'As good as DNA'? Court of Criminal Appeals considers dog-scent lineups

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals yesterday heard arguments in a murder case where the conviction hinged primarily on a "scent lineup" conducted by former Fort Bend Sheriff's Deputy Keith Pikett, a rare forensic technique first developed in Communist countries that has been derided as junk science. The CCA already overturned the conviction of the defendant's father in a case arising out of the same episode. Here's the initial coverage:

• Austin Statesman: Woman asks court to overturn conviction based on scent evidence
• Texas Tribune: Woman challenges murder conviction, scent lineup

From the Statesman:

In the years since [Megan Winfrey's conviction], a number of scientists and dog experts have denounced Pikett's methods as unethical, unprofessional and biased in favor of law enforcement.

At least one member of the Court of Criminal Appeals agreed. "Personally, I think the dog-scent stuff, particularly as done by Pikett, is junk science and should never have come into court," Judge Cheryl Johnson said.

Absurdly, prosecutors told jurors at trial that the dog-scent lineup was "as good as DNA." Winfrey's attorney, Shirley Baccus-Lobel, told the CCA that "The problem with bad science masquerading as science is it results in attaching a significance to unremarkable events." San Jacinto County prosecutors told the court that although the case was circumstantial and "parts of it are weak," they should uphold the conviction anyway. (I know, you're shocked.)

See also earlier coverage from the Tribune, and these prior, related Grits posts:

• Woman still jailed on dog-scent evidence granted high court hearing
• Appellate court upholds exclusion of dog-scent lineup evidence 
• Time to ban junk science from the courtroom
• Dog scent lineups discredited at Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
• Texas needs process to vet cases based on forensic hokum
• Deputy famous for dog-scent lineups to retire
• More detail on scent-lineup case headed to Texas CCA
• Texas Court of Criminal Appeals will hear arguments on dog scent evidence
• More litigation, disapprobation for dog-scent lineups
• 'Scent lineup' evidence may be used in Anthony Graves capital case
• CNN profiles cop wrongly accused by dog scent lineup
• A 'scent lineup'? Rover in the witness box
• DNA exoneration indicts Rover in the witness box
• 'Scent lineups stink to critics'
• 3 false convictions relied on dog-based scent lineups in Florida
• Scent lineups by dogs don't pass the smell test
• Texas Innocence Project vetting dog scent lineup cases
• Evidence mounts against dog handler, scent lineups
• Texas Innocence Project report discredits dog 'scent lineups'