STORY: "Dissecting the science of death: 1998 murder case will get a scientific examination," by reporter Jordan Smith, published in the Austin Chronicle on February 24, 2012.
GIST: "At issue, however, is whether science actually proves Swearingen's innocence. According to Swearingen's defense attorney James Rytting and a bevy of medical experts – including a number of well-respected Texas medical examiners – it is impossible for Trotter to have been dead for more than a few days when her body was found. And if she had been dead for less than a week, Swearingen could not have been the killer because he was already in jail. Specifically at question is whether Trotter's body displayed the kind of decomposition expected of a body left outside for several weeks in the forest in December. According to evidence first provided to the defense in 2009, the answer is no; histological samples of Trotter's heart, lung, and vascular tissue is more consistent with a person dead mere days before she was found. The state, however, says the evidence presented by the defense is not the best science to use to determine how long Trotter had been dead."
THE ENTIRE STORY CAN BE FOUND AT:
http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2012-02-24/dissecting-the-science-of-death/
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;
GIST: "At issue, however, is whether science actually proves Swearingen's innocence. According to Swearingen's defense attorney James Rytting and a bevy of medical experts – including a number of well-respected Texas medical examiners – it is impossible for Trotter to have been dead for more than a few days when her body was found. And if she had been dead for less than a week, Swearingen could not have been the killer because he was already in jail. Specifically at question is whether Trotter's body displayed the kind of decomposition expected of a body left outside for several weeks in the forest in December. According to evidence first provided to the defense in 2009, the answer is no; histological samples of Trotter's heart, lung, and vascular tissue is more consistent with a person dead mere days before she was found. The state, however, says the evidence presented by the defense is not the best science to use to determine how long Trotter had been dead."
THE ENTIRE STORY CAN BE FOUND AT:
http://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2012-02-24/dissecting-the-science-of-death/
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;
