USA - Texas. A Texas prosecutor plans to review some 40 pending death penalty cases, after several recent instances in which capital convictions were overturned, by DNA testing.

A Texas prosecutor plans to review some 40 pending death penalty cases, after several recent instances in which capital convictions were overturned, by DNA testing. Dallas DA Craig Watkins said his goal in reviewing the cases is "to make sure that an innocent person won’t be executed" in Texas. Watkins made his decision to review death penalty cases in Texas, after forensic tests showed there have been 19 cases since 1991 in which suspects convicted of capital murder were later cleared of the crimes, once DNA genetic evidence was introduced. "I just can’t stand by if there is a possibility that someone innocent could be executed," said Watkins. He added exonerating falsely convicted inmates, especially those convicted in error of capital crimes, "is my responsibility", and added he hoped that other prosecutors around the United States would follow his example.