TELEVISION REVIEW

DNA PROVES INNOCENCE . . . OR NOT

Mike Saucier

May 21, 2002

The man authorities came to blame turned out to be the right one, because the DNA evidence that LaGuer believed would exonerate him of brutally raping his 59-year-old neighbor now makes him look not only guilty but also scheming and delusional. He is part of the 60 percent of inmates further implicated in their crimes by their DNA. On the other hand, "Last Chance" also ...

CONVICTED RAPIST SAYS DNA WILL SHOW INNOCENCE

Dave Wedge

Jan 17, 2002

Benjamin LaGuer, who is serving a life term for the 1983 rape of a 59-year- old Leominster woman, is appealing his case and was back in court last week in Worcester seeking a new trial. A report that surfaced in November showed that four fingerprints found on the victim's telephone did not match LaGuer. The rapist tore the phone cord out of the phone to ...

OP-ED

DNA TESTING IN BEST LEGAL TRADITION

John Silber

Jul 26, 2001

DNA testing brings the value of physical evidence in criminal justice to a new level. It is more informative than blood-typing, which can exclude suspects but not prove them guilty. It can be collected in many more forms than fingerprints, and it is much harder for the criminal to avoid leaving DNA evidence at the scene of the crime. As DNA evidence becomes more widely ...

STATE PAROLE BOARD GRILLS LEOMINSTER RAPE CONVICT

David Weber

Apr. 6, 2000

Benjamin LaGuer, a convicted rapist from Leominster who has convinced clergymen, writers and an ex-university president he is innocent and should be freed from prison, had a tougher time selling himself to the state Parole Board yesterday. LaGuer, 37, in the 17th year of a life sentence, has consistently maintained his innocence while understanding that his acceptance of responsibility for the vicious July 1983 beating and ...

RAPIST SAYS HE'S INNOCENT, HOPES FOR EARLY RELEASE

David Weber

Apr 5, 2000

Benjamin LaGuer, 37, who was convicted and sentenced to life in prison in 1984 for the rape of his 59-year-old neighbor in Leominster, has claimed for years he was the victim of a racially biased jury. "Didn't do it," LaGuer reiterated yesterday. "Didn't do it and I'm willing to suffer some more for that stance."

ALLEGED RACIAL SLUR PROMPTS PROBE OF PAROLE BOARD MEMBER

Maggie Mulvihill and Ellen Silberman

Dec 23, 1998

Angered by reports one of his appointed Parole Board members used racial slurs in his former job and may have done the same to an inmate during a parole hearing, acting Gov. Paul Cellucci is asking his lawyer to probe the matter. "There are some allegations that have come to light given the case against Terrence McCardle the governor considers very serious and has asked (legal ...

PAROLE BOARD MEMBER FORCED TO RESIGN

Ellen J. Silberman

Jul 20, 1999

A member of the state Parole Board and former federal agent who has admitted using racial slurs and giving hiring preference to "Charlestown types" resigned under pressure yesterday, Cellucci administration sources said. Gov. Paul Cellucci forced Parole Board member Terence McArdle to resign more than seven months after McArdle's comments in a federal case were first disclosed, sources said. The seven-member parole board hears the cases of ...

CONVICTED RAPIST LAGUER DENIED PAROLE

Scott Farmelant

Nov 6, 1998

The state's parole board has denied the release of Benjamin LaGuer, a convicted rapist who has served 15 years of a life sentence, because he "lied." The board also denied LaGuer any new hearings until 2003…

THERE'S NO PLACE FOR BIGOTRY ON JURY OF PEERS

Leonard Greene

Jul 16, 1993

This was four years after the trial. A juror, William Nowick, signed an affidavit that claimed another juror had made racial slurs against the defendant during deliberations. "Spics screw all day and night," [Joseph P. Novak] said, according to Nowick's affidavit. Nowick said there were other bigoted cracks made by at least two other jurors, although he couldn't remember specifically what was said. The move ...