Posted on 12/14/2019 9:07:48 AM PST by Mariner
LEXINGTON, Ky. — It’s not clear if Betty Carnes was killed by asphyxiation or by the eight blows to her head that Delmar Partin delivered with a metal pipe. The coroner couldn’t tell which killed the mother of three first, but it was very clear that her head was then chopped off and placed on her lap in a 55-gallon barrel that was destined for a toxic waste site.
On Monday, departing Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin pardoned and commuted the sentence of Partin, who was convicted of killing her at the factory where they both worked in Barbourville in 1994.
In his order, Bevin said he pardoned Partin because potential DNA evidence had not been tested.
“Given the inability or unwillingness of the state to use existing DNA evidence to either affirm or disprove this conviction, I hearby pardon Mr. Partin for this crime and encourage the state to make every effort to bring final justice to the victim and her family,” Bevin wrote.
The prosecutor on the case, Tom Handy, said he hasn’t been this angry in a long time. He called the governor’s pardon “mystifying.”
“I think its arrogance of one who has a God-like image of himself,” Handy said of Bevin. “And a lack of concern for anybody else.”
(Excerpt) Read more at triblive.com ...
The outgoing governor pardons the murderers, the incoming one keeps them in jail but gives them voting rights.
“Bevin must have believed that this was the wrong guy (DNA) or he just had a YUGE payday.”
Over 450 corrupt cases?
Extraordinarily unlikely.
This is about 450 cases, not one.
The governor could’ve staved off letting this guy out for a few more decades.
Presumably this point was brought up in appeals and courts didn't give it credence. There wasn't DNA testing in court cases before about 1985 - this doesn't make those conviction invalid.
“ The outgoing governor pardons the murderers, the incoming one keeps them in jail but gives them voting rights.”
No one in a Kentucky prison has been granted voting rights.
Why is the state unable or unwilling to test the EXISTING DNA evidence?
If there is evidence the state hasn’t tested, I’d want to know why... until then then I’d have to go with the gov on this one no matter how heinous the crime because it puts the conviction into the reasonable doubt category.
“chopped off and placed on her lap in a 55-gallon barrel”
Not so bad . . .
Earth Day founder Ira Einhorn composted his girlfriend in a suitcase in his closet . . . and he’s free.
And the Left celebrates his efforts every year
Not in Kentucky
True but the evidence is retained and technology now exists to conduct testing on filed evidence.
“ Why is the state unable or unwilling to test the EXISTING DNA evidence?”
“If there is evidence the state hasn’t tested, I’d want to know why... until then then I’d have to go with the gov on this one no matter how heinous the crime because it puts the conviction into the reasonable doubt category.”
Do you are advocating pardons for every violent offender in the country where there is not solid DNA evidence?
Let’s see; each story is from a newspaper outlet...I’m sure every word is true and all the facts have been reported exactly truthfully.
I’m sure glad Bashear won so we can have 100,000 more dems voting to keep the state blue.
Yep, sure am glad.
Bevin the business man was horrible for the state.
No, I am advocating that where evidence was retained before DNA testing was possible that newer technology be used to confirm or dispel the evidence.
There is a link in post 19 that addresses this point.
In just a couple of clicks, I found this (local) article.
http://www.everybodyhatescharlie.com/?tag=betty-carnes-and-delmar-partin
It’s a “Part 2” I haven’t read Part 1 yet.
VERY INTERESTING! Was the BODY actually the body of Betty Carnes?
He also pardoned a convicted murder whose family member donated it he campaign.
You agree with that too?
Perhaps the DNA evidence was not relevant to conviction or acquittal.
Would it matter if the hair belonged to the victim or not? It was his ex girlfriend.
Oh, I know that. Yesterday a thread highlighted the one about his political fundraiser’s brother. I didn’t think anything could top that one.
What the heck happened to Bevin? He started off so well.
The criminal justice system in this country is rotten to the core, from top to bottom. You are all aware of and do not like what you see at the top of the ladder — well it is EXACTLY the same on the rungs below. I think Gov. Beven probably looked at the case carefully and saw a lot of prosecutorial misconduct, and did the right thing.
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