Famed forensic scientist Dr. Henry Lee defended his work again Thursday regarding a claim that he gave inaccurate testimony that led to a conviction in a Darien murder case.
The case in question involves convicted murderer Wendall Hasan, whose lawyers filed court papers earlier this week.
Hasan was sentenced in 1986 to 80 years in prison for the murder of George Tyler in his home. His wife Rachel Tyler was also injured but survived the attack.
Police found the victims' credit cards in his apartment and also relied on blood evidence. Lee testified at trial that sneakers found in Hasan's home were bloodstained and matched the Tylers' blood.
Hasan's lawyers claim new tests found no blood on the sneakers and they want Hasan released.
Lee called his previous work “accurate” and said it’s unknown where or how the evidence was stored over the last 30 years. He also said the initial tests he did likely depleted the blood sample, which is why no blood was found recently.
“More likely, we used up all the sample,” he said. “When I look at the worksheet I can give you more definitive answer.”
Lee said he doesn't have the whole case file yet but he found a copy of his report and is adamant there was no mistakes.
The court filing follows last month's ruling by the Connecticut Supreme Court that Lee's testimony was incorrect in a 1985 murder in New Milford that led to the conviction of two men. They have both been released from prison and ordered to have new trials.
In 2017, a man convicted of a 1984 murder in Seymour was also released.
Lee defended his testimony in those cases as well.