DNA Evidence

West Virginia cannot be allowed to destroy the DNA evidence from the Joseph O’Dell case (Aug. 31). If the officials do so there is no way they will avoid charges they covered up the execution of an innocent defendant. Capital punishment may survive the occurrence of such a wrongful execution if the state accepts responsibility for having made a mistake and changes are made so no one will be executed in the future without a review of all possible evidence, but it will not survive the willful destruction of exculpatory evidence, even if this is done after the fact.

I advocate capital punishment but I believe it must be reserved for the guilty. The death penalty should not be imposed unless guilt is proved, not only beyond a reasonable doubt, but also to a moral certainty.

THOMAS E. LOCKE

North Hollywood