Supreme Court hears convict's appeal in DNA case

[October 13, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- A Texas death row inmate found with the blood of murder victims on his clothing is seeking the Supreme Court's help in getting access to other evidence for DNA testing that might implicate someone else.

Hank Skinner was convicted of pummeling his girlfriend with a pickax handle and stabbing her two sons on New Year's Eve in 1993 in their Texas Panhandle home. DNA evidence at his trial showed that blood on his clothing was from at least two of the victims.

The Supreme Court is hearing argument Wednesday on whether Skinner may use a federal civil rights law to ask for tests on other evidence that were not done before his conviction.

The justices blocked Skinner's execution in March an hour before he was to go to the death chamber.

[Associated Press]

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