When I started this
blog, I was under the impression that there must have been some kind of
physical evidence collected at the very beginning of the investigation; I
assumed (not unreasonably, I think) that when Jane Doe was taken to the
hospital that there would have been a rape kit completed, and I tried to find
out why it had not been used at trial.
Unfortunately I was unable
to get a hold of the police report, and as far as anyone knows, there was no
evidence of this kind taken. However, Harris County has been storing thousands
of untested rape kits for years, and has only recently gotten around to
clearing the backlog.
I think it’s great that
it’s finally done, and that the DA’s office is using the evidence collected to
put rapists away. I still wonder, though, if there isn’t a kit somewhere from
Coy’s case. While it’s great to compare the DNA to the national database to
find matches nationwide, I wonder if the District Attorney will see fit to notify
those that were convicted that there may be new evidence available in their
cases; are they even testing the kits that belong to cases which have already
been decided? Will the defense attorneys be notified? What will be done if the
DNA from the kit does not match the DNA of the individual convicted of the
crime?
"Though
the technology to analyze DNA has been around for decades, hundreds of
thousands of sexual assault kits all over the country went untested because
investigators didn’t consider them important."
The thought that a kit
could be shelved just because an investigator decided it would be is extremely
unnerving; not only were rapists able to continue their crimes, but innocent
people may have been convicted because no steps were taken that could have
proven their innocence.
2 comments:
No kit was made, testimony was re done and rehearsed before the court room. Testimony CHANGED in the civil court. But unfortunately Texas is not fair us and one other states can oversee cases like a puppet master. DA, Jury, prosecutor all partners. Support SPM write letters to him and whomever state elected folks about this. thats all we can do.
Boy boi coy didn't have shit to do with that lil braud
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