Thursday, February 23, 2012

Bulletin: Thomas Arthur; Innocence Project pleads for DNA tests - before Alabama executes him on March 29, 2012;

STORY: "Statement on State of Alabama's decision to set an execution date for death row inmate Thomas Arthur," published earlier today by the Innocence Project.

GIST: "We are deeply concerned that the Alabama Supreme Court has set an execution date for Thomas Arthur without allowing further DNA testing of critical evidence that could substantiate another man’s sworn confession to the murder of Troy Wicker. Mr. Arthur has maintained his innocence for 30 years and now stands to die despite significant doubts that remain about his culpability. If the State of Alabama is certain that the right man will die, agreeing to this limited request can only add to the legitimacy of its actions. There won’t be a second chance to get this right if Mr. Arthur is executed.........Doubts about Troy Wicker’s killer could be resolved if the State of Alabama dropped its persistent opposition to scientific tests of a wig that all parties agree was worn by the perpetrator of the crime. As Mr. Arthur’s pro-bono defense counsel, we have repeatedly offered to bear all of the expenses involved."
THE ENTIRE RELEASE CAN BE FOUND AT:
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#inbox/135ab04613b1493b

PUBLISHER'S NOTE: The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a "topic" section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:

http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

Information on "The Charles Smith Blog Award"- and its nomination process - can be found at:

http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog; hlevy15@gmail.com;