Fire investigator accuses Perry of 'unethical' behavior; governor defends execution

[struggle4progress]

12:00 AM CDT on Thursday, October 15, 2009
By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]

AUSTIN – The nationally noted fire expert whose investigation of arson evidence called into question a 2004 Texas execution blasted Gov. Rick Perry late Wednesday, accusing the governor of "unethical" behavior in the case.

Baltimore-based Craig Beyler, hired by the Texas Forensic Science Commission to examine the case, said in an e-mail that the governor should not have upended the commission, which was to have heard his report just days after Perry replaced several members. He said the governor had a conflict of interest because he approved the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham of Corsicana.

"His failure to recuse himself is both unethical and injurious to the cause of justice," Beyler wrote in a note intended for the Forensic Science Commission and forwarded to several reporters with his permission ...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/state/stories/DN-arson_15tex.ART.State.Edition2.4bb6fd0.html

[sonias]

1. Fire scientist knocks Perry (with video)

AAS First Reading Blog 10/15/09
Fire scientist knocks Perry
(snip)
But late Wednesday, the fire scientist who was set to address the forensic commission before Perry shook it up offered some severe criticism of Perry’s handling of the case. Craig Beyler, a nationally recognized expert, said in an interview with CNN that Perry was trying to protect his political hide. He also said the newly appointed members of the forensic commission should resign, and he called Perry’s actions “unethical.”

"(Perry) should have recused himself from any appointments to that commission because now it gives the appearance he’s using his political clout to protect himself against any incrimination by the commissioner," Beyler told CNN.

See the full story from Anderson Cooper, which includes an interview with Willingham’s stepmother, below. Interestingly, Cooper asked the stepmother whether Willingham beat his wife. Yes he did, the stepmother said, but she pointed out that the wife also beat him.

The CNN video clip is linked to the story above.

Sonia