DNA test under fire by Atlanta Child Murderer
CNN reports that the notorious Atlanta Child Murderer is still fighting against DNA test conducted by a UC Davis lab. The result, which showed a significant match to the seven hairs found on the bodies, containing the same DNA sequence as Williams' dog Sheba. Wayne Williams terrorized Atlanta's African-American neighborhoods from 1979 to 1982 when more than 25 children were missing or found murdered. He was later convicted of murdering Jimmy Ray Payne 21, and Nathanial Cater, 27. His arrest put a sudden halt to the string of murders, however, Williams continues to deny his guilt to this day and will likely never confess to the gruesome Atlanta Child Murders that occurred 25 years ago.

Death Row inmate "deserves" another hearing to determine retardation says the 8th Circuit
Jill Zeman of The Pine Bluff Commercial reports that the 8th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday that an Arkansas death row inmate convicted of killing two grocery store clerks should have a chance to prove he is mentally retarded. Since the 2002 case of Daryl Atkins "created a previously unavailable claim based on the unconstitutionality of executing the mentally retarded" the court is sending the case back to the Arkansas federal court.

Appeal rejected for Police killer
A three-judge panel of California's First Appellate District unanimously rejected Joseph Teitgen's appeal from the Solano County trial court which sentenced him to serving multiple life prison terms for murdering a police officer and attempting to murder two other officers on the afternoon of April 12, 2000. The decision pointed out that "As our Supreme Court has stated: 'Lengthy criminal trials are rarely perfect, and this court will not reverse a judgment absent a clear showing of a miscarriage of justice.' " Brian Hamlin of The Reporter has more on the story here.