Reporters explore likely actual-innocence cases

This week saw a pair of stories by two of the state's top reporters on criminal-justice and innocence issues - Pam Colloff at Texas Monthly and Brandi Grissom at the Texas Tribune - about two possible actual innocence cases:

• Texas Monthly: Reasonable Doubt: The Manuel Velez Case
• Texas Tribune: Years after innocence finding, inmate remains in prison

The Velez case described by Colloff hinges on flawed forensics related to "shaken baby syndrome" and woefully ineffective assistance of counsel. A habeas writ on the capital case has been heard by the district court and findings must be submitted to the Court of Criminal Appeals this week.

Ben Spencer's case, as described by Grissom, involved a murder conviction 26 years ago in Dallas based on a jailhouse snitch and impossible eyewitness IDs made from 100 feet away in the dark. Though a district judge recommended habeas relief, the CCA denied it which leaves a commutation by Governor Rick Perry as the only possible avenue for redress unless new evidence is discovered.