A letter filed on Thursday by Rob Mink, one of Willie Manning’s attorneys, states that 18 hair fragments contained in exhibits from Willie’s Steckler-Miller case are to be tested. The testing is predicted to take about fourteen weeks.

The letter reveals that initially the testing lab provided a cost estimate of an eye-watering $85,680 for testing 34 hair fragments; Willie’s counsel settled for testing only about half that number (18 fragments, at a cost of $45,200).

DNA test results should always be treated as only one part of the evidence; but fortunately, an overwhelming amount of evidence already exists that is favorable to Willie.

We are pleased that the hair fragments will be tested at last.