Perry's Disappearing Scandal

[sonias]

Texas Observer 9/17/10
Perry's Disappearing Scandal
It’s remarkable that Texas Gov. Rick Perry has survived most of an election year without discussing his most notorious scandal: the execution of Cameron Todd Willingham.

Willingham was sentenced to death for starting a 1991 house fire that killed his three children. In February 2004, on the eve of his execution, Willingham’s lawyer sent the governor’s office credible evidence that the case against Willingham was flawed. A nationally renowned fire expert had looked at the forensic evidence and concluded it was outdated—a set of “old wives tales” that arson experts had since disproved. The fire at the Willingham house was likely accidental.

If there had been no arson, then Texas was about to execute an innocent man. (Eight additional arson experts have looked at the case and concluded the evidence was bunk.) Willingham’s attorney requested a stay. Perry said no. It’s not clear the governor even read the fire expert’s report before letting the execution go forward.

Not only did Perry proceed based on questionable evidence, but when the Texas Forensic Science Commission began probing the case, the governor intervened. Last fall, he slowed the process by replacing three commission members, including its chairman. It looked like a cover-up, and for a few fervid weeks in late 2009, the Willingham case became a major political scandal. Perry was hammered in the Texas press, in The New York Times and on CNN.

No surprise that Perry gets a pass on something this huge.

[sonias]

1. Texas panel goes into closed session in arson case

AAS 9/17/10
Texas panel goes into closed session in arson case

DALLAS — A Texas science panel reviewing a report about a disputed arson finding that led to an execution has begun its meeting by going behind closed doors.

The Texas Forensic Science Commission meeting in Dallas on Friday began with chairman John Bradley immediately calling for a closed session.

The commission is reviewing a report that says fire investigators weren't at fault in determining that a 1991 blaze at a Corsicana-area home that killed three girls was deliberately set. If the commissioners approve the report, it could end their inquiry into the arson finding that led to the 2004 execution of the children's father, Cameron Willingham.

Bradley hiding behind closed doors to protect Perry's ass. :mad:

[sonias]

2. Forensic panel debating report that clears investigators in Willingham arson case

Dallas Morning News 9/17/10
Forensic panel debating report that clears investigators in Willingham arson case

A state panel is discussing a draft report that says fire investigators weren't at fault when they determined that a deadly 1991 fire -- one that killed three small children near Corsicana -- was deliberately set.

If members of the Texas Forensic Science Commission vote to approve the report, it could end their inquiry into the arson finding that led to the 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham.

The Willingham case drew worldwide attention from death-penalty opponents and others when questions were raised about the integrity of scientific evidence used to convict him of murder.

A lengthy story in The New Yorker in 2009 quoted arson investigation experts as saying there was little or no evidence that the house fire was intentionally set -- strongly intimating that Texas had executed an innocent man.

Done deal.

:shrug:

[sonias]

3. Forensic Science Commission Takes Up Willingham

Texas Tribune 9/17/10
Forensic Science Commission Takes Up Willingham

Chairman John Bradley wants you to know that the Texas Forensic Science Commission is "not punting on any discussion" on whether standards of arson science have changed since the state convicted Cameron Todd Willingham of capital murder in 1992. He made that much clear at the agency's meeting as members gathered to discuss a draft report of its findings in the Willingham complaint.

It may not be punting on the discussion, but after numerous delays, the commission has yet to arrive at a conclusion on the case that's been pending since 2007. The state agency will meet again on Nov. 19 to hear testimony from a panel of experts on the training standards of the day.

The commission was poised to make a conclusive determination in the Willingham case at today's meeting. But members of the commission, during testy exchanges with Bradley, balked at adopting carte blanche the findings of the draft report. It concludes that fire analysts who provided evidence for the state adhered to investigation practices that existed at the time, and thus were not professionally negligent in deciding that Willingham started the fire. (Download the report above).

Bradley's mission is accomplised - the next hearing will take place on Nov. 19th, weeks after the general election for Governor.

"Good dog Bardley" says Ricky chicky chicky.

[sonias]

4. Texas panel requests more experts in arson case

AAS 9/17/10
Texas panel requests more experts in arson case

DALLAS — A Texas panel on Friday declined to clear fire investigators of professional misconduct for determining that arson caused a 1991 fire that killed three girls and led to the conviction and execution of their father.

Instead, the Texas Forensic Science Commission planned to meet in November to question fire experts about the professional standards used by arson investigators in the early 1990s. The commissioners are withholding judgment on whether investigators were wrong to say arson caused the blaze.

That decision came over the fierce objections of the commission chairman, John Bradley, who was appointed last year by Gov. Rick Perry. Bradley urged his colleagues to determine the investigators acted appropriately, and at one point he raised his voice and accused the commissioners of "shirking their duties."

Bradley pushed his colleagues to reach a consensus. He argued that either there was insufficient evidence to determine professional misconduct or there was no misconduct, and therefore investigators met the standards of their day.

