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State Panel Reviews Willingham Case

Fire expert Craig Beyler testifies before the Texas Forensics Science Commission on Friday reviewing the Cameron Todd Willingham.
Photo by Matt Largey for KUT News.
Fire expert Craig Beyler testifies before the Texas Forensics Science Commission on Friday reviewing the Cameron Todd Willingham.

A state panel in Austin has been hearing today from fire experts about the high profile Cameron Todd Willingham arson conviction.  Willingham was convicted and put to death for setting the fire that killed his three daughters in 1991.  He was executed in 2004, But some experts have said the conviction was based on bad science. 

The Texas Forensic Science Commission reviewed the science that was used in the investigation and whether or not investigators were negligent. KUT's Matt Largey is covering panel.

"Two witnesses, both national fire investigation experts, told the commission that they believe the  investigators back in 1991 should have ruled the fire as unknown or undetermined. They say that the investigators didn't do they're due diligence in ruling out other causes," reported Largey.

The case is being watched closely because death penalty opponents believe it could test the validity of Texas' capital punishment system.

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