I lived in Illinois during the George Ryan administration.
Technology has changed even in the 8.5 years that Masters was incarcerated. I'm quite surprised that it took that long for this case to get the ball rolling for DNA testing.
If a case is based on circumstancial evidence, I don't think that the death penalty should be an option. However, if the evidence is without a doubt that of the person being tried...ie...DNA and other givens...then the death penalty is an option.
When I state about circumstancial evidence, the perfect example is from the Masters case. Come on...sketches and knives in his room?
