Probe of arson execution case is now dormant | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle. Probe of Willingham arson case dormant Delays cause tension among panel members By CHRISTOPHER SHERMANASSOCIATED PRESS Jan. 30, 2010, 10:10PM HARLINGEN —A state panel investigating allegations of misconduct and negligence in forensic analyses that led to a 2004 execution hammered out its procedures Friday, but did not resume its long-delayed investigation of the arson evidence in that case. Cameron Todd Willingham was convicted and executed for the deaths of his three daughters in a 1991 house fire near Corsicana. Last summer, theContinue readingProbe of arson execution case is now dormant | Houston & Texas News | Chron.com – Houston Chronicle

Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Texas/Southwest. 01/29/2010 By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN  / Associated Press A state panel investigating allegations of misconduct and negligence in forensic analyses that led to a 2004 execution hammered out its procedures Friday, but did not resume its long-delayed investigation of the arson evidence in that case. Cameron Todd Willingham was convicted and executed for the deaths of his three daughters in a 1991 house fire near Corsicana. Last summer, the Texas Forensic Science Commission received an arson expert’s report that the investigation leading to his conviction was so flawed that its finding couldContinue readingDallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | Texas/Southwest

Forensic Science Commission resumes meeting. HARLINGEN — A state agency reshuffled by Gov. Rick Perry as it prepared to review a report linking bad science to the execution of an innocent man spent its first meeting hammering out policy language and trading jabs over commission structure. No mention was made during Friday’s meeting of the Texas Forensic Science Commission of the controversial report concerning Todd Willingham, put to death in 2004 at the age of 23 for murdering his children by burning down the family home. The report by arson expert Craig Beyler put the investigation into question, as didContinue readingForensic Science Commission resumes meeting

Forensics panel dodges discussion of controversial execution | harlingen, controversial, panel – Now – TheMonitor.com. January 29, 2010 8:57 PM Jeremy Roebuck The Monitor HARLINGEN — A state commission investigating claims that faulty arson science led to the 2004 execution of a Corsicana man met for the first time Friday since a controversial membership shakeup temporarily derailed its probe. The Texas Forensic Science Commission spent hours hammering out new policies and procedures but made no mention of Cameron Todd Willingham — whose case has rallied death penalty opponents and led critics to accuse Gov. Rick Perry of playing politics inContinue readingForensics panel dodges discussion of controversial execution | harlingen, controversial, panel – Now – TheMonitor.com

Texas Moratorium Network: Texas AG to John Bradley: Stop Violating Texas Open Meetings Act at Forensic Science Commission Meeting. John Bradley, Rick Perry’s hand-picked puppet/chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission, today tried to continue his cover up of the investigation into whether Texas used faulty forensic science to convict and execute Todd Willingham. He violated the Texas Open Meetings Act by telling a film crew they could not attend and film the meeting of the Texas Forensic Science Commission. Bradley does not understand his responsibilities enough under Texas law to act as chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission. AContinue readingTexas AG to John Bradley: Stop Violating Texas Open Meetings Act at Forensic Science Commission Meeting

Texas Moratorium Network: Chair John Bradley Bans Documentary Film Crew from Meeting of Texas Forensic Science Commission Meeting. From the Dallas Morning News’ Trailblazer blog comes a report from today’s meeting of the Texas Forensic Science Commission that Chair John Bradley refused to allow a documentary filmmaker from bringing a camera into the meeting at the Hotel conference room where the meeting is being held. When the state science panel charged with examining whether the state executed an innocent man met this morning, not everybody was welcome. Chairman John Bradley barred a film crew that is producing a documentary about the deathContinue readingChair John Bradley Bans Documentary Film Crew from Meeting of Texas Forensic Science Commission Meeting

Texas panel to meet, but Willingham not on agenda – washingtonpost.com By JEFF CARLTON The Associated Press Thursday, January 21, 2010; 3:15 PM DALLAS — A state science panel looking into a possible wrongful conviction in a Texas death penalty case is meeting for the first time since Gov. Rick Perry removed several members, but the execution case is not on the agenda. When it convenes Jan. 29 in Harlingen, the Texas Forensic Science Commission won’t resume its probe into the arson finding that led to Cameron Todd Willingham’s 2004 execution. Instead, the meeting will focus on formalizing procedures explaining howContinue readingTexas panel to meet, but Willingham not on agenda – washingtonpost.com

Texas Moratorium Network: Dr Craig Beyler Expected to Testify in Texas House Committee hearing Today. According to the AP: A fire expert whose report on a death penalty case raised concerns that Texas may have executed an innocent man is expected to testify before state lawmakers. Craig Beyler of Baltimore is on the witness list for Monday’s meeting of the state House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee at the Capitol. Beyler’s 2009 report on the case of Cameron Todd Willingham said fire science does not support the original finding of arson in the deaths of Willingham’s three young children. That report ledContinue readingTexas Moratorium Network: Dr Craig Beyler Expected to Testify in Texas House Committee hearing Today

The Texas Forensic Science Commission, whose review of the controversial case of Cameron Todd Willingham was delayed when Perry replaced all of his appointees on the commission, has scheduled a Jan. 29 meeting in Harlingen.’ Rick Perry and John Bradley are continuing the political cover up of the Willingham investigation by holding the next meeting of the Texas Forensic Science Commission in Harlingen on Jan 29 instead of holding it in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio or Austin where interested people and media would be more likely to attend. The agenda has not been posted. January 29th, 2010, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00Continue readingJan 29 Meeting of Texas Forensic Science Commission