Undue Process

"In closing, I would just like to say that I am convinced of Mr. Karage's innocence and that is a rare happening in this place."

The pro bono lawyer filed Karage's motion to test Nary's fingernail clippings for DNA, but Judge Greene sided with the DA, who said it would be a waste of money and denied Karage's request.

At age 30, Karage faced spending the rest of his life in prison.

---

When John Hendrik got the letter from Entre Karage pleading for help, it was five years after the "worst day in my life as an attorney in 35 years." Karage's conviction had weighed on Hendrik's mind so much that when Karage asked for help, the attorney agreed to do what he could at no charge.

Hendrik says it was "a shot in the dark," but he went to Judge Greene in person instead of filing a motion presenting Withrow's proposal. "I asked the judge, 'If the DNA showed it belonged to a violent criminal, would that change your mind?'"

Greene said yes.

On August 12, 2003, a supervisor in the Texas Department of Public Safety Combined DNA Index System (CODIS) found a match: Keith Jordan, imprisoned at the Eastham unit. The match was confirmed using new samples and testing techniques.

Detective Steve L'Huillier was assigned to reinvestigate the case, and he had a hard time finding witnesses after seven years. But on September 15, 2005, he filed a capital murder charge against Jordan, who is now awaiting trial.

When Karage got the word he was being bench-warranted back to Dallas, he gave away all of his possessions to other inmates. "They said, 'It's a bench warrant, you'll be back,'" Karage says. "I said, 'I'm not coming back.'"

Karage was released on bond; the case against him was dropped by agreement of the DA and the Court of Appeals. Last December, Governor Perry granted Karage a pardon, and his record has been expunged.

Beck has been promoted to sergeant in the robbery division. Greene is running for re-election and has been endorsed by The Dallas Morning News. Karage says neither she nor anyone else involved in his prosecution has apologized.

"I'd have some mean words for Detective Beck," Karage says bitterly.

Trying to find a job has been hard. "How do you explain what you've been doing for seven years?" Karage says. He's thinking about starting a Cambodian restaurant with the compensation he's received from the state: $25,000 for each year, paid out over time, as long as he stays out of trouble.

During his ordeal, Karage never testified. But after she sentenced Karage to life in prison, Judge Greene had asked if he wanted to say anything to the court.

"Your honor," Karage said. He stood before the court, tears in his eyes. "Why do you want to take an innocent life away from my family and everything, you know? I swear you on any living soul or anything that if I ever hurt anybody in this whole generation...I never hurt anybody in this whole life. Why do you want to take an innocent man and a family away? Why you want to do this to me? I didn't do anything."

"All right," the judge said and ordered Karage released to the custody of the sheriff. Though a judge for only 11 months, Greene had heard it all before. And like every judge, she's heard it many times since.