But the panel disagreed, saying there appeared to be evidence that the Corsicana Fire Department and the state fire marshal's office were not following the standards from the early 1990s.

:wow: Imagine that, the panel pissed on Bradley! Too bad we couldn't get this decision earlier and they could have met with other fire experts during this meeting - before the election.

And what a crock for Bradley to yell at the rest of the commission about "shirking their duties." That's a Rovian tactic if I have ever seen one!

[sonias]

5. Bradley loses, forensics panel will call experts

DMN 9/17/10
Bradley loses, forensics panel will call experts

Texas Forensic Science Commission chairman John Bradley lost a fight today to wrap up the Willingham investigation. Other members of the commission backed a motion to put off consideration of a final report until they can hear directly from experts.

The commission will be inviting a number of experts at a special meeting on Nov. 19.

Bradley had pushed to finish work on a draft report saying there was no negligence on the part of arson investigators. Members wouldn't have it. Despite flashes of temper and sarcasm from Bradley (involving the words "absurd" and "unrealistic"), members insisted on more information. The meeting is going on right now in Dallas.

At issue is the arson science available at the time of the Willingham probe and whether investigators should have known about it.

Bradley said plenty of written reports already exist on the case, and the commission could go on discussing it forever. The majority doesn't share Bradley's hurry to put this issue to bed. They wanted to go beyond written conflicting analysis and be able to question experts.

:kick:

[sonias]

6. Texas Forensic Science Commission's credibility at stake in Willingham probe.

Houston Chronicle Editorial 9/16/10
Texas Forensic Science Commission's credibility at stake in Willingham probe.

The ghost of Cameron Todd Willingham continues to haunt the halls of Texas criminal justice and the credibility of the Texas Forensic Science Commission.

At a meeting in Dallas today, the nine-member commission has the opportunity to lay this case to rest with a convincing analysis of the disputed evidence that resulted in the conviction and 2004 execution of Willingham for setting a 1991 Corsicana house fire that killed his three children. A last-minute appeal for a stay of execution to Texas Gov. Rick Perry was not granted.

If Willingham's prosecution involved flawed forensic science, as documented by a national arson expert, the course of the commission investigation reeks of bad political science.

Shortly before Craig Beyler, chairman of the International Association of Fire Safety Science, was to deliver a report to the commission nearly a year ago criticizing the arson ruling, Gov. Perry replaced the commission chair and several members. The new chairman, Williamson County District Attorney John Bradley, has since done everything possible to limit the scope of the probe. He tried and failed to get the commission members to rule the Willingham case outside their jurisdiction. Gov. Perry has continued to defend his decision to allow Willingham's execution to go forward, calling him "an absolute monster who killed his own kids."

[sonias]

7. Editorial: Forensics panel should hear experts

Dallas Morning News Editorial 9/16/10
Editorial: Forensics panel should hear experts

The Texas Forensic Science Commission needs to put its discussions on the Cameron Todd Willingham case out in the open where they belong – and keep them there.
Forensics hearing

Secret committee meetings produced a tentative conclusion this summer that outmoded science, not professional negligence, was central to the arson finding that led to Willingham's execution in 2004.

The committee's rationale was not clear, given the closed-door meetings. Commission Chairman John Bradley appeared ready to move the case along to an official conclusion – kind of an official "oops" – despite the absence of open discussion involving outside experts.

The public deserves to see a public dissection of the case when the commission meets in Dallas on Friday, but it's hard to be optimistic.

A year ago, before Gov. Rick Perry cleaned house at the commission and installed Bradley, a noted arson scientist was invited to explain a report he had been hired to complete on the Willingham case. The expert, Craig Beyler, was bitingly critical of arson investigators who concluded Willingham set a fire that killed his three daughters in Corsicana.

:kick:

[sonias]

8. The Willingham Probe Takes a Remarkable Turn

Texas Observer 9/17/10
The Willingham Probe Takes a Remarkable Turn
For nearly a year, John Bradley has lorded over the Texas Forensic Science Commission.

Since Gov. Rick Perry named him chair last September, Bradley has seized control of the commission and its most high-profile case: the probe into whether Cameron Todd Willingham was convicted—and executed in 2004—based on flawed arson evidence.

But on Friday, all hell broke loose.

When seven commissioners met at a hotel near Dallas’ Love Field, the ostensible goal was to finalize their report on the Willingham case. But from the start, the forensic scientists on the panel fought Bradley at every step. By the end, the tenor of the meeting had changed entirely. What was supposed to have been the end of the Willingham probe now seems just the beginning.

One reform advocate termed the days events “the revenge of the scientists.” Another advocate, Stephen Saloom of the Innocence Project, said the meeting “gives me great hope about where this investigation will lead.”

The revenge of the scientists! I love it! Go scientists go!

:kick: