Chris Duncan’s longtime claims of innocence were boosted by the discrediting of bite mark analysis, and by recent reforms now under threat from the state’s Republican leadership.
Perhaps most damning was the mid-2000s discovery of a shocking videotape that depicted Dr. West pressing a mold of Duncan’s teeth into Haley’s body, appearing to create the bite marks the dentist claimed were already there—evidence that the jury in Duncan’s trial never saw. Despite these discoveries, broader advancements in forensic scientific understanding, and revelations about the extent of Hayne and West’s misconduct, Duncan remained on death row.
3·2 months ago