DNA frees convicted rapist after 18 years

A Texas man may soon be free after spending 18 years behind bars for a rape he always denied committing. Arthur M. Mumphrey's lawyer helped win his freedom by his persistence in tracking down evidence from the original investigation. After striking out twice, Eric Davis badgered a clerk at the Department of Public Safety who found blood and tissue from the crime in order to test Mumphrey's DNA. Mumphrey is scheduled to appear next week in Montgomery County where a judge is expected to free him on personal recognizance while he waits for a pardon from the governor.

The evidence against Mumphrey at his trial included testimony from a co-defendant who admitted the rape. The victim, who was 13 at the time, said she was grabbed from behind by two men and dragged into the woods. Mumphrey claimed an alibi, that he was picked up for shoplifting at around the time of the sexual assault but there were no records of the arrest.

source: 'DNA frees convicted rapist after 18 years'; www.sciencedaily.com/upi/?feed=TopNews&article=UPI-1-2006 0119-21544900-bc-us-innocent.xml; ScienceDaily (UPI); 19 January 2006