA evidence definitively links to the crime, was paroled in February after serving 15 years for burglary.

Had Mr. Hill granted testing earlier, the man's parole may have been denied and he could have served the remainder of his 45-year sentence, a top prosecutor and Mr. Waller's attorney said Thursday.
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Mr. Waller remains in prison and his attorney, Gary Udashen, said Thursday that he had not spoken with him yet. A judge could release Mr. Waller at a hearing scheduled for next week.

Mr. Waller was 22 and on probation for cocaine possession when he was arrested in March 1992 after a married couple in their 20s was abducted at gunpoint by two men in the West End.
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Mr. Udashen said Mr. Hill's office paved the way for Mr. Bell to go free.

"Had they done a DNA test back in 2001 or 2005, they would have matched it up to Bell, and Bell would have never been paroled," Mr. Udashen said.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/062708dnmetdnaexonerate.4387f2e.html