The Texas State Forensic Science Commission panel looking into the 2004 execution of Cameron Todd Willingham released some of its findings Friday. The panel, which has been looking into the execution since 2008, at the request of the Innocence Project, has suffered setbacks and derailments after Texas Governor Rick Perry made personnel changes in late 2009. Three separate reports have concluded the fire in question should not have been ruled arson, including a report by arson expert Craig Beyler. Beyler concluded that the evidence could not sustain the arson finding, either by today’s standards or by the standards at the time, that led to Willingham’s conviction.

Friday, the panel declared that while the investigators were using flawed science at the time, their actions were not negligent and did not amount to misconduct. According to the new head of the panel, John Bradley, an Austin DA the investigation will continue looking at the Willingham case.

For more information and a discussion of the Innocence Project’s involvement in the investigation, see Friday’s article at CNN.

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