PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Maine's highest court is considering a request for a new trial from a man convicted of murdering a 12-year-old girl.
Dennis Dechaine is serving a life sentence for killing Sarah Cherry in 1988. Since the use of DNA evidence started in the legal system, Dechaine has been appealing his conviction. On Thursday, his supporters and Sarah Cherry's family listened as evidence was presented again, for what they all hope will be the last time.
Defense attorney Steven Peterson has to prove that new DNA evidence would probably change the outcome of the trial. He argued that DNA under Sarah's fingernails and on a scarf near her body points to another person as the killer.
"DNA testimony is compelling evidence," Peterson told the justices. "It's very persuasive evidence. It's the kind of thing that juries do find a person to guilty or not guilty when they hear it."
But the state argues the DNA evidence in question was contaminated and it does not warrant a new trial and more pain for Cherry's family.
"The harm is sitting right over there," Assistant Attorney General Donald Macomber said, gesturing to Cherry's family sitting in the courtroom. "You have a family that suffered the loss of a 12-year-old girl 27 years ago. When are they going to be able to put this finally behind them? When is Sarah Cherry going to finally be able to rest in peace?"
Sarah Cherry's mom Debbie Crosman said it's bad enough that she lives with the loss of her little girl every day. On days like this, she has to relive the grim details of her death. She calls it her "new normal."
"Every time we have a hearing or anything in the news it brings it up all over again, and especially when they talk about Sarah and what he did to her, that really bothers me," she said.
Dechaines supporters have stood behind him for decades as he fights for a new trial. They are confident the wrong person is sitting in prison.
"All these hearings, I feel bad for her family and I really think these judges should take it upon themselves," said Carol Waltman. "End this case, bring it to court, let us have a trial and show all the evidence, especially the evidence that was hidden at trial."
A Supreme Court decision is expected to take weeks.
