Former Prosecutor Admits Steven Mark Chaney was Wrongfully Convicted
08.25.16 By Innocence Staff
Steven Mark Chaney and Innocence Project Attorneys M. Chris Fabricant (center) and Barry Shack (right) during a hearing in a Dallas courtroom where a court reversed his 1987 murder conviction because of discredited bite mark testimony.ÊPhotographed on Monday, October 12, 2015. (Photo copyright Lara Solt)
Innocence Project client Steven Mark Chaney could soon be officially exonerated of the double-murder for which he served 25 years in prison.
At a hearing on Tuesday, former Dallas County prosecutor Neil Pask testified that Chaney should never have been convicted—or even indicted—for the 1987 murders. Pask testified that he had been wrongly swayed by the bite mark evidence—which has since been proven to be highly unreliable—presented at trial.
Chaney was released last October when a court reversed his conviction. Several months later, in response to Chaney’s wrongful conviction case and an official complaint filed by the Innocence Project, the Texas Forensic Science Commission recommended a ban of the use of bite mark evidence in criminal trials unless and until the method can be scientifically validated.
Julie Lesser, one of the attorneys representing Chaney with the Innocence Project told the Dallas Morning News, “It sounded like he got off on a technicality. He wants his name cleared.”
The case will soon be forwarded to the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Lesser told the Dallas Morning News that she expects they will side with the district attorney and declare Chaney innocent.
Read the Dallas Morning News story here.
Related: Steven Mark Chaney Released After 28 Years
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There was more than just the bite mark “experts”…
“In the course of that investigation, the office turned over numerous pieces of previously undisclosed exculpatory evidence, including an earlier finding that there was no blood on Chaney’s shoes as well as numerous contradictory statements made by the informant. DNA testing of all available crime scene evidence, which included fingernail scrapings and hairs found in Sally Sweek’s hand, also excluded Chaney.”