Trial and Error

Jul 22, 2010

http://www.onlinesentinel.com/opinion/letters/98972129.html

Morning Sentinel Staff

Thank you for publishing Trevor Maxwell’s piece on the Dennis Dechaine case. It’s journalism like this that makes me optimistic that local newspapers can survive.

Like most Mainers I’ve been somewhat aware of this case over the years but only in snippets or fragments. It was very helpful see the sad story from its beginning to the present. With a case this of this magnitude I can’t understand why the authorities have fought a retrial for so many years, especially with the science of DNA being so much more developed.

The fact that Dechaine was denied the use of DNA testing from the beginning is grounds for a new trial. It’s not like he’s asking for a pardon.

It’s almost like the prosecution doesn’t believe in their own judicial system.

David Jordan

Somerville