Texas forensics panel shake-up continues

Posted: 10.10.2009 at 8:15 AM

Defense attorney to serve on board

Gov. Rick Perry has continued a shake-up of a state panel that was about to review a report concluding a faulty arson investigation led to a Texas inmate's execution.

AUSTIN, TEXAS (AP) -- The governor announced Friday that a criminal defense attorney from Fort Worth will fill a board vacancy and that one medical examiner is replacing another.

Attorney Lance Evans succeeds Samuel Bassett, who was told last week he wouldn't be reappointed to the Texas Forensic Science Commission.

Randall Frost of Boerne, the chief medical examiner for Bexar County, was named to replace Sridhar Natarajan, a medical examiner from Lubbock.

The commission, which oversees professional conduct of forensic laboratories and facilities, was to consider arson findings that led to the 2004 execution of Cameron Willingham.