<rsbm>
I don't believe anyone has suggested that the incinerator is the
only item that makes people assume guilt and I'm not sure where you got that impression. However, it
adds to the perception of guilt, and the horror of it is forever embedded in people's minds, even if the testing reveals that it was not involved in the crime. If forensic testing finds nothing in the incinerator, it will not be presented as evidence in court, but because it has been revealed in the media, that image is still in the jury's thoughts, whether unconsciously or not. It can't be erased. If it's found to have nothing to do with the crime, it should not even have been disclosed, as that subconsious knowledge remains and characteristically affects a person's perception. This is probably why the police asked the neighbours not to speak to the media about it. And the neighbours should have honoured that request.
http://www.mississauga.com/news-story/3233070-bosma-case-incinerator-found-on-millard-s-farm/
Another example is the knowlege in potential juror's minds of WM's suicide and LB's disappearance. So far, neither has been determined to be a murder and DM has not been charged in either case, as far as we know. In spite of that, the questions and thoughts are still there and can sway a juror's perception, where they are automatically assuming guilt and must be convinced of any chance of innocence. It is supposed to be the other way around in a court of law - innocence is to be assumed and guilt must be proven. I agree with DP that this is persecution by media and sways the public to presume guilt.
The worry is that, if any or all of these types of things contribute to a finding of guilt, when the outcome may have been different without that knowledge, DM would have grounds for a successful appeal. I'm not saying that LE don't have enough evidence without those things, maybe they do. The only point I'm trying to make is that these types of things, that should not even enter into the decision, can (and probably will) impact the potential jury's ability to presume innocence, as their perception of the crime is already set. By law, an accused has a right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt and if that can't happen, his Charter rights have been violated.
JMO