Observations and inanities by a second-shift assistant supervisor in the Puppy-Grinding division of the Evil Atheist Conspiracy® (our motto: "Sure it's cruel, but think of the jobs!"), your host, Brent Rasmussen.
Funny how that works.
Dogs are great. I love dogs. Most of my life I've had at least one.
So, I don't blame the dog.
For what? This:
Not just any dog. A wonder dog helped convict all three men: a German shepherd named Harass II, who wowed juries with his amazing ability to place suspects at the scenes of crimes.
Harass could supposedly do things no other dog could: tracking scents months later and even across water, according to his handler, John Preston.
If it sounds hard to believe, there's a good reason.
After providing prosecutors with testimony for years, Preston was finally discredited by a judge who had the sense to do what others had not: test the dog for himself.
That is to say, the three men referenced were convicted of crimes largely on the testimony provided by the dog's handler. And together they served over 50 years in prison, just recently having been released due to actual DNA evidence showing that they couldn't have committed the crimes for which they were convicted.
Seems that oftentimes prosecutors would turn to John Preston to resolve problems with cases. Almost as if by magic, Harass II would be able to "track" clues after months.
Sure he could. Why, his handler said so. Just like the prosecutors needed.
Funny how that works.
Jim Downey
(Via Balloon Juice.)
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Wow. "Clever Hans" but with
Wow. "Clever Hans" but with a vengeance.
This is a problem where supposedly 'expert' testimony is thrown at jurrors ("..the dog hasn't been wrong yet"), lab reports by labs willing to support the state, photo realistic computer models, etc. Behind the smoke and mirrors there is often much less substance.