SMU law students help man convicted of murder on bite mark go free
Law students in SMU's Innocence Clinic helped free Steven Mark Chaney after 25 years in prison.
By JENNIFER EMILY
Staff Writer
Steven Mark Chaney wasn’t formally exonerated of murder Monday. But the celebratory nature of a hearing where he was freed after serving more than 25 years in prison made it clear that Chaney and his supporters believe that day is near.
Among the evidence: pumpkin pie from the judge, other exonerees pledging help, laughter and applause in a Dallas County courtroom.
Most important, though, state District Judge Dominique Collins agreed with Chaney’s attorneys and Dallas County prosecutors that the bite mark comparisons used to connect him to the 1987 slaying of Dallas couple, John and Sally Sweek, are based on junk science.
Free for the first time in decades, Chaney greated his family members outside the courtroom with bear hugs and kisses as a throng of reporters and cameras watched.
“I haven’t gotten to hug my mom,” Chaney exclaimed as he squeezed his mother, Darla Chaney, and kissed the top of her head. He enthusiastically embraced his four brothers as his wife of 25 years, Lenora Chaney, stood by his side. . .
Dentist Jim Hales told a Dallas County jury in 1987 that there was a “1 to a million” chance that someone other than Chaney made the bite marks found on John Sweek’s body.
That was enough to convict Chaney, despite testimony from nine friends who said that they saw Chaney the day of the slayings and that he couldn’t have killed the Sweeks. Lesser said Chaney was with his wife that day.
Now, Hales has backtracked and says the science used to convict Chaney has been discredited.
(Attorney Julie) Lesser and the New York-based Innocence Project asked (State District Judge Dominique) Collins to release him based on the new bite mark evidence and allegations of prosecutor misconduct, including withholding evidence and eliciting false testimony. A hearing will be held later to determine the validity of those allegations. The law requires prosecutors to turn over any evidence that could benefit a defendant during his trial.