Condemned Tennessee inmate pushes for DNA tests in his case

https://news.yahoo.com/condemned-tennessee-inmate-pushes-dna-195514767.html

KIMBERLEE KRUESI
,Associated Press•August 7, 2020

Tennessee inmate scheduled to be executed in December continued to push Friday for DNA testing of the evidence in his case, arguing that would exonerate him.

Pervis Payne, 53, has always maintained his innocence in the 1987 stabbing deaths of Charisse Christopher and her 2-year-old daughter, Lacie Jo. Christopher’s son, Nicholas, who was 3 at the time, was stabbed but survived.

At the time of Payne's trial, DNA testing of evidence was unavailable, and no testing has ever been done in his case.

His attorneys initially filed a petition in July seeking to get DNA tests of the evidence, including the murder weapon and numerous blood-soaked items. Payne’s lawyers reviewed the bedding in December 2019 and included it in their DNA testing petition.

Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich is fighting the request, countering that the Tennessee Supreme Court has already ruled on DNA testing. She also has said the evidence against Payne is “overwhelming.”

 

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