A 12 member jury to decide the faith of Keshaun Merchant

The Leeward Times- St Kitts and Nevis
The faith of Keshaun Merchant alias ‘Boogie’ of Pond Hill Gingerland will be left in the hands of a 12-member jury after the case is handed over to them. Merchant on Monday November 22nd answered to three charges of possession of firearm, possession of ammunition; and shooting at police officers (Constables Vernon George, Kendy Paul and Antonio Browne) with intent to do grievous bodily harm and pled not guilty to all three.

Forensic experts on standby as fire burns in mine

TVNZ New Zealand
Superintendent Gary Knowles has told media this evening that forensic and DNA experts are on standby to help identify the Pike River miners.

Virginia could become 3rd state to use familial DNA searches

Fairfax Times
Virginia soon might become the third state nationwide to regularly utilize familial DNA searches, joining California and Colorado, according to the Virginia Crime Commission.

District attorneys unsure about DNA testing consolidation

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Some district attorneys in Eastern Pennsylvania say they’re leery of the state police’s decision to eliminate DNA testing at their Bethlehem regional lab, leaving the Greensburg lab as the only state police facility doing that work.

In Philadelphia, a bid give a lifer, 82, another day in court

Philadelphia Inquirer
Louis Mickens Thomas shuffled through Graterford Prison’s visiting area, slowly making his way to a small private room where he could escape the din and tell his story. His tall frame is stooped, his beard grizzled, and he has to lean in close to hear. At 82, he could have been the grandfather of the other inmates who sat on rows of plastic chairs, laughing with friends and family or savoring a moment with girlfriends.

Turkey to establish DNA bank to better track sexual crimes

Today’s Zaman
Turkey, a candidate for European Union membership that has a poor record regarding sexual crimes is planning to establish a DNA bank to better track assailants.

The parliamentary Foreign Relations Commission recently presented a report to the parliament speaker regarding the EU’s demands that Turkey establish a databank that stores the DNA of convicted sex offenders. The commission had asked Parliament to establish such a databank.

Rape charge against vindicated Houston man dropped

Wandtv.com NBC
HOUSTON (AP) – The aggravated assault charge that kept an innocent Houston man imprisoned for 27 years was formally dropped Monday, according to the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.

Bembenek Attorney Requests New DNA Testing

Wisn.com ABC news
MILWAUKEE — The fight to clear Laurie Bembenek’s name goes on after her death.
Bembenek died Saturday after battling cancer. She was 52.
The Playboy Bunny-turned-police officer was convicted of killing her husband’s ex-girlfriend in 1981.

Aruba jawbone not Natalee Holloway’s, prosecutors say

MSNBC
ORANJESTAD, ARUBA — A jawbone with a tooth recently found on a beach in Aruba does not belong to missing Alabama teenager Natalee Holloway, the prosecutor’s office there said Tuesday.

DNA links rapist to cold murder case

KXAN Austin
SAN MARCOS, Texas (KXAN) – Willie Roy Jenkins, 57, of California, was indicted Monday in a capital murder case in San Marcos that dates back to nearly 35 years ago, when 20-year-old Sheryl Norris was sexually assaulted and murdered in her apartment.