The Collin County Observer

News, Analysis & Opinion for Collin County

Roach calls for court to void Blair's death sentence

05/23/08

05:33:55 pm, by bill

, 461 words,

Categories: News Clippings, Law, Crime & Punishment

Roach calls for court to void Blair's death sentence

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 23, 2008; 1:28 p.m.

JOHN R. ROACH
Criminal District Attorney

COLLIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE
2100 BLOOMDALE RD., SUITE 20004
McKINNEY, TEXAS 75071

www.collincountyda.com

May 23, 2008

In November 2006, in light of the pending appellate litigation and the potential outcome from that, I assembled a select group of investigators and prosecutors from my office and assigned them the task of re-investigating the Michael Blair capital murder case. Since then, the Team has expended over 5,000 hours, interviewed more than 50 witnesses and spent over $47,000 on its investigation. They exhaustively reviewed records, files and evidence related to the case as well as tracking down new leads and information. DNA testing was performed on a number of items of evidence that had never before been DNA tested. The result: the Team discovered no new evidence connecting Mr. Blair to Ashley Estell as well as no new evidence demonstrating Mr. Blair's guilt.

However, through its work, the Team identified at least one other person of interest. This person not only exhibited suspicious activity after the murder, much as Mr. Blair did, but this person cannot be scientifically excluded as a contributor to a piece of DNA evidence in the case. Unfortunately, despite strenuous efforts, the Team has been unable to eliminate or conclusively connect this person to the offense.

At this time, the expert hair comparison testimony in trial that connected Ashley Estell and Mr. Blair has been disproved by DNA testing of a type that was not available at the time of the trial in 1994. None of the hairs belong to either Ashley Estell or Mr. Blair. No other credible, individualized forensic evidence connects Ashley Estell and Mr. Blair.

Although Mr. Blair has not been exonerated, I believe the evidence as it now stands meets the criteria for relief under the law. There is no good faith argument to support the current conviction in light of the facts and the law as they now exist. Therefore, under my duty to not only uphold the law but to see that justice is done, the State is joining today with the defense team in its request for relief.

This case remains in litigation and under investigation. Accordingly, this office cannot comment further on the matter at this time.

John R. Roach

Criminal District Attorney

-------------------------------------------------
DMN - Collin DA: Wrong man may have been convicted in Plano girl's death

Friday, May 23, 2008
By WENDY HUNDLEY and TIARA M. ELLIS/ The Dallas Morning News

McKINNEY — The Collin County District Attorney’s office Friday, for the first time, strongly indicated that it might have sent the wrong man to Death Row for the 1993 murder of 7-year-old Ashley Estell.

District Attorney John R. Roach said Friday that newly-tested DNA evidence does not connect Michael Blair to the crime and the case remains under investigation.

read more....

Permalink 7 comments

Comments, Pingbacks:

Comment from: anon [Visitor]

Florence Shapiro needs to go. her whole career has been based on political opportunism, not substance. No wonder we have some many questionable practises in the Collin County. Every person deserves a fair trial and not be a victim of a witch hunt.

Permalink 05/24/08 @ 09:02

Comment from: anon [Visitor]

District Attorney Roach was zealous in his drive to throw this innocent man in death row for his own political advancement. He only got interested in this case when it became obvious he had hidden evidence which would clear this person. Now he is converted. I don't believe after the fact conversions should count. he has to go.

Permalink 05/24/08 @ 09:07

Comment from: Visitor [Visitor]

Anon- Do you homework before you go making judgment against John Roach. HE WAS NOT EVEN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY WHEN MICHAEL BLAIR WAS TRIED NOR WAS HE THE DISTRICT JUDGE THAT TRIED THE CASE. What John Roach has done is save the tax payers the cost of retrying Blair. I think he is to be commended. If you want to be upset with anyone why not be upset with Plano PD who original investigated the case. John Roach I think you for all you do.

Permalink 05/25/08 @ 21:20

Comment from: anon [Visitor]

Judge, 199th Judicial District Court, Collin County, Texas, January 1, 1981 - November 24, 1997 Local Administrative Judge for the District Courts, 1981 - 1997 From Roach's website. In other words, he was the Administrative Judge during this period and so was supportive of what happened. Why should we commend a man who has been so happy with preventing incumbant judges from being challenged so we have people like Wheeless, Berry, Lewis, and Sandoval?

Permalink 05/26/08 @ 11:19

Comment from: Vistor [Visitor]

Judge because he was the Admistrative Judge does not mean he supportive of what happened. The Michael Blair trial was not even held in Collin County due to a change of venue. If I remember correctly it was also tried by a jury since it was a capital case. So it was not a Judge that convicted Micheal Blair it was a Jury. Like I said before if you want to be upset with someone, why not Plano Police Department? They are the ones that were in such a hurry to make an arrest thhat they went for the first person that fit the profile. Michael Blair in never going to get out of prison due to his other convictions

Permalink 05/27/08 @ 07:57

Comment from: anon [Visitor]

I appreciate your viewpoint but I feel differently. The emphasis under Mr. Roach has been to push trials through as fast as possible in the mistaken belief this is efficient. He has fostered a spirit of body count and speed over fairness or justice. I recently saw a judge break the State law by saying "We don't do it that was in Collin County". I have seen judges brag about the capital convictions in their courts. He is the main influencer. If this is not true, why does he tolerate so many poor judges breaking the law? He could prosecute them. He supposed to uphold the law. It is not like they are hidden. Just look at the Collin County Bar poll. I am done being patient.

Permalink 05/27/08 @ 21:00

Comment from: Stephanie [Visitor]

I was friends as a child with Ashley Estell and this case, the more I read, continues to make me so sad. Class of 2004'

Permalink 10/21/08 @ 22:24