After pleading 10 years for a chance to clear his name, Hank Skinner received a ray of hope only two days before his execution date in Texas.

 

The convicted triple murderer has insisted since his trial in 1995 that he did not kill his girlfriend, Twila Busby, and her two sons. He has requested a DNA test several times, citing state laws that have allowed dozens of other inmates to prove their innocence. Each time Skinner has been turned down by the courts, most recently as his November 9 death penalty date loomed. DNA evidence lifted from the crime scene—including blood off the murder weapons, skin taken from under Busby’s fingernails and a rape test kit—have never been tested by a forensics laboratory.

 

After being denied again last week, his attorney filed a petition with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, which stayed Skinner’s execution so it could decide if he is eligible for genetic testing under Texas law.

 

Since the state approved post-conviction DNA analysis, 45 convicted felons have been exonerated because the results proved they were not responsible for the crimes.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

DNA Exonerations Continue, but Not for One Man (by Brandi Grissom, Texas Tribune)

27 Wrongfully Convicted Urge Texas Gov. Perry to Allow DNA Test for Hank Skinner (Witness to Innocence)

Another Dubious Execution under Rick Perry? (by James Ridgeway and Jean Casella, Mother Jones)

What Texas Isn't Telling You about Hank Skinner's Case (by David Protess, Huffington Post)