.jpg) Keith Turner (Photo/Houston Chronicle) On December 22, 2005, Keith E. Turner was officially pardoned by Texas Governor Rick Perry on the basis of actual innocence.
Postconviction DNA testing proved that Turner was not the perpetrator of a 1982 rape of a Dallas, Texas, woman.
At age 20, Turner had been mistakenly identified both visually and by his voice. He and the victim worked for different branches of the same company and came into contact when Turner was transferred. Additionally, serology testimony was misleading because it did not discuss the possibility that the victim’s blood group markers masked the perpetrator’s, meaning that any man could have contributed the sample.
Turner maintained his innocence and provided an alibi, but was convicted in 1983. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
In his statement, Governor Perry said, “I believe that a full pardon for innocence must be supported by strong evidence, such as forensic DNA tests. In both of these cases [referring to Entre Nax Karage and Keith E. Turner], new DNA evidence proves that these men are innocent. The recommendations of the district attorney, judges, the Dallas County Sherriff, the Dallas Chief of Police and the Board of Pardons and Paroles also were very important factors in my decision.”
Turner was awarded $81,000 in state compensation plus an annuity of $3,500.
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