Innocents die as DNA goes untested

摘要

It is a case that is gripping the Philippines and being followed avidly in Spain. A man convicted of kidnap, rape and murder sits on death row. His lawyers argue that a simple DNA test would establish his innocence by proving that a crime was not even committed, but the courts have refused to grant their request. The case is symptomatic of a wider problem. The huge potential of DNA evidence is often blocked by criminal justice systems that refuse to consider it even when it could confirm innocence or guilt. Francisco Juan Larranaga, who has Filipino and Spanish citizenship, is in Bilibid Prison, Manila. He is one of six men sentenced to death in 2004 for the kidnap, rape and murder of sisters Marijoy and Jacqueline Chiong. One of the suspects testified against the others in return for immunity from prosecution.