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What's the harm in expert witnesses?
Expert witnesses bring science into the courtroom. But sometimes they bring pseudoscience or push the limits of science, and justice is not served. Read more about expert witnesses
Here are 14 people who were harmed by someone not thinking critically.
Kirk Noble BloodsworthAge: 23 |
Wrongly sentenced to death, 9 years in prison |
| He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death, based in part on forensic evidence supposedly linking his shoes to marks on the victim. DNA testing later proved he could not have committed the crime. Read more | |
Jimmy Ray BromgardAge: 18 |
Wrongfully convicted, 15 years in prison |
| A forensic expert testified that hairs found at the scene belonged to Bromgard. A peer review later called the statistics used "breathtakingly absurd". DNA testing later proved his innocence. Read more & more & more | |
Angela CanningsAge: 39 |
Wrongfully convicted to prison |
| She was convicted of murdering two of her children based in part on an expert's testimony that multiple SIDS deaths (aka "cot deaths") in one family are very unlikely. She was later exonerated and the expert was disciplined. Read more & more | |
Lindy & Michael ChamberlainAge: 36 & 38 |
Wrongfully convicted of murdering their child |
| She claimed a dingo took her baby in the night. An expert testified a test indicated blood in the family car, conflicting with her story. Evidence emerged years later which exonerated them. Read more & more & more | |
Clyde CharlesAge: 27 |
Wrongfully imprisoned for 17 years |
| A criminalist testified two hairs on his shirt were "similar" to those of the victim. He was sentenced to prison. DNA testing later proved that he could not have committed the crime. Read more & more | |
Sally ClarkAge: 38 |
Wrongfully imprisoned for 3 years |
| An expert testified there was only a "one in 73 million" chance that her two children both died of cot death (aka SIDS), and therefore she must have murdered them. Statisticians later called this number "poor science". She was later exonerated. Read more & more | |
Alejandro DominguezAge: 16 |
Wrongly convicted, 4 years in prison |
| Even though the blood evidence in the case could include 2/3 of all the men in the world, the serologist did not admit this on the stand. DNA testing later proved that he could not have been the perpetrator, and his conviction was set aside. Read more & more | |
Steven LinscottOak Park, Illinois |
Wrongfully convicted, 3 years in prison, 7 years on bond |
| After a neighbor was murdered, he admitted to police that he had had a dream of a similar murder. A jury took just hours to convict him based on this and some flimsy hair analysis testimony. DNA tests later proved he could not have been the murderer. Read more & more | |
Guy Paul MorinAge: 25 |
Wrongfully convicted of murder |
| He was convicted of the murder of his 9 year old neighbor on the basis of exaggerated hair and fiber evidence. A DNA test later proved he could not have been the killer. An exhaustive inquiry later examined many flaws in the trial. Read more | |
Larry SouterWhite Cloud, Michigan |
Wrongfully convicted, 13 years in prison |
| A woman was hit by the mirror of a vehicle and killed. The crime went unsolved for years. An expert said her wound was consistent with being hit by a bottle found nearby. Larry was convicted. Later a witness came forward and the expert recanted. Read more & more | |
Ron Williamson & Dennis FritzAda, Oklahoma |
Wrongfully convicted, 11 years in prison |
| Williamson was sentenced to death, Fritz to life. This was based in part on hair samples at the scene. DNA testing later proved the hair could not have come from them, and they were freed. Read more & more & more & more | |