Another wrongly convicted inmate released in Texas (20th exonerated by DNA evidence in Dallas County

[tj2001]

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6444094.html

DALLAS — Jerry Lee Evans, a wrongly convicted man released Wednesday after nearly 23 years in prison, said he was certain he would be acquitted during his 1987 trial for aggravated sexual assault with a deadly weapon. "My whole defense was that when the young lady saw me in court, she'd say she made a mistake," said Evans, the latest innocent man cleared by DNA testing in Dallas County. "But that's the way life is. Life ain't fair."

DNA test results that came back earlier this month excluded Evans as the rapist, leading to his release. The tests did not match any profiles and authorities have no suspects, prosecutors said. Evans had originally applied for post-conviction DNA testing in 2002, but his petition was ignored by the courts, said his public defender, Michelle Moore.

Judge Carter Thompson apologized to Evans, who accepted his release with a chuckle and a vow to go to McDonald's for a hamburger. "The court hopes that your next 23 years are happier than your last 23 years," Thompson said.

Evans said his father died while he was in prison, and he has not seen his mother in more than two decades...

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http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/052809dnmetjerryleeevans.21ff4571.html

Jerry Lee Evans joined a brotherhood of sorts Wednesday when he walked out of a courtroom after more than 22 years behind bars for a rape that DNA proves he did not commit.

Evans, 47, was the 20th man cleared by DNA evidence in Dallas County, which has had more exonerations than any other county the nation since 2001 when the state began allowing post-conviction genetic testing...

The man who prosecuted Evans, L. Dee Shipman, is now a judge in Denton County. He also prosecuted Smith, who was wrongly convicted of rape. He has not returned phone calls inquiring about either case.

[Lasher]

1. 23 years.

Evans had originally applied for post-conviction DNA testing in 2002, but his petition was ignored by the courts.

Kinda leaves you numb.

[SeattleGirl]

2. I do not understand why requests for DNA testing are denied.

Well, strike that. I do understand: the judges and attorneys don't want to be "wrong".

But sometimes they ARE wrong, and if there is a way to show that, to show that a convicted person really isn't guilty, then the testing that can show that should damned well be allowed.

BTW, have you seen that show Dallas DNA? The district attorney mentioned in the first link is on that show. He is determined to look at cases where inmates are claiming they are wrongfully convicted to see if that is true. It's pretty interesting.

[Lasher]

3. I've never heard of that TV show.

I'll have to check out my local listings.

I just decided we need federal legislation to mandate timely DNA testing for every similar case, whether the prisoner asks for it or not.

[SeattleGirl]

4. I think it's on Discovery ID, if I remember correctly.

New ones are usually on Tuesday or Wednesday nights,

They usually do reruns over the weekends.

And I agree with you; DNA testing on cases, requested or not, would be a damned good thing.

If someone actually did do the crime, then they are where they belong.

If they didn't, let them the hell out!