The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is giving a trial court a month to figure out why at least another six months should be allowed for DNA tests in the case of Hank Skinner, who's on death row for the slayings of his girlfriend and her two sons in Pampa more than two decades ago.
Both the Texas Attorney General's Office and Skinner's attorneys say a minimum of 180 days is needed to train and certify Department of Public Safety technicians in Lubbock using new software to complete DNA testing related to the case.
The state's highest criminal court said Wednesday it wants to know what tests are finished and if other labs can complete the job sooner.
Skinner insists a now-deceased relative of the victims committed the 1993 slayings.
Copyright AP - Associated Press
