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March 24, 2008
DNA test ‘puts innocent at risk’ of convictions
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I believe it has been suspended for use as evidence in court, but may still be used by police for investigative purposes.
herbert downing, Coventry,
All DNA evidence, old or new, if used unsupported, puts innocent people at risk. If a prosecuting barrister tells a jury that there is a "one in a billion" chance of an accidental DNA match, he is actually telling them that the odds of there being at least one other person now alive who matches the DNA are 400 to 1 ON. Until that person or those people have been located and their alibis checked, DNA evidence alone is worthless. It should only ever be used to support other evidence.
Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK
Was low copy DNA really suspended ? Makes no sense.
It may not be able to convict in a trial but at least it provides a clue to whom the police should suspect and persue evidence against.
Does anyone know if this investigative tool was thrown out with the bathwater?
robert everitt, wolverhampton,