LAST EDITED ON Mar-24-03 AT 03:28 PM (ET) by Skinner (admin)
Houston's DNA lab under fire Officials are reexamining 525 cases after an audit found problems. Training and workload are issues. By Pam Easton Associated Press
HOUSTON - As water dripped down the walls of the crime lab on the 26th floor of the Houston Police Department headquarters, two overworked DNA analysts scrambled to keep up with a caseload in a county that was sending more convicts to death row than any other in the nation.
In addition to the scientific work, the analysts were helping interpret their findings for Harris County juries.
"We trusted they were doing a good job and the testimony that they offered was accurate," said Assistant District Attorney Marie Munier.
Then Houston television station KHOU began questioning some of the DNA lab's conclusions, and officials ordered an outside audit. After reading the results of the audit, which found significant deficiencies, including examiners who did not have the proper training to correctly testify, Houston's acting police chief suspended DNA work in December.
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