Austin attorney Samuel Bassett, who served as chair of the Texas Forensic Science Commission until his abrupt dismissal last fall, has called on his former colleagues to go farther in their investigation into the case of Cameron Todd Willingham. The commission has acknowledged “flaws” in the arson evidence used to convict and execute Willingham, but has not held local investigators accountable.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, Bassett urged the commission to determine how diligently the fire marshal disseminated information about new scientifically based arson investigation techniques to law enforcement, fire departments and prosecutors.
Bassett also encouraged the subcommittee that is looking into the case to meet in public, saying that “the case is too significant, and the controversy too intense, for secrecy.”
Read more from the Statesman and the Dallas Morning News.