Melendez-Diaz acquitted

As some readers already know, Luis Melendez-Diaz was acquitted yesterday on retrial of the case that made him famous within the circle of people that pay attention to developments related to the Confrontation Clause. Here is a report on the outcome. A chemist from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health did testify live as to the lab reports -- but I don't know whether this was the same chemist who performed the test, or whether his conclusions were challenged by the defense. One of Melendez-Diaz's lawyers said the case was one of "guilt by association," which seems to suggest that the principal defense was that the stuff found in the car did not belong to Melendez-Diaz.