Study examines flawed forensic testimony

RICHMOND, Va., March 16 (UPI) -- Forensic experts gave flawed evidence in 82 U.S. rape or murder cases in the 1980s, a Virginia Law Review study concluded.

The study examined 137 trials in which transcripts exist and forensic experts testified for the prosecution. The cases were among those in which DNA has proved innocent people who were wrongfully convicted, the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch reported Monday.

Brandon Garrett, a law professor at the University of Virginia who co-wrote the report, said in 60 percent of the cases where forensic-expert testimony was used, experts overstated the evidence.

Garrett said the study found faulty testimony from 72 forensic analysts from 52 laboratories in 25 states.

The report was also written by Peter Neufeld, co-founder of the Innocence Project, which asserts the most common contributing factor to wrongful convictions is mistaken eyewitness identification.

The study was performed following a request from the National Academy of Sciences committee.