Governor stalls execution; DNA will be tested

The Indianapolis Star ^ | July 29, 2003 | Fred Kelly

[wabash]

In an unprecedented move, Gov. Frank O'Bannon on Monday issued a 60-day stay of execution for Death Row inmate Darnell Williams to allow for DNA testing.

Williams, 36, was scheduled to die Friday in Michigan City for the 1986 murder of a Gary couple, but his lawyer says the DNA tests could show blood on his shorts was not from the victims.

[curmudgeonII]

The ironic thing is that under Indiana law it makes no difference if this guy was, or was not, the killer. If you are a participant in a crime in which someone is killed you can be executed even if you are not the killer.

[lorrainer]

Darnell Williams has maintained that while he was involved in the crime, he was not present when the shooting occurred. His defence at trial was based on his lawyers' belief that no blood had been found on his clothing.
(From Amnesty International's website.)

You are correct. They went there to steal money from the other guy's foster parents.

And the "logic" here is quite faulty. If the blood belongs to someone else, what does this prove? It just means that it belongs to someone else. It doesn't mean he wasn't there committing a felony murder. Sheesh.