Abstract
The chapter begins by recounting Lindy Chamberlain's three-decade struggle to prove that she was not guilty of slitting her baby's throat in the family car. Lindy was convicted, based in large part, on presumptive blood testing and blood tests that were thought to prove the presence of infant blood. The chapter gives an overview of the history and use of presumptive blood tests and the failures of these tests that have resulted in wrongful convictions. After describing Lindy Chamberlain's saga, the chapter is broken in to three sections: Section 1 serves as an introduction and explains why there are both presumptive and confirmatory blood tests. Part I is a thorough, basic overview of the science of testing for blood. Part II covers presumptive tests and the law, and relies on examples of cases where presumptive and confirmative testing have either been misapplied or misunderstood. Finally, Part III covers problems faced in the Lindy Chamberlain case that led to Ms. Chamberlain's wrongful conviction and incarceration.
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