Former
Attorney General Jon Lund's
unpublished letter to the Editor
of the Bangor Daily News.
In 1988 the prosecution in the
case against Dennis Dechaine in the murder of Sarah Cherry called the
evidence "overwhelming."
In fact what was "overwhleming" (and still is) was the conspicuous lack
of evidence:
- There was no demonstrated connection between Dechaine and the
victim.
- There was no trace of the victim in Dechaine's truck (including
no trace found by scent dogs).
- No trace of Dechaine was found on the victim.
- Dechaine had no record whatsoever of crime, violence or any form
of sexual perversion.
- DNA testing requested by Dechaine at the time of the trial was
denied.
Additionally,
- Detectives' allegations of admissions by Dechaine are
contradicted by their own contemporaneous notes.
- Other important allegations by the lead detective regarding this
case have been proven by the state's own documents to be totally false.
- Prosecutors suppressed and concealed evidence implicating at
least two suspects who were known to have sexually molested little
girls.
- At trial, the prosecutor falsely told jurors that there was no
other suspect.
And since then,
- Authorities resisted requests to examine their file on this case
until the Legislature ordered that it be made accessible to the public.
- The "three distinguished lawyers" the Attorney General chose to
make an "independent" review of the case reported no misconduct, but
gave no reasons, and refused to disclose their evidence.
- DNA in the blood under the victim's nails is that of another man,
not Dechaine.
Dechaine's supporters ask only for a new trial. Prosecutors, fully
aware that they could never win a trial where jurors hear all the
evidence, have done everything in their power to prevent Dennis
Dechaine from ever having a chance for justice. He has been in prison
since 1988 and, unless the desperate desire of those prosecutors is
overcome, he will remain there until he dies.
Trial&Error
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