By Shelley Kofler, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-898145.mp3
Dallas, TX – The policy director of the Innocence Project said he's troubled by the Texas Forensic Science Commission's inaction and secrecy. Many expected the commission Friday to publicly discuss shoddy evidence that may have led to Cameron Todd Willingham's execution. KERA's Shelley Kofler reports from the commission meeting in Irving.
In 2004 Corsicana auto mechanic Todd Willingham was executed for intentionally starting a house fire that killed his three daughters.
Numerous arson investigators said the fire may have been accidental and in 2006 the New York-based Innocence Project asked for a review of the case.
Last fall, just two days before the state's forensic science commission was scheduled to hear from another renowned arson expert, Governor Rick Perry's newly appoint commission chair dashed expectations by cancelling the meeting.
Chairman John Bradley, who is also the Williamson County District Attorney, then assigned the Willingham case to a three-member panel which includes Tarrant County Medical Examiner Nizam Peerwani.
Although the commission has now had the Willingham case for some four years Dr. Peerwani said the group with some new members needs more time to talk with investigators and collect documentation.
Peerwani: We do need to look at the entire transcript of the trial which we haven't done yet. There are some other testimonial things we discussed, for example, statements made by the wife of the decedent. We also talked about the video that has surfaced of the burnt house and I think we should consider that.
The Innocence Project's policy director Stephen Saloom says he's frustrated by delays in the investigation, but he's troubled by Chairman Bradley assigning the case to a subcommittee. When a majority of commission members meet state law requires the meeting be open to the public. The subcommittee will be able to debate the Willingham investigation in private which is what Bradley says it will do.
Saloom: There's no reason why a very politically motivated man very clearly is going to take that behind closed doors to exercise his will or at least assert his perspective on this for reporting back to the commission.
Bradley says the Willingham panel will decide in private, how to proceed with the probe, and whether to report publicly at the next commission meeting in July.