Mississippi man still fighting for DNA test

A former Jackson, Mississippi, police officer has been seeking DNA testing since 2006 to prove that he was wrongfully convicted of robbing a bank. Steve Fasano is currently in federal prison, and could be released to a halfway house next year. But even if he is released, he says, he will continue to fight to prove his innocence.

Fasano was convicted of robbing a Citizens Bank branch in 2002. Eyewitnesses identified Fasano as the perpetrator, who was wearing a hard hat, sunglasses and a T-shirt during the crime. The perpetrator discarded this disguise, and police collected the items as evidence. Now, Fasano’s attorney is seeking DNA testing on the clothing under the federal Innocence Protection Act of 2004, but a district judge has already denied his request for testing. Fasano is appealing the ruling to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

He vowed to continue to fight to clear his name. "I will pursue this till I'm an old man," he said. "I can't live knowing a felony is placed on my shoulders for something I didn't do.

"A great injustice has been done. I want to get home because I'm an innocent man, not because my time has run out."

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. (Jackson Clarion-Ledger, 10/19/08)