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DNA evidence in stabbing could get husband off hook
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Related Topics: San Mateo County
San Mateo County (Map, News) - On the eve of his murder trial, a routine DNA test has revealed new evidence that may exonerate a Daly City man accused of stabbing his wife to death while the couple’s young children were in the next room.
Biological evidence found on the handle of the murder weapon belongs not to Quincy Norton, who is charged with killing Tamika Mack-Norton in 2006, but to his mistress, said Patricia Fox, Norton’s attorney.
Prosecutors submitted the new evidence Wednesday after obtaining a saliva swab from Anitra Johnson on March 24. Johnson had previously been charged as an accessory in Tamika Mack-Norton’s death, but those charges were later dropped in a plea deal, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The new DNA evidence “is an interesting development to say the least. We were aware there was biological material that belonged to a female but that female was unidentified until last week,” Fox said.
Deputy District Attorney Al Giannini said there are no plans to drop charges against Norton or to file charges against Johnson.
“I am sure the defense would like everyone to believe this is startling evidence. It is one piece of evidence which needs to be considered in comparison with the rest of the evidence. Our position has not changed and we’re still confident in the charges that are being brought against Mr. Norton,” he said.
Johnson’s DNA was tested simply to eliminate her as a suspect, Giannini said. It was a low priority in the case since prosecutors believed the likelihood of finding the evidence was small, he said.
Prosecutors say Norton fatally stabbed his wife, a 31-year-old registered nurse, in their home on July 22, 2006, after learning Mack-Norton planned to divorce him. After the killing, he allegedly dropped their three children off at a friend’s house before fleeing. He was arrested five weeks later in San Jose. Norton fled after the killing because he feared being jailed again for a crime he did not commit, Fox said.
Johnson, who also has a child with Norton, was suspected to have helped him escape by sheltering him and giving him a car. Charges of aiding and abetting Norton were later dropped in exchange for her no contest plea to two counts of felony check fraud in a separate case.
Norton had also previously abused his wife, prosecutors said. But Fox said his previous domestic violence charge stems from an incident in which Johnson beat Mack-Norton.
Johnson’s attorney, Michael DeVoy, did not return calls for comment by press time. Norton’s case resumes Wednesday with pre-trial motions.
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Examiner Reader said:
"New lawyer means new trial", like hell it does! On who's dime?
3 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
New Lawyer means New Trial
4 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
i thought attorney Foxx was respectful to the family. i saw her in the halls and she seemed nice.
14 agree | 3 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
The old Foxx needs to explain; Quincey this means misery,misery,misery. He is about to meet a new cast of whatevers. All he has is time
5 agree | 2 disagree
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Courtroom Observer said:
Patricia Foxx is a joke, but not funny. There was a Judge,twelve jurors,two alternate jurors,crime scene investigators, DNA experts, Domestic Violence Experts,Expert Child Psychologists,four sheriffs, newspaper reporters, family and friends as well as interested unknowns in the courtroom EVERYDAY and the only person believing Quincy could be innocent was Patricia Foxx. The old Foxx tried her hardest to cause a mistrial, picking and lying on the family of Tamika which was not only insulting but disrespectful. That old Foxx even went so far as to try to force Tamikas 92yr old great grandmother to speak to her. What a pity, what a pity, what a pity. All Quincy has now is TIME.
8 agree | 14 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
To answer the "Examiner Readers" question with respect to the DNA and if "someone else could have put it there". Sure someone else could have. It's called "transference of DNA". The murderer could have transferred it or more probable than this, how about the girlfriend herself depositing it there when she snuck into another woman's home when the other woman was at work?? While the wife worked to support her family, the girlfriend snuck around with her boyfriend, the wife's husband, and the father of the wife's (and the murderer's) children. SHAME ON YOU. Anyway, who cares about the DNA.....it was'nt on the knife that killed Tamika anyway. Just food for thought, I guess or maybe just a smoke screen??
8 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
My advice to the murderer would be to stop all of his vile lies, NOW. You don't have to listen to me, you'll have plenty of time to reflect on what you have done. What he has done can never be resended. He should now TRY to get it right,first with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (and I know, first hand that Quincy knows "HIM", although not personally),and secondly with his children. For these are the 3 people that he(Quincy)has truly robbed the most. He has robbed them of their precious mother. And anyone who knew Tamika knows that she was a wonderful mother. Her children came first, then her family. But she also revered God, and to those that don't know, she loved her husband and tried so hard to make her marriage work and keep her family together. But this was not to be, and was next to impossible given the MANY challenges and obstacles that she faced. Rest in Peace Sweet Tamika, you did your best, but GOD had another plan for you. Your race was run and won here on ear
7 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
DNA was not the issue at all,the weapon with the DNA of his sick girlfriend was not the murder weapon. Had you taken the time to attend the trial you could have learned alot about DNA. Quincy Norton needs prayers, and it would be only the grace and mercy of God if they mean anything. He has killed Tamika and caused lots of emotional trama to her family. He will be locked up like an animal for the rest of his life, never to see or be able to beg for forgiveness of their beautiful family. Twenty-six years is a long time to suffer. Quincy will one day realize this is not a nightmare, and he is hated by so many people that he might wish he were dead...What a horrible life when even death ignores him. Prayers for the beautiful Mack family
7 agree | 5 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Sounds like all forensics was sloppy - but DNA could've been there weeks or days ago.
6 agree | 4 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
What about the dna on the knife? Can someone else put it there?
5 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
What is done in the dark has a very distinctive way of coming to the light. Ummmm..........
3 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
is this normal? she got the other person's dna?
16 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
How did the DNA get there? Why is it so late? What else is not given to the attorney for Quincy? Is this fair? Too many questions.
26 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Is it too late to charge the mistress even though the chagres against her were dropped? This would make a good book.
11 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Lawyers now gagged. What is the court hiding?
105 agree | 2 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
It IS pretty startling that the Da would withhold important evidnece like this. It could help the defendant get out of jail. Is this how it works for black men in Cal? This is a shame.
119 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
no charges now.. but soon is this out of a chicago news paper??
3 agree | 1 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
and the plot thickens
9 agree | 0 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
Qunicy you and yours are in my parayers.
60 agree | 9 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
what's going on here? why wasn't this done sooner? this stinks.
50 agree | 2 disagree
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