By Mike Smith
Associated Press
May 21, 2004


The Indiana Supreme Court today set a new execution
date for Darnell
Williams, saying DNA tests in his case were
inconclusive and did not
undermine "other overwhelming evidence" of his guilt
in the shooting
deaths of a Lake County couple.

Williams was just days away from a scheduled Aug. 1
execution when the
late Gov. Frank O'Bannon granted a stay for additional
DNA testing of
blood spots found on a pair of shorts Williams had
worn. Gov. Joe
Kernan extended the stay last year pending results of
the tests.

Williams and Gregory Rouster were condemned for the
August 1986
shooting deaths of Rouster's former foster parents,
John and Henrietta
Rease of Gary. Rouster's death sentence was revoked
after a court ruled
he was mentally retarded.

The high court said the results of tests on Williams'
clothing seemed
to establish that the blood spots could not have come
from Henrietta
Rease, but it did not exclude John Rease as a possible
source.

The court noted that it had previously denied a
request for DNA testing
because "we rejected the premise that the absence of
blood from the
victims would confirm or negate his guilt for the
murders."

"We still conclude that, given the other overwhelming
evidence of his
guilt, the DNA tests do not undermine confidence in
the conviction or
the death sentence," the ruling said.

Numerous witnesses placed Williams in the house when
the shootings
occurred, the ruling said, and the "evidence shows
beyond doubt that
Williams participated."

The court set a new execution date for July 9.

http://www.indystar.com/articles/2/148401-6712-102.html