ROCKLAND, Maine (AP) — A Maine man convicted of killing a 12-year-old girl more than three decades ago launched his latest bid on Thursday for a new trial by trying to convince a judge that advances in DNA testing raise questions about his guilt.
The attorney for Dennis Dechaine called his first witness at the start of a two-day hearing in Knox County Superior Court. Dechaine is trying to make the case that tests conducted by a California laboratory excluded his DNA from several items found at the crime scene, requiring a new trial in which jurors could weigh all the evidence.
Prosecutors have contended plenty of other evidence links Dechaine to the crime and that his DNA could not be excluded from several other items.
Dechaine, 66, is serving a life sentence for the murder and sexual assault of Sarah Cherry, who disappeared while babysitting in Bowdoin in July 1988. Her body was found two days later.
Georgia governor signs income tax cuts as property tax measure heads to November ballot
Police release name, photo of 'dangerous' suspect in kidnapping
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh step in for cancer
Nicole Brown Simpson documentary in production at Lifetime as 30
Former Wisconsin Democratic Rep. Peter Barca announces new bid for Congress
The Talk CANCELLED! Daytime series to end with season 15
Kirsten Dunst says she STILL gets a Christmas cake from Interview With The Vampire co
Netflix fans are left STUNNED by the streaming site's 'most UNHINGED' show yet
Sydney Sweeney and Zendaya both wowed in Euphoria, so why are they treated so differently?
John Goodman, 71, shows off his slimmed
Goalkeeper Nahuel Guzmán suspended for 11 games, fined for pointing laser at rival in Liga MX match
Engineering student, 21, falls to his death from 120 foot waterfall while hiking through Big Sur