Regarding the disappearance of little Ayla Reynolds, missing some 25 months, this paper wisely editorialized; “Prosecutors and police have stated all along that their focus is on building the case … instead of placating public opinion. They can’t be forced into action, no matter how … heartbreaking is the anguish surrounding the case.”
Clearly police, prosecutors and also some editors have learned important lessons in the more than 25 years since Sarah Cherry was murdered, when officials were convinced that they had solved the case in but a matter of hours, and headline writers convicted Dennis Dechaine even before the jury did.
In all the years since, despite great controversy, no new evidence has been added to the state’s case against Dechaine. On the other hand, a great deal of exculpatory evidence has surfaced, including powerful scientific findings and significant evidence that was withheld from the defense, including the notes of two detectives that contradict their testimony that Dechaine confessed.
No reasonably intelligent and unbiased person, having reviewed all the evidence now available, can deny at least the strong possibility that an innocent man has been imprisoned for life, while the state, in stubborn denial, in effect, has protected the torturer and killer of a little girl. Having recognized the dangers of a rush to judgment in the Ayla Reynolds case, this paper should be supporting the call for a retrial for Dennis Dechaine.
William BuntingWhitefield
Send questions/comments to the editors.
-
Nation & World
‘Relentless’: Russia squeezes Ukrainian strongholds in east
-
Sports
IndyCar, teams look at solutions for labor shortage in pits
-
Sports
At surprise-filled French Open, tennis prodigy makes good
-
Sports
NHL roundup: Hurricanes win Game 5, pushing Rangers to brink of elimination
-
Editorials
Our View: US Senate running short on time to solve our biggest problems
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have one? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login to participate in the conversation. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.