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Judge won't test knife for DNA in old murder case

Photo: Comstock, Photos.com

Aug 22, 2012 at 7:31 am

ANOKA, MN (AP) - An Anoka County judge has denied a defense request to conduct DNA testing on a knife found at the scene of a 1992 murder in rural Big Lake.

Kent Jones is serving a life sentence for the murder of Linda Jensen, who was found assaulted and stabbed in her home. The Innocence Project represented Jones and asked for the DNA testing.

But the St. Cloud Times reports (http://on.sctimes.com/NFLTsl) that Anoka County District Court Judge Alan Pendleton denied that request Tuesday, citing concern about all of the people who handled the knife since 1992.

Jones was convicted once in Sherburne County, but that conviction was reversed, then he was convicted again. Pendleton presided over both trials and has since moved to Anoka County.