tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post3397816323823257252..comments2024-03-29T09:44:42.638-05:00Comments on Althouse: "A judge says an Army artillery officer linked by DNA to a string of sexual assaults on young girls..."Ann Althousehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01630636239933008807noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-9783446153189663362013-12-05T15:20:31.777-06:002013-12-05T15:20:31.777-06:00Do we still have the "beyond a reasonable dou...Do we still have the "beyond a reasonable doubt" theory around here?<br /><br />If so, the accused need not blame his twin brother of anything, but only sow the seeds of doubt that follow from his mere existence. <br /><br />50% probability is not "beyond a reasonable doubt." Nor is 60% and maybe not even 90%.<br /><br />Thank Darwin, the State still has to make its case, last time I looked.jimbinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09684677214800358793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-6185052934786026512013-12-05T15:14:26.167-06:002013-12-05T15:14:26.167-06:00I guess we can definitely say that this is not a &...I guess we can definitely say that this is not a "bros before hos" bonding moment. YoungHegelianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02723316130501823658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-11396385700950681992013-12-05T14:45:58.287-06:002013-12-05T14:45:58.287-06:00The most likely explanation is they're working...The most likely explanation is they're working together.Alexhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11205752419540502278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-16654577573561877642013-12-05T12:48:30.191-06:002013-12-05T12:48:30.191-06:00I think it's likely that if you look hard enou...I think it's likely that if you look hard enough, you could distinguish between identical twins in terms of biological samples. Just because they both start from the same fertilized egg doesn't necessarily mean they are identical down to the nucleotide level. But, as opposed to the usual method of DNA profiling, you might have to look at actual gene sequences to spot a difference (and the difference would need to be a mutation that randomly occurred relatively early in development). Out of the 20,000+ genes comprising tens of millions of base pairs of genetic information, you could estimate the chance such a mutation exists and see whether it is remotely feasible to find any such difference.<br /><br />Another possibility would be to look for viral DNA sequences that one twin carries but the other one doesn't.<br /><br />Some day transcriptomics and metabolomics will be advanced enough to be used for forensics, and there's more of a chance to find differences between identical twins there.Crimsohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01618292072861640747noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-67027804785009850752013-12-05T12:37:52.621-06:002013-12-05T12:37:52.621-06:00Hmmm....Mr. Sablan beat me by a minute.
So....her...Hmmm....Mr. Sablan beat me by a minute.<br /><br />So....here's the next question: Because of the identical DNA, do we need to prosecute BOTH brothers at the same time??madAsHellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01149940549262340795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-75690459203332916862013-12-05T12:36:28.428-06:002013-12-05T12:36:28.428-06:00MM wrote: It seems to me that a good way to frame ...MM wrote: <i>It seems to me that a good way to frame someone would be to steal their DNA -- some sexual romp, for example, maybe blood -- and then smear it all over the crime scene.</i><br /><br />It's made the crime novels at least.<br /><br />Scott Turow: Presumed Innocent.Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14520113896946845614noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-9747110302685567772013-12-05T12:34:37.527-06:002013-12-05T12:34:37.527-06:00Wouldn't they both exhibit the same behavior??...Wouldn't they both exhibit the same behavior??<br /><br />If you follow the link provided in the HuffPo article, then you find this:<br /><br /><i>The decorated artillery officer became a suspect when he was spotted at a Fountain playground by an officer investigating reports of a stranger targeting young girls.</i><br /><br />Who is to say these brothers aren't working together?<br />madAsHellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01149940549262340795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-59316941341400072552013-12-05T12:33:32.411-06:002013-12-05T12:33:32.411-06:00If this were a riveting crime drama, the truth wou...If this were a riveting crime drama, the truth would be that BOTH brothers had assaulted different victims, making it next to impossible to determine who attacked who.Matt Sablanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15885240752820005149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-905446212129848102013-12-05T12:19:42.095-06:002013-12-05T12:19:42.095-06:00Of course he can. Why is this controversial? This ...Of course he can. Why is this controversial? This can't be the first defendant with a twin. Bill, Republic of Texashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06205704962575861378noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-67053232452028705732013-12-05T12:14:18.033-06:002013-12-05T12:14:18.033-06:00Seems to me that it's obvious that if the pros...Seems to me that it's obvious that if the prosecutor is putting in DNA evidence that someone with an identical twin must be allowed to show that the DNA is far less probative than usual. The prosecutor can still meet the burden of proof with other evidence, both about the defendant and about his twin.Ann Althousehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01630636239933008807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-67212795060452204802013-12-05T12:13:54.669-06:002013-12-05T12:13:54.669-06:00The article says that the twin brother lived in tw...The article says that the twin brother lived in two of the states where assaults took place. I would think if the accused brother can alibi out of being in those places during the time the attacks took place that it would exonerate him.heyboomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03927549491498600516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-53036264180968839582013-12-05T12:13:32.126-06:002013-12-05T12:13:32.126-06:00The article says that the twin brother lived in tw...The article says that the twin brother lived in two of the states where assaults took place. I would think if the accused brother can alibi out of being in those places during the time the attacks took place that it would exonerate him.heyboomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03927549491498600516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-76716747878672899382013-12-05T12:11:50.271-06:002013-12-05T12:11:50.271-06:00Why shouldn't he be? Isn't it possible tha...Why shouldn't he be? Isn't it possible that its true? Whether it is or not, I don't know. But I would think any case involving an identical twin and DNA would necessarily implicate both twins. If the guy can create reasonable doubt that it was his twin, he should be acquitted. I don't see why this is anything but the right and expected decision. Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02964994591293819655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-22723764597552326892013-12-05T12:05:15.374-06:002013-12-05T12:05:15.374-06:00Isn't it likely that his brother will have a ...Isn't it likely that his brother will have a good "alibi" for one or more of these instances. whereas he will not? Tankhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04187906854627334164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-23042765433424159062013-12-05T11:54:03.062-06:002013-12-05T11:54:03.062-06:00It seems to me that a good way to frame someone wo...It seems to me that a good way to frame someone would be to steal their DNA -- some sexual romp, for example, maybe blood -- and then smear it all over the crime scene.<br /><br />In the present case, given there's a 50/50 chance that the state has the wrong person, I'd say that's reasonable enough doubt. I can see why the prosecutors wouldn't want it admitted!MadisonManhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01212179466758420208noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-50837223708495297102013-12-05T11:53:06.466-06:002013-12-05T11:53:06.466-06:00good luck with that in front of a jury. good luck with that in front of a jury. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-40507874729073900452013-12-05T11:47:24.960-06:002013-12-05T11:47:24.960-06:00I can't think of a reason why he wouldn't ...I can't think of a reason why he wouldn't be able to make that argument given that the prosecution can't meet its burden without showing that it wasn't the twin brother.<br /><br />His parents should sell tickets to the next family gathering.tim maguirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07717622436074043099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329595.post-28738012064088572892013-12-05T11:44:18.971-06:002013-12-05T11:44:18.971-06:00I am my brother's alibi.I am my brother's alibi.mcculloughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03168402889404727565noreply@blogger.com