The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday gave a boost to Texas death row inmate Rodney Reed's bid for DNA testing of crime-scene evidence that he argues will help exonerate him in the 1996 abduction, rape and murder of a 19-year-old woman.
The justices, in a 6-3 decision, overturned a lower court's ruling that Reed was too late in bringing a civil rights lawsuit against Texas officials who had denied his request for DNA testing. Reed's lawsuit asserted that his constitutional right to due process was violated.
He sought DNA testing of key crime scene evidence including the belt used to strangle Stites, as the "killer's hands may have left sweat or skin cells" on it.As various courts over the years ruled against Reed's attempts to have his case re-examined based on what he called newly discovered evidence, Reed garnered public support including from celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Rihanna. Millions of people have signed an online petition supporting Reed.
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