Help me out here, Al...and I don't mean that in any demeaning manner.
DNA could help prove that a particular person was present at the crime, but how many individual's DNA do you suppose was at the Oklahoma City site...must have been a thousand at least in that busy building.
DNA could have proven McVeigh had a hand in preparing the bomb(s)...it would have to have been on the remnants of the truck and its contents. Didn't prove he drove the truck there, though, that took other methods.
DNA can occasionally PROVE that a person committed rape, although I have heard of instances where vengeful women managed to gather DNA material to fake sexual assaults (yep, they are VERY few).
Other than that, I'm unsure what you mean about helping convict a criminal...do you mean proving that the person on trial is actually the defendant?
Yes! That's how the gentleman in TX was able to have his conviction overturned, some old trial material that had DNA on it. It was a rape/murder case, to the BEST of my recollection...:shy:
What I wonder is how, if they had the DNA all along, did they manage to convict the wrong person? Apparently, in this case, the person convicted was not even in the area where the crime occured when the crime was being committed.
I'd agree that DNA is very useful, and considering the forensic advancements in the past 20 years, I'm sure that 20 years from now we'll be able to do more than we even imagine now. I'm sure that the government is developing a DNA library of current prisoners, but what about us law abiding citicens? I, for one, prerfer my anonymnity, would rather the government NOT even have my fingerprints (I think ONE arm of the government has them, I'll not say which), much less my banking information or my DNA information, and particularly that the GPS function on my cell phone NOT know where I am at all moments.
I'm all for the guilty getting what they deserve, as long as we are sure they are guilty. Humans make mistakes....DNA can help and hinder....it IS a very confusing and scientifically complex area.
Cheers, Al....good to have you back on the board!
Doug