Exonerated of Rape Conviction, Man Is Freed After 26 Years (http://www.nysun.com/article/68971?page_no=1)

Ouch.


DALLAS, Texas — Three times during his nearly 27 years in prison, Charles Chatman went before a parole board and refused to acknowledge he was a rapist. His steadfastness was vindicated yesterday, when a judge released him because of new DNA evidence showing he indeed wasn't. The release of Mr. Chatman, 47, added to Dallas County's nationally unmatched number of wrongfully convicted inmates.

"Every time I'd go to parole, they'd want a description of the crime or my version of the crime," Mr. Chatman said. "I don't have a version of the crime. I never committed the crime. I never will admit to doing this crime that I know I didn't do."



Mr. Chatman was 20 when the victim, a young woman in her 20s, picked him from a lineup. Mr. Chatman said he lived five houses down from the victim for 13 years but never knew her.

She identified him in court as the attacker, and serology tests showed that the type of blood found at the crime scene matched that of Mr. Chatman — along with 40% of other black males. Mr. Chatman said he was working at the time of the assault, an alibi supported by his sister, who was also his employer.

Nevertheless, Mr. Chatman was convicted of aggravated sexual assault in 1981 and sentenced to 99 years in prison. Mr. Chatman said he believes his race led to his arrest and conviction. The jury, he said, had one black member.

"I was convicted because a black man committed a crime against a white woman," Mr. Chatman said. "And I was available."

That's horrible. And you know how they treat rapists in prison, supposedly.

I would know.


...I mean, we beat the shit out of rapists.

So we should've killed the poor bastard instead, so he wouldn't have to have suffered being a rapist in prison. Makes perfect sense.

So we should've killed the poor bastard instead, so he wouldn't have to have suffered being a rapist in prison. Makes perfect sense.
its not too late...

I like the line "added to Dallas County's nationally unmatched number of wrongfully convicted inmates"

The state that gave us George Bush never ceases to amaze. What percentage of those "wrongfully convicted" are black? What a joke the south is.

And what happens to the woman in this case? I'm sure she gets a slap on the wrist, and she'll say "my bad! hehe."

That bitch deserves to go to jail for the rest of her life.

I like the line "added to Dallas County's nationally unmatched number of wrongfully convicted inmates"
Keep in mind that this is because they actually keep genetic evidence, unlike most jurisdictions who dispose of it. The lab folks, at least, are doing the right thing. Note that Dallas County is a lot less Republican than it historically was, much like Oakland County around here.

And what happens to the woman in this case? I'm sure she gets a slap on the wrist, and she'll say "my bad! hehe."

That bitch deserves to go to jail for the rest of her life.



she might be dead..:emo kid:

Dead from the rape you mean? She picked him out of a lineup afterwards, so she wasn't dead at that point. Then again, its been 26 years so she just may at this point.

"But they all looked alike..."

http://www.northcountrygazette.org/2008/05/05/convictions_summit/


AUSTIN, TX— A day-long Summit on Wrongful Convictions will be held Thursday, May 8 at the State Capitol in Austin to determine the causes of wrongful convictions in Texas and identify reforms that can prevent them.

The recent release of James Lee Woodard in Dallas, based on DNA tests showing that he did not commit a murder 27 years ago for which he was wrongfully convicted, comes just one week after Thomas McGowan was freed based on DNA results showing he did not commit the Dallas County rape and burglary for which he spent 23 years in prison. http://www.northcountrygazette.org/2008/04/16/dna_texas_man/ Woodard is represented by the Innocence Project of Texas; McGowan is represented by the Innocence Project. Eighteen people have now been freed based on post-conviction DNA testing in Dallas, and more than 30 people in Texas have been fully exonerated based on DNA results.

As a result of the unprecedented number of exonerations in Texas, key leaders from across the state will gather in Austin on May 8 for a landmark Summit on Wrongful Convictions. Judges, lawmakers, defense attorneys, prosecutors, exonerees, professors and many others will come together for the Summit.

The Summit will mark the first time any state’s criminal justice leaders have initiated a high-level meeting themselves to address wrongful convictions. Texas State Senator Rodney Ellis is spearheading the Summit, and Innocence Project Co-Director Barry Scheck will attend. The Summit will be open to the public.

“We’ve reached a tipping point on wrongful convictions in Texas. Nobody can seriously doubt that there’s a problem, and next week leaders from across our criminal justice system will come together to start solving it,” Sen. Ellis said.

“We will bring a wide range of leaders, experts and exonerees together for a full day to develop concrete, common-sense remedies to make our system of justice more fair and accurate. We won’t solve these serious problems in one day, but we will make historic strides toward restoring confidence in our criminal justice system.”

The Summit on Wrongful Convictions will be held on the Senate Floor at the State Capitol from noon to 5 p.m. on Thursday. 5-05-08