DNA Proves that Coleman Did It

By: Lowell
Published On: 1/12/2006 2:00:00 AM

It turns out that Virginia did not execute an innocent man:

New DNA tests confirmed the guilt of a man who went to his death in Virginia's electric chair in 1992 proclaiming his innocence, the governor said Thursday. . .

The tests, ordered by Gov. Mark R. Warner earlier this month, prove Roger Keith Coleman was guilty of the 1981 rape and murder of his sister-in-law, Warner said. . .

The report from the Centre of Forensic Sciences in Toronto concluded there was almost no conceivable doubt that Coleman was the source of the sperm found in the victim. . .

"We have sought the truth using DNA technology not available at the time the commonwealth carried out the ultimate criminal sanction," Warner said in a statement. "The confirmation that Roger Coleman's DNA was present reaffirms the verdict and the sanction. Again, my prayers are with the family of Wanda McCoy at this time."

According to the report, "The probability that a randomly selected individual unrelated to Roger Coleman would coincidentally share the observed DNA profile is estimated to be 1 in 19 million."

We're glad the governor has put this matter to rest.

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The Washington Post now has the full story.

By Corey and Rob

Comments



A good thing by far. (Rob - 4/4/2006 11:31:15 PM)
A good thing by far.  It would've been a horrible tragedy if he were innocent, in my opinion. 


Was it a good thing (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:31:15 PM)
Was it a good thing or a bad thing overall that Coleman was proven guilty beyond a shadow of a doubt?  I say it's very good that an innocent man wasn't executed.  On the other hand, if the DNA test HAD proved him innocent, it would have been a powerful argument against the death penalty, which I oppose...


John: The point is, (Lowell - 4/4/2006 11:31:16 PM)
John:  The point is, Coleman already was executed.  If he had been proven innocent by these DNA tests, I think that would have stirred up a lot of controversy about the death penalty, which I oppose.  If you call that "cold hearted," so be it.  Personally, I see this whole situation as tragic, pretty much.