DNA Spurs Attorney to Seek Appeal for Jens Soering

There's a major break in the 1985 killings of Derek and Nancy Haysom that could mean freedom for a convicted former University of Virginia student-- or at least spark another international firestorm.

The case has been discussed by Angela Merkel and Barack Obama-- and continues to stoke controversy for vice-presidential nominee Tim Kaine who, as governor, unsuccessfully tried to send Soering back to his native Germany.

"He butchered two people. People that observed the scene said it was one of the worst they've ever seen."

That's State Delegate Rob Bell, who helped block the transfer. However, attorney Steve Rosenfield says a fresh look at old blood samples destroys the prosecution's claim a that a lone killer bled his type O blood at the scene. The blood didn't come from Soering.

"It's a summer of hope."

So says Rosenfield who submitted a pardon request to Governor Terry McAuliffe on Tuesday. For WCVE News, Hawes Spencer in Charlottesville. # IMAGE: Images compiled by a new German-made film documentary. (The Promise)

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This is an alternate version of the story archived here: http://ideastations.org/radio/news/jens-soerings-chances-buoyed-new-evidence (To the best of my knowledge, both aired on WCVE.)