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DNA releaseD another two . . .

RICHMOND, Dec. 14 ,2005 Washington Post -- Newly tested DNA from rapes committed more than 20 years ago has exonerated two Virginians who had each spent more than a decade behind bars. . .

One of the defendants served 20 years in prison for a rape in Alexandria that the new testing shows he did not commit. The other man was released in 1992 after serving about 11 years for an assault in Norfolk.

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Both of the recent cases had relied heavily on eyewitness testimony. . .

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The new testing conclusively proved that Virginia should not have jailed the Norfolk and Alexandria men and produced a "cold hit" linking someone else to the Alexandria rape...

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Prosecutors in Alexandria and Norfolk have requested that the governor issue complete pardons in both cases.

(YOU MEAN, THEY ACCEPTED DNA EVIDENCE AS CONCLUSIVE???)

In May 2003, Warner (also) pardoned Julius Earl Ruffin, 49, of Virginia Beach, who was (also) cleared by DNA evidence after spending 21 years in prison for rape.

Marvin Lamont Anderson of Hanover County and Arthur Lee Whitfield of Norfolk each spent more than a decade in prison for crimes they did not commit and were exonerated by evidence in Burton's files.

(EXONERATED BY DNA?? BUT WE KNOW THAT YOU CAN STILL RAPE SOMEONE AND NOT LEAVE YOUR DNA, RIGHT? AND THAT IF SOMEONE ELSE'S DNA IS FOUND, THAT IS MEANINGLESS, RIGHT?)

I remember after the second round of DNA testing came back and the only DNA found on/in Precious was from her "boyfriend", Greta and the lawyers on her show said they didn't think the case would be able to proceed. They felt it was finished as a matter of law. Well, it's still proceeding, seemingly at the whim of one man - Nifong.

I'm a third year law student and I have yet to meet anyone who can explain to me why this case is continuing. Everyone I've spoken to is baffled. Based on what I've read from the Jovanovic case, I don't think they even had probable cause to make an arrest. Not if the standard is a "credible" claim. No one could possibly think the accusers ramblings were credible. I hope Collin, Reade and Dave sue everyone in sight for this.